
Class. 



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^ILTID 




WI©GOM©IM. 



Containing Portraits of all the Presidents of the United States, with accompanying 

Biographies of each; Engravings of Prominent Citizens of the Counties, 

with Personal Histories of many of the Early Settlers and 

Leading Families. 



'Biograpliy is the only true history." — Emerson. 



ch:ic!a.o-o: 
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY- 

18^2. 



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-*:^B^LSzr- 




f'-^^M 








i . 



George Washington 9 

John Adams 14 

Thomas Jefferson 20 

James Madison 26 

James Monroe 32 

John Quincy Adams 38 

Andrew Jackson 47 

Martin Van Buren 53 

William Henry Harrison 58 

John Tyler 60 

James K. Polk 64 

Zachary Taylor 68 



Millard Fillmore 73 

Franklin Pierce 76 

James Buchanan 80 

Abraham Lincoln 84 

Andrew Johnson 93 

Ulysses 8. Grant 96 

R.B.Hayes 103 

J. A. Garfield 109 

Chester A. Arthur 113 

Groyer Cleveland 117 

Benjamin Harrison 120 




-^5|^ 



IV 



CONTENTS. 



BIOGI^APHIGAL SI^BITGHES. 



Adolph, Chris 131 

Alden, Charles J 271 

Alger, L.W 264 

Allen, Geo. H 502 

Alme, Erik 604 

Anders, Theron 469 

Anderson, A. W 784 

Anderson, H. A 716 

Anderson, John 318 

Anderson, Mous 221 

Anderson, W. A 275 

Andreas, Henry 4S7 

Andrews, Chester 537 

Andrews, E. H 132 

Angst, Jacob 737 

Arnold, A. A 641 

Arnold, W. B 666 

Ashley, C. N 768 

Asselin, John 419 

Atkinson, C. N 522 

Atkinson, George 315 

Atwater, W. B 428 

Atwood, Seba 719 

Austin, David 156 

Babinski, A 786 

Bach, Nicholas 754 

Bailey, Frank 146 

Banker, John 477 

Barber Bros 529 

Barclay, 1). N 5:.5 

Barclay, Thomas 479 

Barney, T.J 450 

Bainilz, Louis 787 

Barr, Samuel 719 

Bart/., Charles A 2'.:3 

Beach, J. B 773 

Beadle, K.J 519 

Bechniaiin, C. U 717 

Bechiuiinn, Henry 654 

Ueck, John M 485 

Beckel, Jacob 389 

Beckel, L. P 3'JO 

Bellerue. A 277 

Bender, Franklin 7i4 

Benlley, E. E -.33 

Benton, C. S 452 

Berg. Emil 217 

Bergh, Martin 436 

Beyer, K. G 163 

Bibl)y, John 670 

Bigliam, Daniel 746 

Bigham, John 753 

Biisner, A. A 757 

Bishop, Collins 7.57 

Black, A. () 415 

IJhuk.Ole O 404 

BUiiiibard, D. H .. 4.")7 

Bleekman, A. E 153 

Bliss, H. 1 3'J7 



151odgett, Wm. H 678 

Blue, J.J. 758 

Boley, A. E 337 

Borreson, C. L 223 

Borreson, E. N 204 

IJoschert, J osepli 212 

Bosshard, Gottlieb 532 

Boucher, Joseph 475 

Bowen, LeKoy 380 

Bowen, Oscar 438 

Bowers, Russell 697 

Boyd, Andrew 314 

Boyntou. E. G 145 

Bradfield, J. A. L 200 

Bradley, John 447 

Braitzraan, Ferd 508 

Branch, Hollo 371 

Brandt, Carl 358 

Brice, G. W 269 

Briggs, G. E 486 

Briggs, Suel 488 

Brown, David 319 

Bruwn, Frank 161 

Brown, George 688 

Brown, S. W 242 ir 

Bruha, A. J 590^ 

Bryant, B. F -'29 

Bucliholtz, A. G 695 

Buebler, Christian 78j , 

Bunn, Leroy 357 

Buol, Christian 494 

Burke, M T 464 

Burnett, J 328 

Burns, D. C 770 

Burn-, J C 2.53 

Burns, Timothy 489 

Butler, J. F 598 

Butman, S. and H 663 

Button, J. C 639 

Calahan, H. B 362 

Callihan, Michael 364 

Cameron, Angus 268 

Capper John 692 

Carharl, A. R. and N. II 730 

Carl, Giistav 136 

Curlyle, W. J 509 

Casberg, Carl C 471 

Case, Peter .. 727 

Cashfl, M.J (.00 

Caswell, A. B 785 

Chamberlain, E VV 578 

Chamberlain, M 693 

Childers, J. M 268 

Ciark, Albion 138 

Clark, A. 1' 291 

Clark, Isaac 629 

Clark, Nallian 5!»5 

Clark, P. L 460 

Clarke, Jolm 6o9 



Cleasby, Wm 619 

Cole, John J 274 

Coman, J. B 431 

Comstock, N. D 701 

Conant, M 273 

Coney, Robert 361 

Conrad, Jacob 687 

Cook, David 772 

Cook, Kelson 632 

Cooper, J. D 649 

Copeland, F. A 237 

Cordell, L 340 

Cowie, A.J 628 

Cowie, George 608 

Cox, William 644 

Crombie, H. M 662 

Cronk, Khoda A 526 

Cronk, W. H 408 

Crook, J. C 402 

Crook, John, Jr 421 

Cummings, T. W 219 

Cummings, Wm. L 767 

Cuthbert, Wm 521 

Cutter, C. H 706 

Dahl, J. H 378 

Darling, Chester 454 

Darms, Michael 435 

Davidson, W.J 4G8 

Davis, A. H 333 

Davis, Daniel 520 

Davis, Isaac D 463 

Davis, J. W 173 

Davis, R. T 281 

Davis, R. W 377 

Davis, Samuel 403 

Davis, W.E 240 

Davis, Wilson (89 

Dawson, John 483 

Dayl, Burt 400 

De Forcp, Bvron 313 

DeGroff, A"H 690 

DeGrotr, J. W 748 

I'eininger, J. V 377 

DeLorea, F. X 225 

Demnion, C. W 147 

Deugel, Peter 408 

Dengler, Johu 183 

Densmoie, Joseph 623 

Detlinger, John 620 

Dewey, J. I 673 

Dick, "William 788 

Dissmofp. George P 680 

Dudley, W. 1 183 

Dudley, W L 186 

Duessendorler, 1 783 

Easton. J. C 881 

Edwards, B. E 227 

Edwards, George 213 



CONTENTS. 



Egan, M.C 038 

Ekern, Andrew 782 

Ekern, Anton 739 

Ekern, Even 780 

Ekern, Peter 602 

Elkins, Edwin 704 

Elliott, J. A 364 

Elwell, C. U 254 

Emberson, 1 184 

Emerson, O. B 327 

Esch, J.J 3G0 

Esniiller, Henry 241 

Esperson, Henry 181 

Euler, George 257 

Evans, R. R 596 

Evensen, P. 157 

Everson, Chris 737 

Eveson, Ole 593 

Ewer, A. B 286 

Fahey, Richard 445 

Farber, Wm. J 715 

Farewell, M. M E34 

Farnam, E. J 514 

Fiirnam, George 507 

Farner, John 611 

Farrand, C. W 731 

Faulds & Cowie 638 

Fay, Joseph 493 

Fetter, A. V 218 

Fiers, Peter 399 

Filkins, A 367 

Finn, John M 207 

Flasch, K. C 325 

Flemington, A. B 760 

Fletcher, C. W 386 

Forrest, Alex 467 

Fox, John 168 

Fox, W. D 176 

Fray n, James 443 

Fredrickson, Ole 427 

Freeman, G. Y 770 

French, Charlotte 394 

Freng; A. N 784 

Frey, Nathaniel 246 

Fried, Ulrich 638 

Fruit, J. J 262 

Fugina Bros. Fertig Co 6C6 

Gale, George 739 

Galviu, Wm 299 

Ganz, E. F 762 

Gass, Anthony 303 

Gass, Matthias 600 

Gaveuey, J. C 685 

Gavin, Wm 592 

Gay, .lames 434 

Gear, T. P 479 

Gehrlich, Pidelis 687 

Getts, H. B 779 

Gibson, M. B. and D. P 647 

Gibson, Wm 625 

Gieliel, Edmund 759 

Gilljert, Henry 793 

Gile, Abner 169 

Giltillan, James, Sr 490 

Gillillan, J. M 439 

Gillespie, John 637 

Gillies John 609 

Gilman, Daniel 022 

Gipple, B. F 710 



Gladson, James 736 

Glover, C. A 527 

Goddard, Hiram 576 

Goddard, L. M 574 

Goddard, R. P 652 

Goodhue, E. N 663 

Goodland, J. A 344 

Goodrich, A. D 193 

Gordon, D. K 448 

Grams, Wenzel 193 

Grates, J. H 340 

Graves, W. H 596 

Green, I. E 459 

Grigg, J. B 373 

Grindl, L. L 774 

Gross, F. A 311 

Gudmundson, L 376 

Gullickson, Peter 455 

Gund, Henry 173 

Gund, John, Sr 173 

Gund, John, Jr 174 

Gunderson, H 432 

Hackner, Egid 307 

Hagestad, K. K 607 

Hahn Jacob 305 

Haldv rson, Knud 530 

Hall, Daniel 425 

Hallock, J. L 045 

Halverson, John 313 

Hansen, Thomas 320 

Hanson, A. C 4t)l 

Hankey, E. J 646 

Harbo, E. P 360 

Hare, Prank 635 

Hare, Lemuel -. 675 

Harden, Mary 440 

Hardie, James 617 

Harrison, D. B 282 

Harrison, H. H 500 

Hart, Seth 443 

Ha.lley, Mary 356 

Hass, John 508 

Halz, Christian 411 

Halz, Jacob 518 

Hawkins, C. H 473 

Heath, H. C 155 

Heg«, O. A 621 

Heilman, G 308 

Heinken, F. T 288 

Heiss, Michael 247 

Helgesou, T 627 

Helsem, J 097 

Hemker, Fred 187 

Herastock, David 388 

Henry, James, Jr 334 

Henry, Thomas 625 

Hensel, A. F 657 

Herringlon, F. C 18'5 

Hewilt, G. B 405 

Hewiil, J. C • 196 

Hevdon, E. W 300 

llider-hide, G. N 733 

Hill. A. J 130 

llilleslad, N. G 184 

Hinlgeu, N 413 

Hirsi hheimer, J. J 143 

llirschheimer, M 263 

Hitchcock, N. D 569 

Hobbs, John 395 



Hoffman, C. F 359 

Hogan, J. J 360 

Hohmann, Charles 793 

Holcomb, D. L 700 

Holmes, Lafayette 127 

Holmes, W. S 497 

Holway, N. B 253 

Home, H. E 154 

Horner, Ernest 441 

Hosmer, G. A 480 

Hossfeld, R 449 

Hotchkiss, E. S 750 

Houck, Oscar 338 

Hough, P. H 128 

Howard, George 597 

Huber, George 780 

Huber, Henry 646 

Huefner, Paul 668 

Hughes, Robert 510 

Hunt, A. 298 

Hunt, C. A 178 

Hunter, Thomas 670 

Huntley & Vanderwort 704 

Imhoir, Wm. A 216 

Imniell.E. L 657 

Imrie, James 612 

Irvine, John 794 

Irwin, Wilbert 575 

Jackson, Walter 752 

Jacobs, W. P 498 

Jarvis, Timothy 583 

Jenks, C. L 301 

Joerres, A. J 246 

Johnson, A. A 747 

Johnson, Alex 215 

Johnson, Eugene 413 

Johnson, J. A 404 

Johnson, J.J 406 

Johnson, J. K 195 

Johnson, John 537 

Johnson, J. W 473 

Johnson, Thomas 580 

Jones, E. G 584 

Jones, John 290 

Jones, John B 470 

Jones, John N 495 

Jones, J. S 511 

Jones, St. Clair 650 

Jones, W. E 208 

Jordson, Wm 533 

Kahler, John 304 

Kass Christian L 751 

Kavenaugh, J. J 149 

Kaylor, A. C 433 

Keaveny, Patrick 267 

Keaveny, Peter 415 

Keizer, J. E 414 

Kelly, E.J 305 

Kempter, R. R 616 

Kennedy, Daniel 667 

Kenrick, H. A 454 

Kenrick, John 330 

Keppel, J. G 512 

Kienahs, Theo 309 

Kienholz, Peter 190 

Kindschy, George 729 

Kiudschy, Jacob 728 



G0NTBNT8. 



Kinnear, R. M. 1 250 

Kircheis, J. E 252 

KircliDPr, Albert 741 

Kirchuer, C. A 772 

Klein, ('. F 577 

Klich, II. B 129 

Klick, J.W 503 

Kluver, L, «te Co 354 

Kniuison, Lewis 426 

Koenig, Cbristiau 346 

Koller, John 291 

Koller, Micbael 292 

Kowalke, E. E 280 

Kiitmer, August 523 

KiatcUivil, M 216 

Krebaum, C. A 279 

Krueger, Win 450 

Kuliliuan, vfc Gass 303 

Ku|)p, John 530 

La Fleur, Henry 444 

La Fleur. H. K 573 

Laflin, H. B 210 

Lamb, J ames I IGS 

Lambert, Stophen 539 

Langiion, John 342 

Lange, Diego 504 

Langstadt, G 338 

Lanpbere, H. P ;i32 

Larsen, Ole E 655 

Larsen, O. P 570 

Larson, Chiistian 438 

Larson, Edward 517 

Larson, L 396 

Law, David 155 

Lawler, Dennis 788 

Lebber, Henry 255 

Leete, Wm. W 256 

Lebrbach, N 765 

Lemon, T. J 208 

Lester, W. A 372 

Lewis, J. D 708 

Lewis, T. A 499 

Lewis, Wm. II 141 

Ligblbody, J. H 302 

Linse, Charles 236 

Lockerby, W. E 309 

Lohmiller, Wm 184 

Looney, M. M 148 

Loring, N. T 347 

Losey, J. W 125 

Lovejoy, Herbert 467 

Lovejuy, Hiram 516 

Lubs, Charles W 601 

Luce, Charles 514 

Luce, S. S 698 

Luce, W. S 504 

Luening, Wm 228 

Lueth, Henry 456 

MacLachlau, W. G 696 

Mader, D ]26 

Madson, O 4,55 

Magill, H. P 324 

Magill, H. T 323 

iMailery, J. P 043 

MBloncy, David 786 

MannsU'dt, 'riieii 140 

Mansergh. G. W 478 

Slarkham, G. H 717 



Markle, E 258 

Marquardt, C. H 178 

Martindale, S 175 

Martindale, S., Jr 263 

Malhesen, S 188 

Mathewson, W. T 594 

iMcArthur, D. S 323 

McArlhur, P. S 322 

McConnell, P 215 

McDermott, J. H 295 

McDonah, Wm 099 

McGilvray, Alex 710 

McHugh, Paul 476 

Mcintosh, D 480 

McKenzie, C. W 188 

JIcKenzie, D. J 814 

ftlcKeuzie, Margaret 453 

Mclvinley, James 251 

McKown, C. S 250 

McMillan, Alex 101 

McMillan, A. P 585 

McMillan, D. D 151 

McMillan, George 343 

Meason, L. E 260 

Medary, J. S 491 

Melby, J. 683 

Mercereau, B. B 383 

Meuli, Casper ... 774 

M eyer, Felix 583 

Mickschl, P 524 

Miller, C. U 458 

M iller, Conrad 519 

Miller, H. G 271 

Miller, John A 243 

Miner. K. G 249 

Moore, .lohn G hm 

Moran, Joseph 241 

Morton, W. P 387 

Mosher, J. A 417 

Mould, F. W 269 

Mueller, E. T 308 

Mueller, Paul F 706 

Murphy, Ambrose 126 

Murray, J. B 160 

Mybre, O. A 745 

Mybre, Ole L 503 

Myrick, N 541 

Neadfelt, Wm 177 

Needham, D 581 

Nelson, L. N 220 

Nelson, N. U 180 

Neumeisler, Wm 426 

Newman. A W C0.5 

Newton, A. B 531 

N icbols, C H 333 

Nichols, F. E 3i6 

Nichols, G. S 310 

Nissen, H. K. E 201 

North, W. N 530 

Nutting, C. W 410 

Nyhus, Ole 577 

Nyhus, Ole 430 

Ochsner, John 630 

Odell, D. J 651 

Odell, Levi L 020 

Odell, K A 094 

Oliver, H. S 055 

Olson, Gulleck 026 



Olson, Simon 018 

Osborne, U. E 244 

Ott, B 152 

Ott, John J 419 

Otten, Henry 570 

Oyen, O. J 311 

Palmer, J. A 725 

Pammel, G.J 278 

Parsons, L. D 690 

Patterson, S. B 288 

Payson.J.M 423 

Peck, H. J 265 

Pederson, C 367 

Pederson, Iver 669 

Penny, J. R 672 

Perkins, C. E 755 

Peterson, O. 661 

Pettibone, A. W 139 

Pettingill, Jay 573 

Pettingill, J. L 210 

Pl'aff, Jacob 481 

Plaff, Levetta 611 

Phelps, F. 1 348 

Phillips, S. E 348 

Pickering, Charles 603 

Pinkerton, John 506 

Pinkerton, Joseph 505 

Piske, Carl 388 

Pitkin, M. J 132 

Pittinger. N. 393 

Poehling, Joseph 239 

Polin, Martin 744 

Pollard, E. J 135 

Polleys, W. E 266 

Pooler, Frank 398 

Powell, D. F 587 

Prentiss, G. C 370 

Prestegaarden, J. A 782 

Prucha, J. E 202 

Pugh, H. M 584 

Putnam, A 430 

Putnam, C. H 281 

Quail, O. P 407 

Kadtke, Wm. J 495 

Kaelzmann, H. W 226 

Kaicble, John 729 

Hand, J. B 493 

Hiindall, Esther M 412 

Hanney, J. W 198 

Kapp,John M 491 

Hau, John 292 

Kawliugs'on, James, Sr 515 

Kawlingson, James, Jr 615 

Uebhahn, P. V 704 

Heed, C. L 423 

Heichert, M 466 

Keim, C. G ■ 422 

Hemick, F. A 429 

Uenggly, J. A 185 

Kenner, Jacob 524 

Henner, Mrs. L 314 

Renter, Frank 693 

Rhodes, Edson 763 

Kliodes, Joshua 689 

Rice, N S 177 

Richardson, J 474 

Richter, P 628 



CONTENTS. 



Richmond, Joseph 482 

Richmond, Stephen 713 

Rick, Wm. C 513 

Riese, Joseph 295 

Ring, Fred 571 

RiDglee, C. F 759 

Ritter, F. X 376 

Ritz, J. W 129 

Roberts, E. R 378 

Roberts, Ethan 486 

Roberts, F. P 583 

Roberts, H. S 589 

Robinson, O. D ... 435 

Roddle, J. C 451 

Roddle, W. C 410 

Roden, Thomas 526 

Rodolf, Theo ^96 

Roesch, Christ 735 

Roettiger, H 677 

Roosevelt, W. A 145 

Rosenow, John 725^ 

Roth, Joseph 171' 

Rowles, J. A 439 

Ruedv, John 470 

Runckel, Louis 293 

Ruth, Joseph 624 

Ry nning, E. B 400 

Sacia, Frank 572 

Sacia, Harmon 538 

Safford, H. M 341 

Sagen, A. K 329 

Salzer, J. A 158 

Samson, James 752 

Samuels, P. J 385 

Sandman, D 525 

Sawyer, A. E .884 

Sawyer, W. B 385 

Schaefer, C. M 320 

Schaettle, Charles 722 

Schaller, Charles 418 

Scharpf, C. F 289 

Scheitz, John (i93 

Scheufler, E 294 

Schick, Hugo... 179 

Schildmann, F 219 

Schintjen, Peter 139 

Schmitz, John 676 

Schnell, Bros 186 

^^^chwalbe, Joseph and Frank. . 224 

Schwartz, F 288 

Schwebach, James 245 

Scott, C. E 742 

Scott, G. W 473 

Scott, W. J 501 

Sendelbach, M 725 

/ Senn_JohnJ 684 

Shane, Daniel 331 

Shankland, John 387 

Shaw, F. D 506 

Shepard, D. R. A 538 

Shephard, H. C 818 

Short, AM 134 

Siebrecht, A 533 

Siegler, R 206 

Sill, W. R 150 

Simenson, Ole 446 

Simpson, T. A 613 

Sisson, F. M 363 

Skinner, J. W 285 

Sliger, George 463 



Sloane, E.A 226 

Slye, H. H 586 

Smith, D.P 484 

Smith, F. B 199 

Smith, H. B 167 

Smith, J. J ■••• 284 

Smith, O. L 174 

Smith, Sarah H 424 

Smith, Wm 531 

Smith, W.T 522 

Sobotka, A. F 309 

Solsrud, L 761 

Sorenson, Ori 383 

Sorerson, Peter 518 

Southworth, J. D 615 

Sparling, W. iR 202 

SpencQ, T. H 306 

Spenceley, J. H 534 

Spettel Bros 297 

Sprecher, John 653 

,Stanek, J. J 380 

Stangl, George 143 

Steensen, Stephen 442 

Steinlein, A 171 

Stellpflug, J. A 656 

Stephens, Elisha 769 

Stephens, James 520 

Stephenson, J 247 

Stevens, Ephraim 331 

Stogdill, Robert 313 

StoU, Jacob 634 

Stoltze, Gustav 179 

Storandt, F 355 

Storey, J. 368 

Strand, H. E 417 

Strom, O.P 391 

Sullivan, Paul 433 

Sy kes, James 317 

Techner, H. C 303 

Teckemburg, Henry 682 

Teeple, Henry 745 

Thomas, W. D 159 

Thomas, W. S 336 

Thompson, Peter S 477 

Thompson, W. B 673 

Thornbury, J. E 569 

Thorp, C. R 339 

Thorsgaard, H 664 

Tibbitts, A 778 

Tiedemann, E.J 180 

Tollefson, T. 193 

Torgerson, John 496 

Tourtellotte, Mills 465 

Towner, J. C 738 

Towson, Abram S79 

Trane, J. A 377 

Tritton,E 374 

Trowbridge, D 776 

Trumbower, J. A 458 

Turton, John 732 

Uhl, George 764 

Uhl, Peter 631 

Ulrich, "Wm 674 

Untraut, H. J 686 

Usher, E. B 411 

Utermoehl, J. L 604 

Van Loon, A 409 

Van Steenwyk, G 349 



Van Zandt, Wm 345 

Vaughan, J. J 396 

Vincent, James 197 

Voegeli, Tobias 702 

Wacker, John 203 

Wagner, August 703 

Wallace, J. L 591 

Wannebo, M 372 

Warner, M. G '. . . 760 

Warsaw, A. A 594 

Washburn, C. C '. . 3ii5 

Waterman, M. W 61)9 

Weinandy, N 043 

Weiugarten, C 209 

Weisenberger, P 610 

Weismclek, J 777 

Wensole, Louis 133 

VVenzel,G 580 

West, H. E 211 

Wheeler, J. E 191 

Wheldon, John 461 

White, Austin O 7l4 

White, William 3^0 

Whitney, L.H 705 

Widvey, T. T 54O 

Wiedmau, J. B 131 

Wiele, William 222 

Willey, G. L .■ .' 374 

Williams, J. B 285 

Williams, J. E 437 

Williams, P. A 707 

Wilson, James 401 

Wingad, David 721 

Wingad, Joim 730 

Withee, Levi ]89 

Wilhee, N. H 305 

Wohlgenant, C 634- 

Wolf, Florian 378 

Wood, David 743 

Wood, L. W ! 194 

Woodward, G. M 265 

Wright, G. D 339 

YarringtoB, G. H 343 

Yonker, D. H 335 

Youchem, John 781 

Young, Charles A 430 

Young, J. L 392 

Young, Samuel 3.i7 

Young, Wm. M 703 

PORTRAITS, 

Anderson, Mons 821 

Bechmann, C. R 717 

Bliss, H. I 397 

Bryant, B. F 229 

Carlyle, W. J 509 

Clark, Isaac 629 

Comstock, N. D 701 

Copeland, F. A 237 

Easton,J. C 381 

Fahey, Richard . 445 

Flasch, K. C 325 



CONTENTS. 



Gaveney, J, C 685 

Gile, Abner 169 

Gillespie, John 637 

Hanson, A. C 461 

Hegg, O. A 621 

Hintgen, N 413 

Holway, N. B 253 

Jenks, C. L 301 

La Fleur, R. R 573 

Losey, J. W 125 

McMillan, Alex 161 



Myrick, N 541 

Needham, D 581 

Newman, A. W 605 

Nichols, C. H 333 

Pederson, Iver 869 

Peterson, O. O 661 

Rand, .1. B 493 

Remick, F. A 429 

Roberts, H. S 589 

Sandman, D 525 



Sch webach, James, 245 

Skinner, J. W 285 

Sprecher, John 653 

Thompson, P. S 477 

Tourtellotte, Mills 465 

Van Steenwyk, G 349 

Vincent, James 197 

Washburn, C. C 365 

Wilhee, Levi 189 

Withee, N H 205 




,s«»^ 



:-^i 





GEORGE WASHINGTON. 








mm 



^^EORGE WASHING- 
^ TON, the "Father of 
his Country" and its 
first President, 1789- 
'97, was born Febru- 
ary 2-', 1732, in Wash- 
^ ington Parish, West- 
-o^^,«.,. moreland Cou nty, Virginia. 
3^*|ij^ His father, Augustine Wash- 
ington, first married Jane But- 
„,,„.,,j5j(i^ lei', who bore him four chil- 
"^'dWyT *^'''^"' ''^"^ March 6, 1730, he 
married Mary Ball. Of six 
children by his second mar- 
riage, George was the eldest, 
tiie others being Betty, Samuel, John, Au- 
gustine, Charles and Mildred, of whom the 
youngest died in infancy. Little is known 
of the earl}' 3'ears of Washington, beyond 
the fact that the house in which he was 
born was burned during his early child- 
hood, and that his father thereupon moved 
to another farm, inherited from his paternal 
ancestors, situated in Stafford County, on 
the north bank of the Rappahannock, where 
he acted as agent of the Principio Iron 
Works in the immediate yicinity, and died 
there in 1743. 

From earliest childhood George deycl- 
oped a noble character. He had a vigorous 
constitution, a fine form, and great bodil}- 
strength. His education was somewhat de- 



fective, beins: confined to the elementa.'v 
branches taught him by his mother and at 
a neighboring school. He developed, how- 
ever, a fondness for mathematics, and en- 
joyed in that branch tiie instructions of a 
private teacher. On leaving scItooI he re- 
sided for some time at Mount Vernon with 
his half brother, Lawrence, who acted as 
his guardian, and who had married a daugh- 
ter of his neighbor at Belvoir on the Poto- 
mac, the wealthy William Fairfa.x, for some 
time president of tiie executive council of 
the colony. Both Fairfax and his son-in-law, 
Lawrence Washington, had served with dis- 
tinction in 1740 as officers of an American 
battalion at tiic siege of Carlhagena, and 
were friends and correspondents of Admiral 
Vernon, for whom the latter's residence on 
the Potomac has been named. George's 
inclinations were for a similar career, and a 
midshipman's warrant was procured for 
him, probably through the influence of the 
Admiral ; but through the opposition of iiis 
mother the project was abandoned. The 
family connection with the Fairfaxes, how- 
ever, opened another career for the young 
man, who, at the age of sixteen, was ap- 
pointed surveyor to the immense estates of 
the eccentric Lord Fairfax, who was then 
on a visit at Belvoir, and who shortly after- 
ward established his baronial residence at 
Greenway Court, in the Shenandoah Valley. 



PffES/DCATS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Tliree years were passed by young Wash- 
ington in a rough frontier life, gaining ex- 
perience which afterward proved very es- 
sential to him. 

In 175 1, when the Virginia militia were 
put under training wiih a view to active 
service against France, Washington, though 
onl)' nineteen years of age, was appointed 
Adjutant with the rank of Major. In Sep- 
tember of that year the failing health of 
Lawrence Washington rendered it neces- 
sary for him to seek a warmer climate, and 
Geirge accompanied him in a voyage to 
Bar :)adocs. They returned earl v in 1752, 
and Lawrence shortly afterward died, leav- 
ing h.s large property to an infant daughter. 
In iiis will George was named one of tiie 
executors and as eventual heir to Mount 
Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece 
soon succeeded to lliat estate. 

On tlie arrival of Robert Dinwiddie as 
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia in 1752 
the militia was reorganized, and the prov- 
ince divided into four districts. Washing- 
ton was commissioned bv Dinwiddie Adju- 
tant-General of tlie Northern District in 
1753, and in November of that year a most 
important as well as hazardous mission was 
assigned him. Tliis was to proceed to the 
Canadian posts recently established on 
French Creek, near Lake Erie, to demand 
in the name of the King of England the 
witlidrawal of the French from a territory 
claimed by Virginia. This enterprise had 
been declined by more than one officer, 
since it involved a journey through an ex- 
tensive and almost unexplored wilderness 
in the occupanc)- of savage Indian tribes, 
either hostile to the English, or of doubtful 
attachment. Major Washington, however, 
accepted the commission witli alacrity ; and, 
accompanied by Captain Gist, he reached 
Fort Le Boeuf on French Creek, delivered 
his dispatches and received reply, which, of 
course, was a polite refusal to surrender the 
posts. This reply was of sucii a character 



as to induce tlie Assembly of Virginia to 
auth(irize the executive to raise a regiment 
of 300 men for the purpose of maintaining 
the asserted rights of the British crown 
over the territory claimed. As Washing- 
ton declined to be a candidate for that post, 
the command of this regiment was given to 
Colonel Joshua Fry, and Major Washing- 
ton, at his own request, was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel. On the march to Ohio, 
news was received that a parly previ(^usly 
sent to build a fort at the confluence of the 
Monongahela with the Ohio had been 
driven back bv a considerable French force, 
which !iad completed the work there be- 
gun, and named it Fort Duquesnc, in honor 
of the Marquis Duijuesne, then Governor 
of Canada. This was the beginning of the 
great " French and Indian war,'' whicii con- 
tinued seven )-cars. On the death fif Colonel 
Frv, Washington succeeded to the com- 
mand of the regiment, and so well did he 
fulfill his trust that the Virginia Assembly 
commissioned him as Commander-in-Chief 
of all the forces raised in the colony. 

A cessation of all Indian hostility on the 
frontier having followed the expulsion of 
the French from the Ohio, the object of 
Washington was accomplished and he re- 
signed his commission as Commander-in- 
Chief of the Virginia forces. He then pro- 
ceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in 
the General Assembly, of which he had 
been elected a member. 

January 17, 1759. Washington married 
Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, a young 
and beautiful widow of great wealth, and de- 
voted himself for the ensuing fifteen years 
to the quiet pursuits of agricultuie, inter- 
rupted only by his annual attendance in 
winter upon the Colonial Legislature at 
Williamsburg, until summoned by his 
country to enter upon that other arena in 
which his fame was to become world wide. 

It is unnecessary here to trace the details 
of the struggle upon the question of local 



GEoncE WASni\r,TON. 



self-government, which, after ten years, cul- 
minated by act of Parliament of the port of 
Boston. It was at the instance of Virginia 
that a congress of all the colonies was called 
to meet at Philadelphia September 5, 1774, 
to secure their common liberties — if possible 
b}' peaceful means. To this Congress 
Colonel Washington was sent as a dele- 
gate. On dissolving in October, it recom- 
mended the C(jlonies to send deputies to 
another Congress the following spring. In 
the meantime several of the colonics felt 
impelled to raise "local forces to repel in- 
sults and aggressions on the part of British 
troops, so that on the assembling of the ne.xt 
Congress, Mav 10, 1775, the war prepara- 
tions of the mother country were unmis- 
takable. The battles of Concord and Lex- 
ington had been fought. Among the earliest 
acts, therefore, of the Congress was the 
selection of a commander-in-chief of the 
colonial forces. This office was unani- 
mously conferred upon Washington, still a 
member of the Congress. He accepted it 
on June 19, but on tiie express condition he 
should receive no salary. 

He immediatel}' repaired to tiie vicinity 
of Boston, against wliich point the British j 
ministry had concentrated their forces. As 
early as April General Gage had 3,000 
troops in and around this proscribed city. 
During the fall and winter the British policy 
clearly indicated a purpose to divide pub- 
lic sentiment and to build up a British party 
in the colonies. Those who sided with the 
ministry were stigmatized by the patriots 
as " Tories," while the patriots took to them- 
selves the name of " Whigs." 

As early as 1776 the leading men had 
come to the conclusion that there was no 
hope except in separation and indepen- 
dence. In May of that year Washington 
wrote from the head of the army in New 
York : " A reconciliation with Great Brit- 
ain is impossible When I took 

command ot the army, 1 abhorred the idea 



of independence ; but I am now fully satis- 
fied that nothing else will save us." 

It is not the object of this sketch to trace 
the military acts of the patriot hero, to 
whose hands the fortunes and liberties of 
the United States were confided during the 
seven years' bloody struggle that ensued 
until the treaty of 1783, in which England 
' acknowledged the independence of each of 
the thirteen States, and negotiated with 
them, jointly, as separate sovereignties. The 
merits of Washington as a military chief- 
tain have been considerably discussed, espe- 
cially b}' writers in his own countr}'. Dur- 
ing the war he was most bitterly assailed 
for incompetency, and great efforts were 
made to displace him ; but he never for a 
moment lost the confidence of either the 
Congress or the people. December 4, 1783, 
the great commander took leave of his offi- 
cers in most affectionate and patriotic terms, 
and went to Annapolis, Maryland, where 
the Congress of the States was in session, 
and to that bodv, when peace and order 
prevailed ever3'where, resigned his com- 
mission and retired to Mount Vernon. 

It was in 1788 that Washington was called 
to the chief magistracy of the nation. He 
received every electoral vote cast in all the 
colleges of the States voting for the office 
of President. The 4th of March, 1789, was 
tiie time appointed for the Government ot 
the United States to begin its operations, 
but several weeks elapsed before quorums 
of both the newly constituted houses of the 
Congress were assembled. The cit}- of New 
York was the place where the Congrees 
then met. April 16 Washington left his 
home to enter upon the discharge of his 
new duties. He set out with a purpose ot 
traveling privately, and without attracting 
any public attention ; but this was impossi- 
ble. Everywhere on his way he was met 
with thronging crowds, eager to see the 
man whom the}' regarded as the chief de- 
fender of their liberties, and everywhere 



PRRSfDEXTS OF THE UX/TED STATES. 



he was hailed with those public manifesta- 
tions of joy, regard and love which spring 
spontaneously from the hearts of an affec- 
tionate and grateful people. His reception 
in New York was marked by a grandeur 
and an enthusiasm never before witnessed 
in that metropolis. The inauguration took 
place April 30, in the presence of an immense 
multitude which had assembled to witness 
the new and imposing ceremony. The oath 
of office was administered by Robert R. 
Livingston, Chancellor of the State. When 
this sacred pledge was given, he retired 
^vith the other officials into the Senate 
chamber, where he delivered his inaugural 
address to both houses of the newly con- 
stituted Congress in joint assembly. 

In the manifold details of his civil ad- 
ministration, Washington proved himself 
equal to the requirements oi his position. 
The greater portion of the first session of 
the first Congress was occupied in passing 
the necessary statutes for putting the new 
organization into complete operation. In 
the discussions brought up in the course of 
this legislation the nature and character of 
the new system came under general review. 
On no one of them did any decided antago- 
nism of opinion arise. All held it to be a 
limited government, clothed only with spe- 
cific powers conferred by delegation from 
the States. There was no change in the 
name of the legislative department ; it still 
remained " tiie Congress of the United 
States of America." There was no chanee 
in the original flag of the country, and none 
in the seal, which still remains with the 
Grecian escutcheon borne by the eagle, 
with other eml)lcms, imder the great and 
expressive motto, "i; Pliirtbus Unnui." 

The first division of parties arose upon 
the manner of construing the powers dele- 
gated, and they were first styled "strict 
constructionists" and " latitudinarian con- 
structionists." The former were for con- 
fining the action of the Government strictly 



within its specific and limited sphere, while 
the others were for enlarging its powers by 
inference and implication. Hamilton and 
Jefferson, both members of the first cabinef 
were regarded as the chief leaders, respect 
ivel}', of these rising antagonistic parties, 
which have existed, under different names 
from that day to this. Washington 'vas rC' 
garded as holding a neutral position between 
them, though, by mature deliberation, he 
vetoed the first apportionment bill, in 1790, 
passed by the party headed by Hamilton, 
which was based upon a principle construct- 
ively leading to centralization or consoli- 
dation. This was the first exercise of the 
veto power under the present Constitution. 
It created considerable excitcinent at the 
time. Another bill was soon passed in pur- 
suance of Mr. Jefferson's views, which has 
been adhered to in principle in every ap 
portionment act passed since. 

At the second session of the new Con. 
gress, Washington announced the gratify- 
ing fact of " the accession of North Caro- 
lina" to the Constitution of 1787, and June 
I of the same year he announced by special 
message the like " accession of the State of 
Rhode Island," with his congratulations on 
the happy event which " united under the 
general Government" all the States which 
were originally confederated. 

In 1792, at the second Presidential elec- 
tion, Washington was desirous to retire; 
but he yielded to the general wish of the 
countr)', and was again chosen President 
by the unanimous vote of every electoral 
college. At tiie third election, 1796, he was 
again most urgently entreated to consent to 
remain in the executive chair. This he 
positively refused. In September, before 
the election, he gave to his countr3'men his 
memorable Farewell Address, which in lan- 
guage, sentiment and patriotism was a fit 
and crowning glory of his illustrious life. 
After March 4, 1797, he again retired to 
Mount Vernon for peace, quiet and repose. 



GEORGE WASHIXGTnN. 



n 



His administration for the two terms had 
been successful beyond the expectation and 
hopes of even the most sanguine of his 
friends. The finances of the country were 
no longer in an embarrassed condition, the 
public credit was fully restored, life was 
giv'en to every department of industry, the 
workings of the new s^'stem in allowing 
Congress to raise revenue from duties on 
imports proved to be not onlv harmonious 
in its federal action, but astonishing in its 
results upon the commerce and trade of all 
the States. The exports from the Union 
increased from $19,000,000 to over $5 6,000,- 
000 per annum, while tlie imports increased 
in about the same proportion. Three new 



chief to quit his repose at Mount Vernon 
and take command of all the United States 
forces, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, 
when war was threatened with France in 
1798, nothing need here be stated, except to 
note the fact as an unmistakable testimo- 
nial of the high regard in which he was still 
held b)' his countrymen, of all shades of po- 
litical opinion. He patriotically accepted 
this trust, but a treaty of peace put a stop 
to all action under it. He again retired to 
Mount Vernon, where, after a short and 
severe illness, he died December 14, 1799, 
in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The 
whole country was filled with gloom b)^ this 
sad intelligence. Men of all parties in poli- 



members had been added to the Union. The tics and creeds in religion, in every State 



progress of the States in their new career 
under their new organization thus far was 
exceedingly encouraging, not only to the 
friends of libertv within their own limits, 
but to their sympathizing allies in all climes 
iuid countries. 



in the Union, united with Congress in " pay- 
ing honor to the man, first in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of his country- 
men." 

His remains were deposited in a fami-.;^ 
vault on the banks of the Potomac at Mount 



Ot the call again made on this illustrious Vernon, where they still lie entombed. 




^,tS^£P^' 



14 



PRhSIDhXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 

















;^oOr\.', i -b 













'4W 




-"'OHN ADAMS, the second 
President of the United 
States, 1797 to 1801, was 
born in the present town 
iSjy_ of Qiiincy, then a portion 
^J" of Braintrce, Massachu- 
setts, October 30, 1735. His 
father was a farmer of mod- 
erate means, a worthy and 
industrious man. He was 
a deacon in the ciuirch, and 
was ver}- desirous of giving 
his son a collegiate educa- 
tion, hoping that he would 
become a minister of the 
gospel. But, as up to this 
time, the age of fourteen, he had been only 
a play-boy in the fields and forests, he had 
no taste for books, he chose farming. On 
being set to work, however, by his father 
out in the field, the very first day con- 
verted the bo}' into a lover of books. 

Accordingly, at the age of sixteen he 
entered Harvard College, and graduated in 
1755, at the age of twenty, highly esteemed 
for integrity, energy and ability. Thus, ' 
having no capital but his education, he 
started out into the stormy world at a time 
of great political excitement, as France and I 
England were then engaged in their great ' 
seven-j'ears struggle for the mastery over 
the New World. The tire of patriotism 



seized young Adams, and for a time he 
studied over the question whether he 
should take to the law, to politics or ihe 
army. He wrote a remarkable letter to a 
friend, making prophecies concerning the 
future greatness of this country which have 
since been more than fulfilled. For two 
years he taught school and studied law, 
wasting no odd moments, and at the ear'v 
age of twenty-two years he opened a law 
office in his native town. His inherited 
powers of mind and untiring devotion to 
his profession caused him to rise rapidly 
in public esteem. 

In October, 1764, Mr. Adams married 
Miss Abigail Smith, daughter of a clerg}-- 
man at Weymouth and a lady of rare per- 
sonal and intellectual endowments, who 
afterward contributed much to her hus- 
band's celebrity. 

Soon the oppression of the British in 
America reached its climax. The Boston 
merchants employed an attorney by the 
name of James Otis to aigue the legality of 
oppressive tax law betore the Superior 
Court. Adams heard the arginnent, and 
afterward wrote to a friend concerning the 
ability displayed, as follows: "Otis was a 
flame of fire. With a promptitude of 
classical allusion, a depth of research, a 
rapid summary of historical events and 
dates, a profusion of legal authorities and a 




/ - s" 




I 




yoH.v A/OAJis. 



'? 



prophetic glance into futurity, he hurried 
away all before him. American independence 
was then and there born. Every man of an 
immensely crowded audience appeared to 
me to go away, as I did, ready to take up 
arms." 

Soon Mr. Adams wrote an essay to be 
read before the literary club of his town, 
upon the state of affairs, which was so alile 
as to attract public attention. It was pub- 
lished in American journals, republished 
in England, and was pronounced by the 
friends of the colonists there as " one of the 
very best productions ever seen from North 
America." 

Tiie memorable Stamp Act was now 
issued, and Adams entered with all the 
ardor of his soul into political life in order 
to resist it. He drew up a series of reso- 
lutions remonstrating against the act, which 
were adopted at a public meeting of the 
citizens of Braintree, and which were sub- 
sequently adopted, word for word, by more 
than forty towns in the State. Popular 
commotion prevented the landing of the 
Stamp Act papers, and the English author- 
ities then closed the courts. The town of 
Boston therefore appointed Jeremv Grid- 
ley, James Otis and John Adams to argue a 
petition before the Governor and council 
for the re-opening of the courts; and while 
the two first mentioned attorne3's based 
their argument upon the distress caused to 
the people by the measure, Adams boldly 
claimed that the Stamp Act was a violation 
both of the English Constitution and the 
charter of the Provinces. It is said that 
this was the first direct denial of the un- 
limited right of Parliament over the colo- 
nies. Soon after this the Stamp Act was 
repealed. 

Directly Mr. .''.dams was emphjyed to 
defend Ansel 1 Nickerson, who had killed an 
Englishman in the act of impressing him 
(Nickerson) into the King's service, and his 
client was acquitted, the court thus estab- 



lishing the principle that the infamous 
royal prerogative of impressment could 
have no existence in the colonial code. 
But in 1770 Messrs. Adams and Josiah 
Quincy defended a party of British soldiers 
who had been arrested for murder when 
they had been onl}' obeying Governmental 
orders ; and when reproached for thus ap- 
parently deserting the cause of popular 
liberty, Mr. Adams replied that he would a 
thousandfold rather live under the domina- 
tion of the worst of England's kings than 
under that of a lawless mob. Next, after 
sjrving a term as a member of the Colonial 
Legislature from Boston, Mr. Adams, find- 
ing his health affected by too great labor, 
retired to his native home at Braintree. 
I The year 1774 soon arrived, with its fa- 
mous Boston '• Tea Party," the first open 
act of rebellion. Adams was sent to the 
Congress at Philadelphia; and when the 
Attorney-General announced tha*^^ Great 
Britain had " determined on her system, 
and that her power to execute it was irre- 
sistible," Adams replied : " I know that 
Great Britain has determined on her sj'S- 
tem, and that very determination deter- 
mines me on mine. You know that I have 
been constant in my opposition to her 
measures. The die is now cast. I have 
passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, live or 
die, with my country, is my unalterable 
determination." The rmnor beginning to 
prevail at Philadelphia that the Congress 
had independence in view, Adams foresaw 
that it was too soon to declare it openly. 
He advised every one to retnain quiet in 
that respect; and as soon as it became ap- 
parent that he himself was for independ- 
ence, he was advised to hide himself, which 
he did. 

The next year the great Revolutionary 
war opened in earnest, and Mrs. Adams, 
residing near Boston, kept her husband ad- 
vised by letter of all the events transpiring 
in her vicinity. The battle of Bunker Hil! 



T-RESIDENTS OF THE U SITED STATES. 



came on. Congress had to do something 
immediately. The first thing was to 
choose a commander-in-chief for the — we 
can't say " army " — the fighting men of the 
colonies. The New England delegation 
was almost imanimous in favor of appoint- 
mg General Ward, then at the head of the 
Massachusetts forces, but Mr. Adams urged 
the appointment of George Washington, 
then almost unknown outside of his own 
State. He was appointed without oppo- 
sition. Mr. Adams offered the resolution, 
which was adopted, annulling all the royai 
autlKjrity in the colonics. Having tiuis 
prepared the way, a fc \v weeks later, viz., 
June 7, 1776, Richard Henrv Lee, of Vir- 
ginia, who a few months before liad declared 
that the British Government would aban- 
don its oi)pressive measures, now offered 
the memorable resolution, seconded by 
Adams, " that these United States are, and 
of right ouglit to be, free and independent." 
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and 
Livingston were then appointed a commit- 
tee to draught a declaration of independ- 
ence. Mr. Jefferson desired Mr. Adams 
to draw up ihe bold document, but the 
latter persuaded Mr. Jefferson to perform 
that responsible task. The Declaration 
drawn up, Mr. Adams became its foremost 
defender on the floor of Congress. It was 
signed b\- all the fifty-five members present, 
and the ne.xt day Mr. Adams wrote to his 
wife how great a deed was done, and how 
proud he was of it. Mi. Adams continued 
to be the leading man of Congress, and 
the leading advocate of American inde- 
pendence. Above all other Americans, 
he was considered by every one the prin- 
cipal shining mark (or British vengeance. 
Thus circumstiuiced, he was appointed to 
the most dangerous task of crossing the 
ocean in winter, exposed to capture by the 
British, who knew of his mission, which 
was to visit Paris and solicit the co-opera- 
tion of the French. Besides, to take him- 



self away from tlie country of which he 
was the most prominent defender, at that 
critical time, was an act of the greatest self- 
sacrifice. Sure enough, while crossing the 
sea, he had two very narrow escapes from 
capture; and the transit was otherwise 2 
stormy and eventful one. During thr 
summer of 1779 he returned home, but was 
immediately dispatched back to France, to 
be in readiness there to negotiate terms of 
peace and commerce with Great Britain as 
soon as the latter power was ready for such 
business. But as Dr. Franklin was more 
|)()pular than heat the court of France, Mr. 
Adams repaired to Holland, where he was 
far more successful as a diplomatist. 

The treaty of peace between the United 
States and England was finally signed at 
Paris, Januarv 21, 1783; and the re-action 
from so great excitement as Mr. Adams had 
so long been experiencing threw him into 
a dangerous fever. ' Before he fully re- 
covered he was in London, whence he was 
dispatched again to Amsterdam to negoti- 
ate another loan. Compliance with this 
order undermined his physical constitution 
for life. 

In 1785 Mr. Adams was appointed envoy 
to the court of St. James, to meet face to 
face the very king who had regarded him 
as an arch traitor ! Accordingly he re- 
paired thither, where he did actually meet 
and converse with George III.! After a 
residence there for about three years, he 
obtained permission to return to America. 
While in London he wrote and published 
an able work, in three volumes, entitled: 
" A Defense of the American Constitution." 

The Articles of Confederation proving 
inefficient, as Adams had prophesied, a 
carefully draughted Constitution was 
adopted in 1789, when George Washington 
was elected President of the new nation, 
and Adams Vice-President. Congress met 
for a time in New York, but was removed 
to Philadelphia for ten years, until suitable 



JOHN ADAMS. 



•S 



buildings should be erected at the new 
capital in the District of Columbia. Mr. 
Adams then moved his family to Phila- 
delphia. Toward the close of his term of 
office the French Revolution culminated, 
when Adams and Washington rather 
sympathized with England, and Jefferson 
with France. The Presidential election of 
1796 resulted in giving Mr. Adams the first 
place by a small majority, and Mr. Jeffer- 
son the second place. 

Mr. Adams's administration was consci- 
entious, patriotic and able. The period 
was a turbulent one, and even an archangel 
■ could not have reconciled the hostile par- 
ties. Partisanism with reference to Eng- 
land and France was bitter, and for four 
years ^f r. Adams struggled through almost 
a constant tempest of assaults. In fact, he 
was not truly a popular man, and his cha- 
grin at not receiving a re-election was so 
great that he did not even remain at Phila- 
delphia to witness the inauguration of Mr. 
Jefferson, his successor. The friendly 
intimacy between these two men was 
interrupted for about thirteen years of their 
life. Adams finally made the first advances 
toward a restoration of their mutual friend- 
ship, which were gratefully accepted by 
Jefferson. 

Mr. Adams was glad of his opportunity 
to retire to private lite, where he could rest 
his mind and enjoy the comforts of home. 
By a thousand bitter experiences he found 
the path of public duty a thorny one. For 
twenty-six years his service of the public 
was as arduous, self-sacrificing and devoted 
as ever fell to the lot of man. In one im- 
portant sense he was as much the " Father 
o( his Country " as was Washington in 
another sense. During these long years of 
anxiety and toil, in which he was laying, 
broad and deep, the foundations of the 



greatest nation the sun ever shone upon, he 
received from his impoverished country a 
meager support. The only privilege he 
carried with him into his retirement was 
that of franking his letters. 

Although taking no active part in public 
affairs, both himself and his son, John 
Quincy, nobly supported the policy of Mr. 
Jefferson in resisting the encroachm.ents of 
England, who persisted in searching 
American ships on the high seas and 
dragging from them any sailors that might 
be designated by any pert lieutenant as 
British subjects. Even for this noble sup- 
port Mr. Adams was maligned by thou- 
sands of bitter enemies ! On this occasion, 
for the first time since his retirement, he 
broke silence and drew up a very able 
paper, exposing the atrocity of the British 
pretensions. 

Mr. Adams outlived nearly all his family. 
Though his physical frame began to give 
way many years before his death, his mental 
powers retained their strength and vigor to 
the last. In his ninetieth year he was 
gladdened by the popular elevation of his 
son to the Presidential office, the highest in 
the gift of the people. A few months more 
passed away and the 4th of July, 1826, 
arrived. The people, unaware of the near 
approach of the end of two great lives — 
that of Adams and Jefferson — were making 
unusual preparations for a national holiday. 
Mr. Adams fay upon his couch, listening to 
the ringing of bells, the waftures of martial 
music and the roar of cannon, with silent 
emotion. Only four days before, he had 
given for a public toast, " Independence 
forever." About two o'clock in the after- 
noon he said, "And Jefferson still survives." 
But he was mistaken by an hour or so; 
and in a few minutes he had breathed his 
last. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




JHHHS 






K^^^^^^^Wr^r^'frrJr^rJ-^r^r'rJr^r^rJT^.^rJr-r^^^.Jj^r^r'JrJrJ 




H O M A S J E F F E R- 
son, the third Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, 1 801-9, ^^38 
born April 2, 1743, 
the eldest child of 
iiis parents, Peter 
and Jane (Randolph) Jef- 
ferson, near Charlottes- 
ville, Albemarle County, 
Virginia, upon the slopes 
of the Blue Ridge. When 
he -was fourteen years of 
age, his fatlier died, Icav- 
_ I widow and eight 
children. She was a beau- 
tiful and accomplished 
lady, a good letter-writer, with a fund of 
humor, and an admirable housekeeper. His 
parents belonged totlic Church of England, 
and are said to be of Welch origin. But 
little is known of them, however. 

Thomas was naturally of a serious turn 
of mind, apt to learn, and a favorite at 
school, his choice studies being mathemat- 
ics and the classics. At the age of seven- 
teen he entered William and Mary College, 
in an advanced class, and lived in rather an 
expensive style, consequently being much 
caressed by gay society. That he was not 
ruined, is proof of his stamina of character. 
But during his second year he discarded 



society, his horses and even his favorite 
violin, and devoted thenceforward fifteen 
hours a day to hard study, becoming ex- 
traordinaril}^ proficient in Latin and Greek 
authors. 

On leaving college, before he was twenty- 
one, he commenced the study of law, and 
pursued it diligently until he was well 
qualified for practice, upon which he 
entered in 1767. By this time he was also 
versed in French, Spanish, Italian and An- 
glo-Saxon, and in the criticism of the fine 
arts. Being very polite and polished in his 
manners, he won the friendship of all whom 
he met. Though able with his pen, he was 
not fluent in public speech. 

In 1769 he was chosen a member of the 
Virginia Legislature, and was the largest 
slave-holding member of that body. He 
introduced a bill empowering slave-holders 
to manumit their slaves, but it was rejected 
by an overwhelming vote. 

In 1770 Mr. Jeflerson met with a great 
loss ; his house at Shadwell was burned, 
and his valuable library of 2,000 volumes 
was consumed. But he was wealthy 
enough to replace the most of it, as from 
his 5,000 acres tilled by slaves and his 
practice at the bar his income amounted to 
about $5,000 a year. 

In 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, 
a beautiful, wealthy and accomplished 





'/^rrr^ 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



23 



young widow, who owned 40,000 acres of 
land and 130 slaves; yet he labored assidu- 
ously for the abolition of slavery. For his 
new home he selected a majestic rise of 
land upon his large estate at Shad well, 
called Monticello, whereon he erected a 
mansion of modest yet elegant architecture. 
Here he lived in luxury, indulging his taste 
in magnificent, high-blooded horses. 

At this period the British Government 
gradually became more insolent and op- 
pressive toward the American colonies, 
and Mr. Jefferson was ever one of the most 
foremost to resist its encroachments. From 
time to time he drew up resolutions of re- 
monstrance, which were finally adopted, 
thus proving his ability as a statesman and 
as a leader. By the year 1774 he became 
quite busy, both with voice and pen, in de- 
fending the right of the colonies to defend 
themselves. His pamphlet entitled : " A 
Summary View of the Rights of British 
America," attracted much attention in Eng- 
land. The following year he, in company 
with George Washington, served as an ex- 
ecutive committee in measures to defend 
by arms the State of Virginia. As a Mem- 
ber of the Congress, he was not a speech- 
maker, yet in conversation and upon 
committees he was so frank and decisive 
that he always m>ade a favorable impression. 
But as late as the autumn of 1775 he re- 
mained in hopes of reconciliation with the 
parent country. 

At length, however, the hour arrived for 
draughting the " Declaration of Indepen- 
dence," and this responsible task was de- 
volved upon Jefferson. Franklin, and 
Adams suggested a few verbal corrections 
before it was submitted to Congress, which 
was June 28, 1776, only six days before it 
was adopted. During the three days of 
the fiery ordeal of criticism through which 
it passed in Congress, Mr. Jefferson opened 
not his lips. John Adams was the main 
champion of the Declaration on the floor 



of Congress. The signing of this document 
was one of the most solemn and momentous 
occasions ever attended to by man. Prayer 
and silence reigned throughout the hall, 
and each signer realized that if American 
independence was not finally sustained by 
arms he was doomed to the scaffold. 

After the colonies became independent 
States, Jefferson resigned for a time his seat 
in Congress in order to aid in organizing 
the government of Virginia, of which State 
he was chosen Governor in 1779, when he 
was thirty-six years of age. At this time 
the British had possession of Georgia and 
were invading South Carolina, and at one 
time a British officer, Farleton, sent a 
secret expedition to Monticello to capture 
the Governor. Five minutes after Mr. 
Jefferson escaped with his family, his man- 
sion was in possession of the enemy ! The 
British troops also destroyed his valuable 
plantation on the James River. " Had they 
carried off the slaves," said Jefferson, with 
characteristic magnanimity, " to give them 
freedom, they would have done right." 

The year 1781 was a gloomy one for the 
Virginia Governor. While confined to his 
secluded home in the forest by a sick and 
dying wife, a party arose against him 
throughout the State, severely criticising 
his course as Governor. Being very sensi- 
tive to reproach, this touched him to the 
quick, and the heap of troubles then sur- 
rounding him nearly crushed him. He re- 
solved, in despair, to retire from public life 
for the rest of his days. For weeks Mr. 
Jefferson sat lovingly, but with a crushed 
heart, at the bedside of his sick wife, during 
which time unfeeling letters were sent to 
him, accusing him of weakness and unfaith- 
fulness to duty. All this, after he had lost 
so much property and at the same time 
done so much for his country ! After her 
death he actually fainted away, and re- 
mained so long insensible that it was feared 
he never would recover! Several weeks 



24 



P/l£S/DE.VrS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



passed before he could fully recover his 
equilibrium. He was never married a 
second time. 

In the spring of 1782 the people of Eng- 
land compelled their king to make to the 
Americans overtures of peace, and in No- 
vember following, Mr. Jefferson was reap- 
pointed by Congress, unanimously and 
without a single adverse remark, minister 
plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty. 

In JNIarch, 1784, Mr. Jefferson was ap- 
pointed on a committee to draught a plan 
for the government of the Northwestern 
Territory. His slavery-prohibition clause 
in that plan was stricken out by the pro- 
slavery majorit) of the committee; but amid 
all the controversies and wrangles of poli- 
ticians, he made it a rule never to contra- 
dict anybody or engage in any discussion 
as a debater. 

In company with Mr. Adams and Dr. 
Franklin, Mr. Jefferson was appointed in 
May, 1784, to act as minister plenipotentiary 
in the negotiation of treaties of commerce 
with foreign nations. Accordingly, he went 
to Paris and satisfactorily accomplished his 
mission. The suavity and high bearing of 
his manner made all the French his friends; 
and even Mrs. Adams at one time wrote 
to her sister that he was " the chosen 
of the earth." But all the honors that 
he received, both at home and abroad, 
seemed to make no change in the simplicity 
of his republican tastes. On his return to 
America, he found two parties respecting 
the foreign commercial policy, Mr. Adams 
sympathizing with that in favor of England 
and himself favoring France. 

On the inauguration of General Wash- 
ington as President, Mr. Jefferson was 
chosen by him for the office of Secretary of 
State. At this time the rising storm of the 
French Revolution became visible, and 
Washington watched it with great anxiety. 
His cabinet was divided in their views of 
constitutional government as well as re- 



garding the issues in France. General 
Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, was 
the leader of the so-called Federal party, 
while Mr. Jefferson was the leader of the 
Republican party. At the same time there 
was a strong monarchical party in this 
country, with which Mr. Adams sympa- 
thized. Some important financial measures, 
which were proposed by Hamilton and 
finally adopted by the cabinet and approved 
by Washington, were opposed by Mr. 
Jefferson ; and his enemies then began to 
reproach him with holding office under an 
administration whose views he opposed. 
The President poured oil on the troubled 
waters. On his re-election to the Presi- 
dency he desired Mr. Jefferson to remain 
in the cabinet, but the latter sent in his 
resignation at two different times, probably 
because he was dissatisfied with some of 
the measures of the Government. His 
final one was not received until January i, 
1794, when General Washington parted 
from him with great regret. 

Jefferson then retired to his quiet home 
at Monticello, to enjoy a good rest, not even 
reading the newspapers lest the political 
gossip should disquiet him. On the Presi- 
dent's again calling him back to the office 
of Secretarj' of State, he replied that no 
circumstances would ever again tempt him 
to engage in anything public! But, while 
all Europe was ablaze with war, and France 
in the throes of a bloody revolution and the 
principal theater of the conflict, a new 
Presidential election in this country came 
on. John Adams was the Federal candi- 
date and Mr. Jefferson became the Republi- 
can candidate. The result of the election 
was the promotion of the latter to the Vice- 
Presidency, whilp the former was chosen 
President. In this contest Mr. Jefferson 
really did not desire to have either office, 
he was " so weary " of party strife. He 
loved the retirement of home more than 
any other place on the earth. 



THOMAS yEFPEHSON. 



25 



But for four long years his Vice-Presi- 
dency passed joylessly awaj', while the 
partisan strife between Federalist and Re- 
publican was ever growing hotter. The 
former party split and the result of the 
fourth general election was the elevation of 
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency ! with 
Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men 
being at the head of a growing party, their 
election was hailed everywhere with joy. 
On the other hand, many of the Federalists 
turned pale, as they believed what a portion 
of the pulpit and the press had been preach- 
ing — that Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist," 
a "Jacobin," the "incarnation of all evil," 
" breathing threatening and slaughter ! " 

Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address con- 
tained nothing but the noblest sentiments, 
e.xpressed in fine language, and his personal 
behavior afterward exhibited the extreme 
of American, democratic simplicity. His 
disgust of European court etiquette grew 
upon him with age. He believed that 
General Washington was somewhat dis- 
trustful of the ultimate success of a popular 
Government, and that, imbued with a little 
admiration of the forms of a monarchical 
Government, he had instituted levees, birth- 
day's, pompous meetings with Congress, 
etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to 
slaves everywhere he met them, and carried 
in his countenance the indications of an ac- 
commodating disposition. 

The political principles of the Jeffersoni- 
an party now swept the country, and Mr. 
Jefferson himself swayed an influence which 
was never exceeded even by Washington. 
Under his administration, in 1803, the Lou- 
isiana purchase was made, for $15,000,000, 
the " Louisiana Territory " purchased com- 
prising all the land west of the Mississippi 
to the Pacific Ocean. 

The year 1804 witnessed another severe 
loss in his famil}'. His highl}' accomplished 
and most beloved daughter Maria sickened 
and died, causing as great grief in the 



stricken parent as it was possible for him to 
survive with any degree of sanity. 

The same year he was re-elected to the 
Presidency, with George Clinton as Vice- 
President. During his second term our 
relations with England became more com- 
plicated, and on June 22, 1807, near Hamp- 
ton Roads, the United States frigate 
Chesapeake was fired upon by the Brit- 
ish man-of-war Leopard, and was made 
to surrender. Three men were killed and 
ten wounded. Jefferson demanded repara- 
tion. England grew insolent, ft became 
evident that war was determined upon by 
the latter power. More than 1,200 Ameri- 
cans were forced into the British service 
upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory 
solution was reached, Mr. Jefferson's 
Presidential term closed. Amid all these 
public excitements he thought constantly 
of the welfare of his family, and longed 
for the time when he could return home 
to remain. There, at Monticello, his sub- 
sequent life was ver}' similar to that of 
Washington .at Mt. Vernon. His hospi- 
tality toward his numerous friends, indul- 
gence of his slaves, and misfortunes to his 
property, etc., finally involved him in debt. 
For years his home resembled a fashion- 
able watering-place. During the summer, 
thirty-seven house servants were required ! 
It was presided over by his daughter, Mrs. 
Randolph. 

Mr. Jefferson did much for the establish- 
ment of the University at Charlottesville, 
making it unsectarian, in keeping with the 
spirit of American institutions, but poverty 
and the feebleness of old age prevented 
liim from doing what he would. He even 
went so far as to petition the Legislature 
for permission to dispose of some of his 
possessions by lottery, in order to raise the 
necessary funds for home expenses. It was 
granted ; but before the plan was carried 
out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, at 

12:50 P. M. 



26 



PRES/DENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 








AMES MADISON, the 
fourth President of the 
United States, iSocj-'ij, 
was born at Port Con- 
waj', Prince George 
County, \'irgini:i, March 
i6, 1 75 1. His father, 
Colonel James Madison, was 
a weahhv planter, residing 
upon a very fine estate 
called " Montpelier," onl}' 
t\vent3-five miles from the 
home of Thomas Jefferson 
at Monticello. The closest 
personal and jiolitical at- 
tachment existed between 
these illustrious men from their early 3'outh 
until death. 

James was the eldest of a family of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters, all 
of whom attained maturity. His early edu- 
cation was conducted mostly at home, 
under a private tutor. Being naturally in- 
tellectual in his tastes, he consecrated him- 
self with unusual vigor to study . At a very 
early age he made considerable proficiency 
in the Greek, Latin, French and Spanish 
languages. In 1769 he entered Princeton 
College, New Jersey, of which the illus- 
trious Dr. Weatherspoon was then Presi- 
dent. He graduated in 1771, with a char- 



acter of the utmost purity, and a mind 
highl}- disciplined and stored with all the 
learning which embellished and gave effi- 
ciency to his subsequent career. After 
graduating he pursued a course of reading 
for several months, under the guidance of 
President Weatherspoon, and in 1772 re- 
turned to Virginia, where he continued in 
incessant study for two years, nominally 
directed to the law, but really including 
extended researches in theology, philoso- 
phy and general literature. 

The Church of England was the estab- 
lished church in Virginia, invested with all 
the prerogatives and immunities which it 
enjoyed in the fatherland, and other de- 
nominations labored under serious disabili- 
ties, the enforcement of which was rightl}- 
or wrongly characterized by them as per- 
secution. Madison took a jirominent stand 
in behalf of the removal of all disabilities, 
repeatedly appeared in the court of his own 
county to defend the Baptist nonconform- 
ists, and was elected from Orange County to 
the Virginia Convention in the spring of 
1766, when he signalized the beginning of 
his public career by procuring the passage 
of an amendment to the Declaration of 
Rights as prepared by George Mason, sub- 
stituting for " toleration" a more emphatic 
assertion of religious liberty. 



•s?* 




J liLc.'^'--^ /yO{ a<.^^^ iT-i^ 



yAMES MAD/SON. 



39 



In 1776 he was elected a member of the 
Virgmia Convention to frame the Constitu- 
tion of the State. Like Jefferson, he took 
but little part in the public debates. His 
main strength lay in his conversational in- 
fluence and in his pen. In November, 1777, 
he was chosen a member of the Council of 
State, and in March, 1780, took his seat in 
the Continental Congress, where he first 
gained prominence through his energetic 
opposition to the issue of paper money by 
the States. He continued in Congress three 
vears, one of its most active and influential 
members. 

In 1784 Mr. Madison was elected a mem- 
ber of the Virginia Legislature. He ren- 
dered important service by promoting and 
participating in that revision of the statutes 
which effectually abolished the remnants of 
the feudal system subsistent up to that 
time in the form of entails, primogeniture, 
and State support given the Anglican 
Church ; and his " Memorial and Remon- 
strance" against a general assessment for 
the support of religion is one of the ablest 
papers which emanated from his pen. It 
settled the question of the entire separation 
of church and State in Virginia. 

Mr. Jefferson says of him, in allusion to 
the study and experience through which he 
had already passed : 

" Trained in these successive schools, he 
acquired a habit of self-possession which 
placed at ready command the rich resources 
of his luminous and discriminating mind and 
of his extensive information, and rendered 
him the first of every assembly of which he 
afterward became a member. Never wan- 
dering from his subject into vain declama- 
tion, but pursuing it closely in language 
pure, classical and copious, soothing al- 
ways the feelings of his adversaries by civili- 
ties and softness of expression, he rose to the 
eminent station which he held in the great 
Nacional Convention of 1787 ; and in that of 
Virginia, which followed, he sustained the 



new Constitution in all its parts, bearing off 
the palm against the logic of George Mason 
and the fervid declamation of Patrick 
Henr3^ With these consummate powers 
were united a pure and spotless virtue 
which no calumny has ever attempted to 
sully. Of the power and polish of his pen, 
and of the wisdom of his administration in 
the highest office of the nation, I need say 
nothing. They have spoken, and will for- 
ever speak, for themselves." 

In January, 1786, Mr. Madison took the 
initiative in proposing a meeting of State 
Commissioners to devise measures for more 
satisfactory commercial relations between 
the States. A meeting was held at An- 
napolis to discuss this subject, and but five 
States were represented. The convention 
issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madi- 
son, urging all the States to send their dele- 
gates to Philadelphia, in Ma)', 1787, to 
draught a Constitution for the United 
States. The delegates met at the time ap- 
pointed, ever}' State except Rhode Island 
being represented. George Washington 
was chosen president of the convention, 
and the present Constitution of the United 
States was then and there formed. There 
was no mind and no pen more active in 
framing this immortal document than the 
mind and pen of James Madison. He was, 
perhaps, its ablest advocate in the pages of 
the Federalist. 

Mr. Madison was a member of the first 
four Congresses, i789-'97, in which he main- 
tained a moderate opposition to Hamilton's 
financial policy. He declined the mission 
to France and the Secretaryship of State, 
and, graduall)' identifying himself with the 
Republican party, became fropi 1792 its 
avowed leader. In 1796 he was its choice 
for the Presidency as successor to Wash- 
ington. Mr. Jefferson wrote : " There is 
not another person in the United States 
with whom, being placed at the helm of our 
affairs, my mind would be so completely at 



30 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



rest for the fortune of our political bark." 
But Mr. Madison declined to be a candi- 
date. His term in Congress had expired, 
and he returned from New York to his 
beautiful retreat at Montpelier. 

In 1794 Mr. Madison married a young 
widow of remarkable powers of fascination 
— Mrs. Todd. Her maiden name was Doro- 
thy Paine. She was born in 1767, in Vir- 
ginia, of Quaker parents, and had been 
educated in the strictest rules of that sect. 
When but eighteen years of age she married 
a young lawyer and moved to Philadelphia, 
where she was introduced to brilliant scenes 
of fashionable life. She speedily laid aside 
the dress and address of the Quakeress, and 
became one of the most fascinating ladies 
of the republican court. In New York, 
alter the death of her husband, she was the 
belle of the season and was surrounded with 
admirers. Mr. Madison won the prize. 
She proved an invaluable helpmate. In 
Washington she was the life of society. 
If there was any diffident, timid young 
girl just making her appearance, she 
found in Mrs. Madison an encouraging 
friend. 

During the storm v administration of John 
Adams Madison remained in private life, 
but was the author of the celebrated " Reso- 
lutions of 1798," adopted by the Virginia 
Legislature, in condemnation of the Alien 
and Sedition laws, as well as of the " report" 
in which he defended those resolutions, 
which is, by many, considered his ablest 
State paper. 

The storm passed away ; the Alien and 
Sedition laws were repealed, John Adams 
lost his re-election, and in 1801 Thomas Jef- 
ferson was chosen President. The great re- 
action in public sentiment which seated 
Jefferson in the presidential chair was large- 
ly owing to the writings of Madison, who 
was consequently well entitled to the post 
of Secretary of State. With great abilit}' 
he discharged the duties of this responsible 



office during the eight years of Mr. Jeffer- 
son's administration. 

As Mr. Jefferson was a widower, and 
neither of his daughters could be often with 
him, Mrs. Madison usually presided over 
the festivities of the White House; and as 
her husband succeeded Mr. Jefferson, hold- 
ing his office for two terms, this remarkable 
woman was the mistress of the presidential 
mansion for sixteen years. 

Mr. Madison being entirely engrossed by 
the cares of his office, all the duties of so- 
cial life devolved upon his accomplished 
wife. Never were such responsibilities 
more ably discharged. The most bitter 
foes of her husband and of the administra- 
tion were received with the frankly prof- 
fered hand and the cordial smile of wel- 
come; and the influence of this gentle 
woman in allaying the bitterness of party 
rancor became a great and salutary power 
in the nation. 

As the term of Mr. Jefferson's Presidency 
drew near its close, party strife was roused 
to the utmost to elect his successor. It was 
a death-grapple between the two great 
parties, the Federal and Republican. Mr. 
Madison was chosen President by an elec 
toral vote of 123 to 53, and was inaugurated 
March 4, 1809, at a critical period, when 
the relations of the United States witb Great 
Britain were becoming embittered, and his 
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels, 
aggravated by the act of non-intercourse of 
May, 1 8 10, and finally resulting in a decla- 
ration of war. 

On the i8th of June, 1812, President 
Madison gave his approval to an act of 
Congress declaring war against Great Brit- 
ain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility 
of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved ; and in the autumn 
Madison was re-elected to the Presidency 
by 128 electoral votes to 89 in favor of 
George Clinton. 

March 4, 1817, Madison yielded the Presi- 



yAMES MADISON. 



3' 



dency to his Secretary of State and inti- 
mate friend, James Monroe, and retired to 
his ancestral estate at Montpelier, where he 
passed the evening of his days surrounded 
by attached friends and enjoying the 
merited respect of the whole nation. He 
took pleasure in promoting agriculture, as 
president of the county society, and in 
watching the development of the University 
of Virginia, of whicli he was long rector and 
visitor. In extreme old age he sat in 1829 
as a member of the convention called to re- 
form the Virginia Constitution, where his 
appearance was hailed with the most gen- 
uine interest and satisfaction, though he 
was too infirm io participate in the active 
work of revision. Small in stature, slender 
and delicate in form, with a countenance 
full of intelligence, and expressive alike of 
mildness and dignity, he attracted the atten- 
tion of all who attended the convention, 
and was treated with the utmost deference. 
He seldom addressed the assembly, though 
he always appeared self-possessed, and 
watched with unflagging interest the prog- 
ress of every measure. Though the con- 
vention sat sixteen weeks, he spoke only 
twice ; but when he did speak, the whole 
house paused to listen. His voice was 
feeble though his enunciation was very dis- 
tinct. One of the reporters, Mr. Stansburv, 
relates the following anecdote of Mr. Madi- 
son's last speech: 

" The next day, as there was a great call 
for it, and the report had not been returned 
for publication, I sent my son with a re- 
spectful note, requesting the manuscript. 
My son was a lad of sixteen, whom I had 
taken with me to act as amanuensis. On 
delivering my note, he was received with 
the utmost politeness, and requested to 
come up into Mr. Madison's room and wait 
while his eye ran over the paper, as com- 
pany had prevented his attending to it. He 
did so, and Mr. Madison sat down to correct 
the report. The lad stood near him so that 



his eye fell on the paper. Coming to a 
certain sentence in the speech, Mr. Madison 
erased a word and substituted another ; but 
hesitated, and not feeling satisfied with the 
second .word, drew his pen through it also. 
My son was young, ignorant of the world, 
and unconscious of the solecism of which he 
was about to be guilty, when, in all simplic- 
ity, he suggested a word. Probably no 
other person then living would have taken 
such a liberty. But the sage, instead o( 
regarding such an intrusion with a frown, 
raised his eyes to the boy's face with a 
pleased surprise, and said, ' Thank you, sir ; 
it is the very word,' and immediately in- 
serted it. I saw him the next day, and he 
mentioned the circumstance, with a compli- 
ment on the 3^oung critic." 

Mr. Madison died at Montpelier, June 28, 
1836, at the advanced age of eighty-five. 
While not possessing the highest order of 
talent, and deficient in oratorical powers, 
he was pre-eminently a statesman, of a well- 
balanced mind. His attainments were solid, 
his knowledge copious, his judgment gener- 
ally sound, his powers of anal3-sis and logi- 
cal statement rarely surpassed, his language 
and literary style correct and polished, his 
conversation witty, his temperament san- 
guine and trusfful, his integrity unques- 
tioned, his manners simple, courteous and 
winning. By these rare qualities he con- 
ciliated the esteem not only of friends, but 
of political opponents, in a greater degree 
than any American statesman in the present 
centurv. 

Mrs. Madison survived her husband thir- 
teen years, and died July 12, 1849, in the 
eighty-second year of her age. She was one 
of the most remarkable women our coun- 
try has produced. Even now she is ad- 
miringly remembered in Washington as 
" Dolly Madison," and it is fitting that her 
memor}' should descend to posterity in 
company with thatof the companion of 
her life. 



p 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN/TJ^D STATES. 



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AMES MONROE, the fifth 
President of the United 
States, i8i7-'25, was born 
in Westmoreland County 
Virginia, April 28, 1758. 
He was a son of Spence 
Monroe, and a descendant 
of a Scottish cavalier fam- 
ily. Like all his predeces- 
sors thus far in the Presi- 
dential chair, he enjoyed all 
the advantages of educa- 
tion which the country 
could then afford. He was 
early sent to a fine classical 
school, and at the age of six- 
teen entered William and Mary College.. 
In 1776, when he had been in college but 
two years, the Declaration of Independence 
was adopted, and our feeble militia, with- 
out arms, amunition or clothing, were strug- 
gling against the trained armies of England. 
James Monroe left college, hastened to 
General Washington's headquarters at New 
York and enrolled himself as a cadet in the 
army. 

At Trenton Lieutenant Monroe so dis- 
tinguished himself, receiving a wound in his 
shoulder, that he was promoted to a Cap- 
taincy. Upon recovering from his wound, 
he was invited to act as aide to Lord Ster- 
ling, and in that capacity he took an active 
part ill the battles of Brandy wine, Ger- 
oiantownand Monmouth. At Germantown 



he stood by the side of Lafayette when the 
French Marquis received his wound. Gen- 
eral Washington, who had formed a high 
idea of young Monroe's ability, sent him to 
Virginia to raise a new regiment, of which 
he was to be Colonel; but so exhausted was 
Virginia at that time that the effort proved 
unsuccessful. He, however, received his 
commission. 

Finding no opportunity to enter the army 
as a commissioned officer, he returned to his 
original plan of studying law, and entered 
the office of Thomas Jefferson, who was 
then Governor of Virginia. He developed 
a very noble character, frank, manly atid 
sincere. Mr. Jefferson said of him: 

"James Monroe is so perfectl}' honest 
that if his soul were turned inside out there 
would not be found a spot on it." 

In 1782 he was elected to the Assembly 
of Virginia, and was also appointed a mem- 
ber of the Executive Council. The next 
year he was chosen delegate to the Conti- 
nental Congress for a term of three years. 
He was present at Annapolis when Wash- 
ington surrendered his commission of Com- 
mander-in-chief. 

With Washington, Jefferson and Madison 
he felt deeply the inefficiency of the old 
Articles of Confederation, and urged the 
formation of a new Constitution, which 
should invest the Central Government with 
something like national power. Influenced 
by these views, he introduced a resolution 



yAMES MONROE. 



ii 



that Congress should be empowered to 
regulate trade, and to lay an impost duty 
of five per cent. The resolution was refer- 
red to a committee of which he was chair- 
man. The report and the discussion which 
rose upon it led to the convention of five 
States at Annapolis, and the consequent 
general convention at Philadelphia, which, 
in 1787, drafted the Constitution of the 
United States. 

At this time there was a controversy be- 
tween New York and Massachusetts in 
reference to their boundaries. The high 
esteem in which Colonel Monroe was held 
is indicated by the fact that he was ap- 
pointed one of the judges to decide the 
controversy-. While in New York attend- 
ing Congress, he married Miss Kortright, 
a young lady distinguished alike for her 
beauty and accomplishments. For nearl}' 
fifty years this happy union remained un- 
broken. In London and in Paris, as in her 
own country, Mrs. Monroe won admiration 
and affection by the loveliness of her per- 
son, the brilliancy of her intellect, and the 
amiability of her character. 

Returning to Virginia, Colonel Monroe 
commenced the practice of law at Freder- 
icksburg. He was very soon elected to a 
seat in the State Legislature, and the ne.xt 
year he was chosen a member of the Vir- 
ginia convention which was assembled to 
decide upon the acceptance or rejection of 
the Constitution which had been drawn up 
at Philadelphia, and was now submitted 
to the several States. Deeply as he felt 
the imperfections of the old Confederacy, 
he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
thinking, with many others of the Republi- 
can party, that it gave too much power to 
the Central Government, and not enough 
to the individual States. 

In 1789 he became a member of the 
United States Senate, which office he held 
acceptably to his constituents, and with 
honor to himself for four years. 



Having opposed the Constitution as not 
leaving enough power with the States, he, 
of course, became more and more identi- 
fied with the Republican party. Thus he 
found himself in cordial co-operation with 
Jefferson and Madison. The great Repub- 
lican part}' became the dominant power 
which ruled the land. 

George Washington was then President. 
England had espoused the cause of the 
Bourbons against the principles of the 
French Revolution. President Washing- 
ton issued a proclamation of neutralit}- be- 
tween these contending powers. France 
had helped us in the struggle for our lib- 
erties. All the despotisms of Europe were 
now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from tyranny a thousandfold 
worse than that which we had endured. 
Colonel Monroe, more magnanimous than 
prudent, was anxious that we should help 
our old allies in their extremity. He vio- 
lently opposed the President's procla- 
mation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimity. 

Washington, who could appreciate such 
a character, developed his calm, serene, 
almost divine greatness bv appointing that 
very James Monroe, who was denouncing 
the policy of the Government, as the Minis- 
ter of that Government to the republic of 
France. He was directed b)'' Washington 
to express to the French people our warm- 
est sympathy, communicating to them cor- 
responding resolves approved by the Pres- 
ident, and adopted b}' both houses of 
Congress. 

Mr. Monroe was welcomed by the Na- 
tional Convention in France with the most 
enthusiastic demonstrations of respect and 
affection. He was publicl}' introduced to 
that body, and received the embrace of the 
President, Merlin de Douay, after having 
been addressed in a speech glowing with 
congratulations, and with expressions of 
desire that harmony might ever exist be 



36 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



tween the two nations. Tlie flags of the 
two republics were intertwined in the hall 
of the convention. Mr. Monroe presented 
the American colors, and received those of 
France in return. The course which he 
pursued in Paris was so annoying to Eng- 
land and to the friends of England in 
this country that, near the close of Wash- 
ir.gton's administration, Mr. Monroe, was 
recalled. 

After his return Colonel Monroe wrote a 
book of 400 pages, entitled " A View of the 
Conduct of the Executive in Foreign Af- 
fairs." In this work he ver}' ably advo- 
cated his side of the question; but, with 
the magnanimitv of the man, he recorded a 
warm tribute to the patriotism, ability and 
spotless integrity of John Jay, between 
whom and himself there was intense antag- 
onism ; and in subsequent years he ex- 
pressed in warmest terms his perfect 
veneration for the character of George 
Washington. 

Shortly after his return to this country 
Colonel Monroe was elected Governor of 
Virginia, and held that office iov three 
3ears, the period limited by the Constitu- 
tion. In 1802 he was an Envoy to France, 
and to Spain in 1805, and was Minister to 
England in 1803. In 1.806 he returned to 
his quiet home in Virginia, and with his 
wife and children and an ample competence 
from his paternal estate, enjoyed a few years 
of domestic repose. 

In 1809 Mr. Jefferson's second term of 
'office expired, and many of the Republican 
party were anxious to nominate James 
Monroe as his successor. The majority 
were in favor of Mr. Madison. Mr. Mon- 
roe withdrew his name and was soon after 
chosen a second time Governor of Virginia. 
He soon resigned that office to accept the 
position of Secretary of State, offered him 
by President Madison. The correspond- 
ence which he then carried on with the 
British Government demonstrated that 



there was no hope of any peaceful adjust- 
ment of our difficulties with the cabinet of 
St. James. War was consequently declared 
in June, 181 2. Immediately after the sack 
of Washingt<5n the Secretary of War re- 
signed, and Mr. Monroe, at the earnest 
request of Mr. Madison, assumed the ad- 
ditional duties of the War Department, 
without resigning his position as Secretary 
of State. It has been confidentl}' stated, 
that, had Mr. Monroe's energies been in the 
War Department a few months earlier, the 
disaster at Washington would not have 
occurred. 

The duties now devolving upon Mr. Mon- 
roe were extremely arduous. Ten thou- 
sand men, picked from the veteran armies 
of England, were sent with a powerful fleet 
to New Orleans to acquire possession of 
the mouths of the Mississippi. Our finan- 
ces were in the most deplorable condition. 
The treasurj' was exhausted and our credit 
gone. And ^-et it was necessary "to make 
the most rigorous preparations to meet the 
foe. In this crisis James Monroe, the Sec- 
retary of War, with virtue unsurpassed in 
Greek or Roman story, stepped forward 
and pledged his own individual credit as 
subsidiary to that of the nation, and thus 
succeeded in placing the city of New Or- 
leans in such a posture of defense, that it 
was enabled successfull}- to repel the in- 
vader. 

Mr. Monroe was trul}' the armor-bearer 
of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. His energy 
in the double capacity of Secretary, both 
of State and War, pervaded all the depart- 
ments of the country. He proposed to 
increase the army to 100,000 men, a meas- 
ure which he deemed absolutely necessary 
to save us from ignominious defeat, but 
which, at the same time, he knew would 
render his name so unpopular as to preclude 
the possibility of his being a successful can- 
didate for the Presidency. 



JAMES MONROE. 



7,1 



The happy result of the conference at 
Ghent in securing peace rendered the in- 
crease of the army unnecessary; but it is not 
too much to say that James Monroe placed 
in the hands of Andrew Jackson the 
weapon with which to beat off the foe at 
New Orleans. Upon the return of peace 
Mr. Monroe resigned the department of 
war, devoting himself entirely to the duties 
of Secretary of State. These he continued 
to discharge until the close of President 
Madison's administration, with zeal which 
was never abated, and with an ardor of 
self-devotion which made him almost for- 
getful of the claims of fortune, health or 
life. 

Mr. Madison's second term expired in 
March, 1817, and Mr. Monroe succeeded 
to the Presidency. He was a candidate of 
the Republican party, now taking the name 
of the Democratic Republican. In 1821 he 
was re-slected, with scarcely any opposition. 
Out cf 232 electoral votes, he received 231. 
The slavery question, which subsequently 
assumed such formidable dimensions, now 
began to make its appearance. The State 
of Missouri, which had been carved out of 
that immense territory which we had pur- 
chased of France, applied for admission to 
the Union, with a slavery Constitution. 
There were not a few who foresaw the 
evils impending. After the debate of a 
week it was decided that Missouri could 
not be admitted into the Union with slav- 
ery. This important question was at length 
settled by a compromise proposed by 
Henr}' Clay. 

The famous "Monroe Doctrine," of which 
so much has been said, originated in this 
way: In 1823 it was rumored that the 
H0I3' Alliance was about to interfere to 
prevent the establishment of Republican 
liberty in the European colonies of South 
America. President Monroe wrote to his 
old friend Thomas Jefferson for advice in 
the emergency. In his reply under date of 



October 24, Mr. Jefferson writes upon the 
supposition that our attempt to resist this 
European movement might lead to war: 

" Its object is to introduce and establish 
the i\.merican system of keeping out of our 
land all foreign powers; of never permitting 
those of Europe to intermeddle with the 
affairs of our nation. It is to maintain our 
own principle, not to depart from it." 

December 2, 1823, President Monroe 
sent a message to Congress, declaring it to 
be the policy of this Government not to 
entangle ourselves with the broils of Eu- 
rope, and not to allow Europe to interfere 
with the affairs of nations on the American 
continent; and the doctrine was announced, 
that any attempt on the part of the Euro- 
pean powers " to extend their system to 
any portion of this hemisphere would be 
regarded by the United States as danger- 
ous to our peace and safety." 

March 4, 1825, Mr. Monroe surrendered 
the presidential chair to his Secretary of 
State, John Quincy Adams, and retired, 
with the universal respect of the nation, 
to his private residence at Oak Hill, Lou- 
doun County, Virginia. His time had been 
so entirely consecrated to his countr}', that 
he had neglected his pecuniary interests, 
and was deeply involved in debt. The 
welfare of his country had ever been up- 
permost in his mind. 

For many years Mrs. Monroe was in such 
feeble health that she rarely appeared in 
public. In 1830 Mr. Monroe took up his 
residence with his son-in-law in New York, 
where he died on the 4th of July, i8ji. 
The citizens of New York conducted his 
obsequies with pageants more imposing 
than had ever been witnessed there before. 
Our country will ever cherish his mem- 
ory with pride, gratefully enrolling his 
name in the list of its benefactors, pronounc- 
ing him the worthy successor of the illus- 
trious men who had preceded him in the 
presidential chair. 



38 



PItES/DENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 



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OHN QUINCY ADAMS, 
the sixth President of the 
United States, i825-'9, 
was born in the rural 
home of his honored 
father, John Adams, in 
Q u i n c y , Massachusetts, 
July II, 1767. Hismother, 
a woman of exalted worth, 
watched over his childhood 
(luring the almost constant 
absence of his father. He 
commenced his education 
at the village school, giving 
at an early period indica- 
tions of superior mental en- 
dowments. 

When eleven years of age he sailed with 
his father for Europe, where the latter was 
associated with Franklin and Lee as Minister 
Plenipotentiary. The intelligence of John 
Quincy attracted the attention of these men 
and received from them flattering marks of 
attention. Mr. Adams had scarcely returned 
to this country in 1779 ere he was again 
sent abroad, and John Quincy again accom- 
panied him. On this voyage he commenced 
a diary, which practice he continued, with 
but few interruptions, until his death. He 
journeyed with his father from Ferrol, in 
Spain, to Paris. Here he applied himself 
tor six months to study; then accompanied 



his father to Holland, where he entered, 
first a school in Amsterdam, and then the 
University of Leyden. In 1781, when only 
fourteen 3'ears of age, he was selected by 
Mr. Dana, our Minister to the Russian 
court, as his private secretary. In this 
school of incessant labor he spent fourteen 
months, and then returned alone to Holland 
through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. Again he resumed his studies 
under a private tutor, at The Hague. 

In the spring of 1782 he accompanied his 
father to Paris, forming acquaintance with 
the most distinguished men on the Conti- 
nent. After a short visit to England, he re- 
turned to Paris and studied until May, 
1785, when he returned to America, leav- 
ing his father an embassador at the court 
of St. James. In 1786 he entered the jun- 
ior class in Harvard University, and grad- 
uated with the second honor of his class. 
The oration he delivered on this occasion, 
the " Importance of Public Faith to the 
Well-being of a Community," was pub- 
lished — an event very rare in this or any 
other land. 

Upon leaving college at the age of twenty 
he studied law three years with the Hon. 
Thcophilus Parsons in Newburyport. In 
1790 he opened a law office in Boston. The 
profession was crowded with able men, and 
the fees were small. The first vear he had 




J. ^. M 



A/i-wi 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



no clients, but not a moment was lost. The 
second year passed away, still no clients, 
and still he was dependent upon his parents 
for support. Anxiously he awaited the 
third year. The reward now came. Cli- 
ents began to enter his office, and before 
the end of the year he was so crowded 
with business that all solicitude respecting 
a support was at an end. 

When Great Britain commenced war 
against France, in 1793, Mr. Adams wrote 
some articles, urging entire neutrality on 
the part of the United States. The view 
was not a popular one. Many felt that as 
France had helped us, we were bound to 
help France. But President Washington 
coincided with Mr. Adams, and issued his 
proclamation of neutrality. His writings 
at this time in the Boston journals gave 
him so high a reputation, that in June, 
1794, he was appointed by Washington 
resident Minister at the Netherlands. In 
July, 1797, he left The Hague to go to Port- 
ugal as Minister Plenipotentiary. Wash- 
ington at this time wrote to his father, John 
Adams: 

" Without intending to compliment the 
father or the mother, or to censure any 
others, I give it as my decided opinion, 
that Mr. Adams is the most valuable char- 
acter we have abroad; and there remains 
no doubt in my mind that he will prove the 
ablest of our diplomatic corps." 

On his way to Portugal, upon his arrival 
in London, he met with dispatches direct- 
ing him to the court of Berlin, but request- 
ing him to remain in London until he should 
receive instructions. While waiting he 
was married to Miss Louisa Catherine John- 
son, to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged. Miss Johnson was a daughter of 
Mr. Joshua Johnson, American Consul 
in London, and was a lady endowed with 
that beauty and those accomplishments 
which fitted her to move in the elevated 
sphere for which she was destined. 



In July, 1799, having fulfilled all the pur- 
poses of his mission, Mr. Adams returned. 
In 1802 he was chosen to the Senate of 
Massachusetts from Boston, and then was 
elected Senator of the United States for six 
years from March 4, 1804. His reputation, 
his ability and his experience, placed him 
immediately among the most prominent 
and influential members of that body. He 
sustained the Government in its measures 
of resistance to the encroachments of Eng- 
land, destroying our commerce and insult- 
ing our flag. There was no man in America 
more familiar with the arrogance of the 
British court upon these points, and no 
one more resolved to present a firm resist- 
ance. This course, so truly patriotic, and 
which scarcely a voice will now be found 
to condemn, alienated him from the Fed- 
eral party dominant in Boston, and sub- 
jected him to censure. 

In 1805 Mr. Adams was chosen professor 
of rhetoric in Harvard College. His lect- 
ures at this place were subsequently pub- 
lished. In 1809 lis was sent as Minister to 
Russia. He was one of the commissioners 
that negotiated the treaty of peace with 
Great Britain, signed December 24, 18 14, 
and he was appointed Minister to the court 
of St. James in 1815. In 1817 he became 
Secretary of State in Mr. Monroe's cabinet 
in which position he remained eight years. 
Few will now contradict the assertion that 
the duties of that office were never more 
ably discharged. Probably the most im- 
portant measure which Mr. Adams con- 
ducted was the purchase of Florida from 
Spain for $5,000,000. 

The campaign of 1824 was an exciting 
one. Four candidates were in the field. 
Of the 260 electoral votes that were cast, 
Andrew Jackson received ninety-nine; John 
Quincy Adams, eighty-four; William H. 
Crawford, forty-one, and Henry Clay, 
thirty-seven. As there was no choice by 
the people, the question went to the House 



4» 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



of Representatives. Mr. Clay gave the 
vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and he 
v/as elected. 

The friends of all disappointed candidates 
now combined in a venomous assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more dis- 
graceful in the past history of our country 
than the abuse which was poured in one 
uninterrupted stream upon this high- 
minded, upright, patriotic man. There was 
never an administration more pure in prin- 
ciples, more conscientiously devoted to the 
best interests of the country, than that of 
John Ouincy Adams; and never, perhaps, 
was there an administration more unscru- 
pulously assailed. Mr. Adams took his seat 
in the presidential chair resolved not to 
know any partisanship, but only to con- 
sult for the interests of the whole Republic, 

He refused to dismiss any man from of- 
fice for his political views. If he was a faith- 
ful officer that was enough. Bitter must 
have been his disappointment to find that the 
Nation could not appreciate such conduct. 

Mr. Adams, in his public manners, was 
cold and repulsive; though with his per- 
sonal friends he was at times very genial. 
This chilling address very seriously de- 
tracted from his popularity. No one can 
read an impartial record of his administra- 
tion without admitting that a more noble 
example of uncompromising dignity can 
scarcely be found. It was stated publicly 
that Mr. Adams' administration was to be 
put down, " though it be as pure as the an- 
gels which stand at the right hand of the 
throne of God." Many of' the active par- 
ticipants in these scenes lived to regret the 
course they pursued. Some years after, 
Warren R. Davis, of South Carolina, turn- 
ing to Mr. Adams, then a member of the 
House of Representatives, said: 

" Well do I remember the enthusiastic 
zeal with which we reproached the admin- 
istration of that gentleman, and the ardor 
and vehemence with which we labored to 



bring in another. For the share I had in 
these transactions, and it was not a small 

one, I hope God will forgive me, for I shall 
never forgh r myself. ' ' 

March 4, 1829, Mr. Adams retired from 
the Presidency and was succeeded by An- 
drew Jackson, the latter receiving 168 out 
of 261 electoral votes. John C. Calhoun 
was elected Vice-President. The slavery 
question now began to assume pretentious 
magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Ouincy, and pursued his studies with una- 
bated zeal. But he was not long permitted 
to remain in retirement. In November, 
1830, he was elected to Congress. In this 
he recognized the principle that it is honor- 
able for the General of yesterday to act as 
Corporal to-day, if by so doing he can ren- 
der service to his country. Deep as are 
our obligations to John Ouincy Adams for 
his services as embassador, as Secretary of 
State and as President; in his capacitv as 
legislator in the House of Representa- 
tives, he conferred benefits uptm our land 
which eclipsed all the rest, and which can 
never be over-estimated. 

For seventeen years, until his death, he 
occupied the post of Representative, tow- 
ering above all his peers, ever ready to do 
brave battle for freedom, and winning the 
title of " the old man eloquent." Upon 
taking his seat in the House he announced 
that he should hold himself bound to no 
party. He was usually the first in his 
place in the morning, and the last to leave 
his seat in the evening. Not a measure 
could escape his scrutin3\ The battle 
which he fought, almost singly, against the 
pro-slavery party in the Government, was 
sublime in its moral daring and heroism. 
For persisting in presenting petitions for 
the abolition of slavery, he was threatened 
with indictment by the Grand Jury, with 
expulsion from the House, with assassina- 
tion; but no threats could intimidate him, 
and his final triumph was complete. 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



43 



On one occasion Mr. Adams presented a 
^jetition, signed by several women, against 
Ihe annexation of Texas for the purpose of 
cutting it up into slave States. Mr. How- 
ard, of Maryland, said that these women 
discredited not only themselves, but their 
section of the country, by turning from 
their domestic duties to the conflicts of po- 
litical life. 

"Are women," exclaimed Mr. Adams, 
" to have no opinions or actions on subjects 
relating to the general welfare? Where 
did the gentleman get his principle? Did 
he find it in sacred history, — in the language 
of Miriam, the prophetess, in one of the 
noblest and sublime songs of triumph that 
ever met the human eye or ear ? Did the 
gentleman never hear of Deborah, to whom 
the children of Israel came up for judg- 
ment ? Has he forgotten the deed of Jael, 
who slew the dreaded enemy of her coun- 
try ? Has he forgotten Esther, who, by her 
petition saved her people and her coun- 
try? ^ 

" To go from sacred history to profane, 
does the gentleman there find it ' discredita- 
ble ' for women to take an interest in politi- 
cal affairs? Has he forgotten the Spartan 
mother, who said to her son when going 
out to battle, ' My son, come back to me 
with thy shield, or upon thy shield ?' Does 
he remember Cloelia and her hundred com- 
panions, who swam across the river un^^er 
a shower of darts, escaping from Porsena ? 
Has he forgotten Cornelia, the mother of 
the Gracchi ? Does he not remember Por- 
tia, the wife of Brutus and the daughter of 
Cato? 

" To come to later periods, what says the 
history of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors? 
To say nothuig of Boadicea, the British 
heroine in the time of the C^sars, what 
name is more illustrious than that of Eliza- 
beth ? Or, if he will go to the continent, 
will he not find the names of Maria Theresa 
of Hungarv, of the two Catherines of 



Prussia, and of Isabella of Castile, the pa- 
troness of Columbus ? Did she bring ' dis- 
credit ' on her sex by mingling in politics ? " 

In this glowing strain Mr. Adams si- 
lenced and overwhelmed his antagonists. 

In January, 1842, Mr. Adams presented 
a petition from forty-five citizens of Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts, praying for a peaceable 
dissolution of the Union. The pro-slavery 
party in Congress, who were then plotting 
the destruction of the Government, were 
aroused to a pretense of commotion such as 
even our stormy hall of legislation has 
rarely witnessed. They met in caucus, and, 
finding that they probably would not be 
able to expel Mr. Adams from the House 
drew up a series of resolutions, which, if 
adopted, would inflict upon him disgrace, 
equivalent to expulsion. Mr. Adams had 
presented the petition, which was most re- 
spectfully worded, and had moved that it be 
referred to a committee instructed to re- 
port an answer, showing the reason whj 
the prayer ought not to be granted. 

It was the 25th of January. The whole 
body of the pro-slavery party came crowd- 
ing together in the House, prepared to 
crush Mr. Adams forever. One of the num- 
ber, Thomas F. Marshall, of Kentucky, was 
appointed to read the resolutions, which 
accused Mr. Adams of high treason, of 
having insulted the Government, and 01 
meriting expulsion; but for which deserved 
punishment, the House, in its great mercy, 
would substitute its severest censure. With 
the assumption of a very solemn and mag- 
isterial air, there being breathless silence in 
the audience, Mr. Marshall hurled the care- 
fully prepared anathemas at his victim. 
Mr. Adams stood alone, the whole pro-slav- 
ery party against him. 

As soon as the resolutions were read, 
every eye being fixed upon him, that bold 
old man, whose scattered locks were whit- 
ened by seventy-five years, casting a wither- 
ing glance in the direction of his assailantS: 



44 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



in a clear, shrill tone, tremulous with sup- 
pressed emotion, said: 

" In reply to this audacious, atrocious 
charge of high treason, I call for the read- 
ing of the first paragraph of the Declaration 
of Indc]icndcnce. Read it ! Read it! and 
see wiiat that says of the rights of a people 
to reform, to change, and to dissolve their 
Government.' 

The attitude, the manner, the tone, the 
words; the venerable old man, with flash- 
ing eye and flushed cheek, and whose very 
form seemed to expand under the inspiration 
of the occasion — all presented a scene over- 
flowing in its sublimity. There was breath- 
less silence as that paragraph was read, in 
defense of whose principles our fathers had 
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their 
sacred honor. It was a proud hour to Mr. 
Adams as they were all compelled to listen 
to the words: 

" That, to secure these rights, govern- 
ments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers from the consent of the 
governed; and that whenever any form of 
government becomes destructive of those 
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or 
abolish it, and to institute new government, 
laying its foundations on such principles 
and organizing its powers in such form 
as shall seem most likely to effect their 
safety and happiness." 

That one sentence routed and baffled the 



foe. The heroic old man looked around 
upon the audience, and thundered out, 
" Read that again!" It was again read. 
Then in a few fiery, logical words he stated 
his defense in terms which even prejudiced 
minds could not resist. His discomfited 
assailants made several attempts to rally. 
After a conflict of eleven days they gave 
up vanquished and their resolution was ig- 
nominiously laid upon the table. 

In January, 1846, when seventy -eight 
years of age, he took part in the great de- 
bate on the Oregon question, displaying 
intellectual vigor, and an e.Ktent and accu- 
racy of acquaintance with the subject that 
excited great admiration. 

On the 2istof February, 1848, he rose on 
the floor of Congress with a paper in his 
hand to address the Speaker. Suddenly 
he fell, stricken by paralysis, and was caught 
in the arms of those around him. For a 
time he was senseless and was conveyed 
to a sofa in the rotunda. With reviving 
consciousness he opened his eyes, looked 
calmly around and said, " This is the end of 
earth." Then after a moment's pause, he 
added, " / am content." These were his last 
words, and he soon breathed his last, in the 
apartment beneath the dome of the capitol 
— -the theater of his labors and his triumphs. 
In the language of hymnology, he " died at 
his post;" he " ceased at once to work and 
live." 



-,:;^f 



'.I?'- 




ANDREW JACKSON. 



47 



M. 



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fyTT"!^ 



NDREW JACKSON, 

the seventh President 
of the United States, 
i829-'37, was born at 
the Waxhaw Settle, 
ment, Union Coun- 
ty, North CaroHna, 
March i6, 1767. His parents 
were Scotch-Irish, natives of 
Carrickfergus, who came to 
America in 1765, and settled 
on Twelve-Mile Creek, a trib- 
utary of the Catawba. His 
father, who was a poor farm 
laborer, died shortly before An- 
drew's birth, when his mother removed to 
Waxhaw, where some relatives resided. 

Few particulars of the childhood of Jack- 
son have been preserved. His education 
was of the most limited kind, and he showed 
no fondness for books. He grew up to be a 
tall, lank boy, with coarse hair and freck- 
led cheeks, with bare feet dangling from 
trousers too short for him, very fond of ath- 
letic sports, running, boxing and wrestling. 
He was generous to the )'Ounger and 
weaker boys, but very irascible and over- 
bearing with his equals and superiors. He 
was profane — a vice in which he surpassed 
all other men. The character of his mother 



he revered; and it was not until after her 
death that his predominant vices gained 
full strength. 

In 1780, at the age of thirteen, Andrew, 
or Andy, as he was called, with his brother 
Robert, volunteered to serve in the Revo- 
lutionary forces under General Sumter, and 
was a witness of the latter's defeat at Hang- 
ing Rock. In the following year the 
brothers were made prisoners, and confined 
in Camden, experiencing brutal treatment 
from their captors, and being spectators of 
General Green's defeat at Hobkirk Hill. 
Through their mother's exertions the boys 
were exchanged while suffering from small- 
pox. In two days Robert was dead, and 
Andy apparently dying. The strength of 
his constitution triumphed, and he regained 
health and vigor. 

As he was getting better, his mother 
heard the cry of anguish from the prison- 
ers whom the British held in Charleston, 
among whom were the sons of her sisters. 
She hastened to their relief, was attacked 
b}- fever, died and was buried where her 
grave could never be found. Thus Andrew 
Jackson, when fourteen years of age, was 
left alone in the world, without father, 
mother, sister or brother, and without one 
dollar which he could call his own. He 



48 



PliESIDBNTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



soon entered a saddler's shop, and labored 
diligently for six months. But gradually, 
as health returned, he became more and 
more a wild, reckless, lawless boy. He 
gambled, drank and was regarded as about 
the worst character that could be found. 

He now turned schoolmaster. He could 
teach the alphabet, perhaps the multiplica- 
tion table; and as he was a very bold boy, 
it is possible he might have ventured to 
teach a little writing. But he soon began to 
think of a profession and decided to study 
law. With a very slender purse, and on 
the back of a very fine horse, he set out 
for Salisbury, North Carolina, where he 
entered the law office of Mr. INIcCa}'. 
Here he remained two years, professedly 
studying law. He is still remembered in 
traditions of Salisbury, which say: 

" Andrew Jackson was the most roaring, 
rollicking, horse-racing, card-playing, mis- 
chievous fellow that ever lived in Salisbury. 
He did not trouble the law-books much." 

Andrew was now, at the age of twenty, 
a tall young man, being over six feet in 
height. He was slender, remarkably grace- 
ful and dignified in his manners, an exquis- 
ite horseman, and developed, amidst his 
loathesome profanity and multiform vices, a 
vein of rare magnanimity. His temper was 
fiery in the extreme; but it was said of him 
that no man knew better than Andrew 
Jackson when to get angry and when not. 

In 1786 he was admitted to the bar, and 
two years later removed to Nashville, 
in what was then the western district of 
North Carolina, with the appointment of so- 
licitor, or public prosecutor. It was an of- 
fice of little honor, small emolument and 
great peril. Few men could be found to 
accept it. 

And now Andrew Jackson commenced 
vigorously to practice law. It was an im- 
portant part of his business to collect debts. 
It required nerve. During the first seven 
years of his residence in those wilds he 



traversed the almost pathless forest between 
Nashville and Jonesborough, a distance of 
200 miles, twenty-two times. Hostile In- 
dians were constantl}' on the watch, and a 
man was liable at any moment to be shot 
down in his own field. Andrew Jackson 
was just the man for this service — a wild, 
daring, rough backwoodsman. Daily he 
made hair-breadth escapes. He seemed to 
bear a charmed life. Boldly, alone or with 
few companions, he traversed the forests, 
encountering all perils and triumphing 
over all. 

In 1790 Tennessee became a Territor\', 
and Jackson was appointed, by President 
Washington, United States Attorney for 
the new district. In 1791 he married Mrs. 
Rachel Robards (daughter of Colonel John 
Donelson), whom he supposed to have been 
divorced in that year by an act of the Leg- 
islature of Virginia. Two years after this 
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson learned, to their 
great surprise, that Mr. Robards had just 
obtained a divorce in one of the courts of 
Kentucky, and that the act of the Virginia 
Legislature was not final, but conditional. 
To remedy the irregularity as much as pos- 
sible, a new license was obtained and the 
marriage ceremou}- was again performed. 

It proved to be a marriage of rare felic- 
ity. Probablv there never was a more 
affectionate union. However rough Mr. 
Jackson might have been abroad, he was 
always gentle and tender at home; and 
through all the vicissitudes of their lives, he 
treated Mrs. Jackson with the most chival- 
ric attention. 

Under the circumstances it was not un- 
natural that the facts in the case of this 
marriage were so misrepresented by oppo- 
nents in the political campaigns a quarter 
or a century later as to become the basis 
of serious charges against Jackson's moral- 
ity which, however, have been satisfactorily 
attested b}- abundant evidence. 

Jackson was untiring in his duties as 



AXDHHW y.ACKSOS. 



49 



United States Attorney, which demanded 
frequent journeys through the wilderness 
and exposed him to Indian hostilities. He 
acquired considerable property in land, and 
obtained such influence as to be chosen 
a member of the convention which framed 
the Constitution for the new State of Ten- 
nessee, in 1796, and in that year was elected 
its first Representative in Congress. Albert 
Gallatin thus describes the first appearance 
of the Hon. Andrew Jackson in the House: 

" A tall, lank, uncouth-'ooking personage, 
with locks of hair hanging over his face and 
a cue down his back, tied with an eel skin; 
his dress singular, his manners and deport- 
ment those of a rough backwoodsman." 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the 
Democratic party. Jefferson was his idol. 
He admired Bonaparte, loved France and 
hated England. As Mr. Jackson took his 
seat, General Washington, whose second 
term of office was just expiring, delivered 
his last speech to Congress. A committee 
drew up a complimentary address in repl3\ 
Andrew Jackson did not approve the ad- 
dress and was one of twelve who voted 
against it. 

Tennessee had fitted out an expedition 
against the Indians, contrary to the policy 
of the Government. A resolution was intro- 
duced that the National Government 
should pa}^ the expenses. Jackson advo- 
cated it and it was carried. This rendered 
him ver}' popular in Tennessee. A va- 
cancy chanced soon after to occur in the 
Senate, and Andrew Jackson was chosen 
United States Senator by the State of Ten- 
nessee. John Adams was then President 
and Thomas Jefferson, Vice-President. 

In 1798 Mr. Jackson returned to Tennes- 
see, and resigned his seat in the Senate. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of that State, with a salary of 
$600. This office he held six years. It is 
said that his decisions, though sometimes 
ungrammatical, were generally right. He 



did not enjoy his seat upon the bench, and 
renounced the dignity in 1804. About 
this time he was chosen Major-General of 
militia, and lost the title of judge in that of 
General. 

When he retired from the Senate Cham- 
ber, he decided to try his fortune through 
trade. He purchased a stock of goods in 
Philadelphia and sent them to Nashville, 
where he opened a store. He lived about 
thirteen miles from Nashville, on a tract of 
land of several thousand acres, mostl}- un- 
cultivated. He used a small block-house 
for a store, from a narrow window of 
which he sold goods to the Indians. As he 
had an assistant his office as judge did not 
materially interfere with his business. 

As to slavery, born in the midst of it, the 
idea never seemed to enter his mind that it 
could be wrong. He eventually became 
an extensive slave owner, but he was one of 
the most humane and gentle of masters. 

In 1804 Mr. Jackson withdrew from pol- 
itics and settled on a plantation which he 
called the Hermitage, near Nashville. He 
set up a cotton-gin, formed a partnership 
and traded in New Orleans, making the 
voyage on flatboats. Through his hot tem- 
per he became involved in several quarrels 
and " affairs of honor," during this period, 
in one of which he was severely wounded, 
but had the misfortune to kill his opponent, 
Charles Dickinson. For a time this affair 
greatly injured General Jackson's popular- 
ity. The verdict then was, and continues 
to be, that General Jackson was outra- 
geously wrong. If he subsequently felt any 
remorse he never revealed it to anyone. 

In 1805 Aaron Burr had visited Nash- 
ville and been a guest of Jackson, with 
whom he corresponded on the subject of a 
war with Spain, which was anticipated and 
desired by them, as well as by the people 
of the Southwest generally. 

Burr repeated his visit in September, 
1S06, when he engaged in the celeotated 



so 



PREJIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



combinations which led to his trial for trea- 
son. He was warmlj' received by Jackson, 
at whose instance a public bail was given 
in his honor at Nashville, and contracted 
with the latter for boats and provisions. 
Early in 1807, when Burr had been pro- 
claimed a traitor by President Jefferson, 
volunteer forces for the Federal service 
were organized at Nashville under Jack- 
son's command; but his energy and activ- 
ity did not shield him from suspicions of 
connivance in the supposed treason. He 
was summoned to Richmond as a witness 
in Burr's trial, but was not called to the 
stand, probably because he was out-spoken 
in his partisanship. 

On the outbreak of the war with Great 
Britain in 1812, Jackson tendered his serv- 
ices, and in January, 181 3, embarked for 
New Orleans at the head of the Tennessee 
contingent. In March he received an or- 
der to disband his forces; but in Septem- 
ber he again took the field, in the Creek 
war, and in conjunction with his former 
partner. Colonel Coffee, inflicted upon the 
Indians the memorable defeat at Talladega, 
Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa. 

In May, 1814, Jackson, who had now ac- 
quired a national reputation, wasappointed 
a Major-Gcncral of the United States army, 
and commenced a campaign against the 
British in Florida. He conducted the de- 
fense at Mobile, September 1 5, seized upon 
Pensacola, November 6, and immediately 
transported the bulk of his troops to New- 
Orleans, then threatened by a powerful 
naval force. Martial law was declared in 
Louisiana, the State militia was called to 
arms, engagements with the British were 
fought December 23 and 28, and after re-en- 
forcements had been received on both sides 
tiie famous victory of January 8, 181 5, 
rrowned Jackson's fame as a soldier, and 
made him the t3'pical American hero of 
the first half of the nineteenth century. 

In 1817-18 Jackson conducted the war 



against the Seminoles of Florida, during 
which he seized upon Pensacola and exe- 
cuted by courtmartial two British subjects, 

Arbuthnot and Ambrister acts which 

might easily have involved the United 
States in war both with Spain and Great 
Britain. Fortunately the peril was averted 
by the cession of Florida to the United 
States; and Jackson, who had escaped a 
trial for the irregularity of his conduct 
only through a division of opinion in Mon- 
roe's cabinet, was appointed in 1821 Gov- 
ernor of the new Territory. Soon after he 
declined the appointment of minister to 
Mexico. 

In 1823 Jackson was elected to the United 
States Senate, and nominated by the Ten- 
nessee Legislature for the Presidency. This 
candidacy, though a matter of surprise, and 
even merryment, speedily became popular, 
and in 1824, when the storni)' electoral can- 
vas resulted in the choice of John Ouincy 
Adams by the House of Representatives, 
General Jackson received the largest [)opu- 
lar vote among the four candidates. 

In 1828 Jackson was triumphantly elected 
President over Adams after a campaign of 
unparalleled bitterness. He was inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1829, and at once removed 
from ofilice all the incumbents belonging to 
the opposite party — a procedure new to 
American politics, but which naturally be- 
came a precedent. 

His first term was characterized by quar- 
rels between the Vice-President, Calhoun, 
and the Secretary of State, Van Buren, at- 
tended by a cabinet crisis originating in 
scandals connected with the name of Mrs. 
General Eaton, wife of the Secretary of 
War; by the beginning of his war upon the 
United States Bank, and by his vigorous 
action against the partisans of Calhoun, 
who, in South Carolina, threatened to 
nullif)' the acts of Congress, establishing a 
protective tariff. 

In the Presidential campaign of 1832 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



SI 



Jackson received 219 out of 288 electoral 
votes, his competitor being Mr. Clay, while 
Mr. Wirt, on an Anti-Masonic platform, 
received the vote of Vermont alone. In 
1833 President Jackson lemoved the Gov- 
ernment deposits from the United States 
bank, thereby incurring a vote of censure 
from the Senate, which was, however, ex- 
punged four years later. During this second 
term of office the Cherokees, Choctaws and 
Creeks were removed, not without diffi- 
culty, from Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
sippi, to the Indian Territory; the National 
debt was extinguished; Arkansas and 
Michigan were admitted as States to the 
Union; the Seminole war was renewed; the 
anti-slavery agitation first acquired impor- 
tance; the Mormon delusion, which had 
organized in 1829, attained considerable 
proportions in Ohio and Missouri, and the 
country experienced its greatest pecuniary 
panic. 

Railroads with locomotive propulsion 
were ir Produced into America during Jack- 
son's first term, and had become an- impor- 
tant element of national life before the 
close of his second term. For many rea- 
sons, theretore, the administration of Presi- 
dent Jackson formed an era in American 
history, political, social and industrial. 
He succeeded in effecting the election of 



his friend Van Buren as his successor, re- 
tired from the Presidency March 4, 1837; 
and led a tranquil life at the Hermitage 
until his death, which occurred June 8, 

1845- 

During his closing years he was a pro- 
fessed Christian and a member ot the Pres- 
byterian church. No American of this 
century has been the subject of such oppo- 
site judgments. He was loved and hated 
with equal vehemence during his life, but 
at the present distance of time from his 
career, while opinions still vary as to the 
merits of his pubHc acts, few of his country- 
men will question that he was a warm- 
hearted, brave, patriotic, honest and sincere 
man. If his distinguishing qualities were 
not such as constitute statesmanship, in the 
highest sense, he at least never pretended 
to other merits than such as were written 
to his credit on the page of American his- 
tory — not attempting to disguise the de- 
merits which were equally legible. The 
majority of his countrymen accepted and 
honored him, in spite of all that calumny 
as well as truth could allege against him. 
His faults may therefore be truly said to 
have been those of his time; his magnifi- 
cent virtues may also, with the same jus- 
tice, be considered as typical of a state o/^ 
society which has nearly passed away. 



52 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



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ARTIN VAN BU- 
F-iEN, the eighth 
50 President of the 
United States, 1837- 
. '41, was born at Kin- 
derhook, New York, 
December 5, 1782. 
His ancestors were of Dutch 
origin, and were among the 
earliest emigrants from Hol- 
land to the banks of the 
Hudson. His father was a 
tavern-keeper, as well as a 
farmer, and a very decided 
Democrat. 
* Martin commenced the study 
of law at the age of fourteen, and took an 
active part in politics before he had reached 
the age of twent}-. In 1S03 he commenced 
the practice of law in his native village. 
In 1809 he removed to Hudson, the shire 
town of his count)', where he spent seven 
years, gaining strength by contending in 
the courts with some of the ablest men 
who have adorned the bar of his State. 
The heroic examjjle of John Quincy Adams 
in retaining in office every faithful man, 
without regard to his political preferences, 
had been thoroughly repudiated by Gen- 
eral Jackson. The unfortunate principle 
was now fully established, that " to the 
victor belong the spoils." Still, this prin- 
ciple, to which Mr. Van Buren gave his ad- 



herence, was not devoid of inconveniences. 
When, subsequently, he attained power 
which placed vast patronage in his hands, 
he was heard to sa}' : " I prefer an office 
that has no patronage. When I give a man 
an office I offend his disappointed competi- 
tors and their friends. Nor am I certain oi 
gaining a friend in the man I appoint, for. 
in all jirobability, he e.\pected something 
better." 

In 1812 Mr. Van Buren was elected to 
the State Senate. In 18 15 he was appointed 
Attorney-General, and in i8i6tothe Senate 
a second time. In 1818 there was a great 
split in the Democratic party in New York, 
and Mr. Van Buren took the lead in or- 
ganizing that portion of the party called 
the Albanv Regcncv, which is said to have 
swayed the destinies of the State for a 
quarter of a century. 

In 1 82 1 he was chosen a member of the 
convention for revising the State Constitu- 
tion, in which he advocated an extension of 
the franchise, but opposed universal suf- 
frage, and also favored the proposal that 
colored persons, in order to vote, should 
have freehold property to the amount of 
$250. In this year he was also elected to 
the United States Senate, and at the con- 
clusion of his term, in 1827, was re-elected, 
but resigned the following year, having 
been chosen Governor of the State. In 
March, 1829, he was appointed Secretary o( 




f ^ 



O 7 2-'^^^ ^^-^^.s^^^^ 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



State by President Jackson, but resigned 
in April, 1831, and during the recess of 
Congress was appointed minister to Eng- 
land, whither he proceeded in September, 
but the Senate, when convened in Decem- 
ber, refused to ratify the appointment. 

In May, 1832, Mr. Van Buren was nomi- 
nated as the Democratic candidate for Vice- 
President, and elected in the following 
November. May 26, 1836, he received the 
nomination to succeed General Jackson as 
President, and received 170 electoral votes, 
out of 283. 

Scarcely had he taken his seat in the 
Presidential chair when a financial panic 
swept over the land. Many attributed 
this to the war which General Jackson had 
waged on the banks, and to his endeavor to 
secure an almost exclusive specie currency. 
Nearly eveiy bank in the country was com- 
pelled to suspend specie payment, and ruin 
pervaded all our great cities. Not less than 
254 houses failed in New York in one week. 
All public works were brought to a stand, 
and there was a general state of dismay. 
President Van Buren urged the adoption of 
the independent treasury system, which 
was twice passed in the Senate and defeated 
in the House, but finally became a law near 
the close of his administration. 

Another important measure was the pass- 
age of a pre-emption law, giving actual set- 
tlers the preference in the purchase of 
public lands. The question of slavery, also, 
now began to assume great prominence in 
national politics, and after an elaborate 
anti-slavery speech b}' Mr. Slade, of Ver- 
mont, in the House of Representatives, the 
Southern members withdrew for a separate 
consultation, at which Mr. Rhett, of South 
Carolina, proposed to declare it expedient 
that the Union should be dissolved ; but 
the matter was tided over by the passage 
of a resolution that no petitions or papers 
relating to slavery should be in any way 
considered or acted upon. 



In the Presidential election of 1840 Mr. 
Van Buren was nominated, without opposi- 
tion, as the Democratic candidate, William 
H. Harrison being the candidate of the 
Whig party. The Democrats carried only 
seven States, and out of 294 electoral votes 
only sixty were for Mr. Van Buren, the re- 
maining 234 being for his opponent. The 
Whig popular majority, however, was not 
large, the elections in many of the States 
being very close. 

March 4, 1841, Mr. Van Buren retired 
from the Presidency. From his fine estate 
at Lindenwald he still exerted a powerful 
influence upon the politics of the country. 
In 1844 he was again proposed as the 
Democratic candidate for the Presidency, 
and a majority of the delegates of the 
nominating convention were in his favor ; 
but, owing to his opposition to the pro- 
posed annexation of Texas, he could not 
secure the requisite two-thirds vote. His 
name was at length withdrawn by his 
friends, and Mr. Polk received the nomina- 
tion, and was elected. 

In 1848 Mr. Cass was the regular Demo- 
cratic candidate. A schism, however, 
sprang up in the party, upon the question 
of the permission of slavery in the newly- 
acquired territory, and a portion of the 
party, taking the name of " Free-Soilers," 
nominated Mr. Van Buren. They drew 
away sufficient votes to secure the election 
of General Taylor, the Whig candidate. 
After this Mr. Van Buren retired to his es- 
tate at Kinderhook, where the remainder 
of his life was passed, with the exception of 
a European tour in 1853. He died at 
Kinderhook, July 24, 1862, at the age of 
eigiity years. 

Martin Van Buren was a great and good 
man, and no one will question his right to 
a high position among those who have 
been the successors of Washington in the 
faithful occupancy of the Presidential 
chair. 



(6 



PliESrDBNTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 




WILLIftffl HENRY HftHRISDN. K^^^ 



•A I II I I Tl ' • I I 1 I M' L M l 

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L I A M HENRY 
HARRISON, the 
ninth President of 
the United States, 
I 84 I, was born 
Februarj^ 9, 1773, 
in Charles County, 
Virginia, at Berkeley, the resi- 
dence of his father. Governor 
Benjamin Harrison. He studied 
at Hampden, Sidney College, 
with a view of entering the med- 
ical profession. After graduation 
he went to Philadelphia to study 
medicine under the instruction of 
Dr. Rush. 
George Washington was then President 
3f the United States. The Indians were 
committing fearful ravages on our North- 
western frontier. Young Harrison, either 
lured by the love of adventure, or moved 
by the sufferings of families exposed to the 
most horrible outrages, abandoned his med- 
ical studies and entered the army, having 
obtained a commission of ensign from Pres- 
ident Washington. The first duty assigned 
him was to take a train of pack-horses 
bound to Fort Hamilton, on the Miami 
River, about forty miles from Fort Wash- 
ington. He was soon promoted to the 



rank of Lieutenant, and joined the army 
which Washington had placed under the 
command of General Wayne to prosecute 
more vigorously the war with the In- 
dians. Lieutenant Harrison received great 
commendation from his commanding offi- 
cer, and was promoted to the rank of 
Captain, and placed in command at Fort 
Washington, now Cincmnati, Ohio. 

About this time he married a daughter 
of John Cleves Symmes, one of the fron- 
tiersmen who had established a thriving 
settlement on the bank of the Maumce. 

In 1797 Captain Harrison resigned his 
commission in the army and was appointed 
Secretar}' of the Northwest Territory, and 
ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor, General St. 
Clair being then Governor of the Territory. 
At that time the law in reference to the 
disposal of the public lands was such that 
no one could purchase in tracts less than 
4,000 acres. Captain Harrison, in the 
face of violent opposition, succeeded in 
obtaining so much of a modification of 
this unjust law that the land was sold in 
alternate tracts of 640 and 320 acres. The 
Northwest Territory Vas then entitled 
to one delegate in Congress, and Cap- 
tain Harrison was chosen to fill that of- 
fice. In 1800 he was appointed Governor 




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WILLIAM HENRY HAIiliL^ON. 



S9 



of Indiana Territory and soon after of 
Upper Louisiana. He was also Superin- 
tendent of Indian Affairs, and so well did he 
fulfill these duties that he was four times 
appointed to this office. During his admin- 
istration he effected thirteen treaties with 
the Indians, by which the United States 
acquired 60,000,000 acres of land. In 1804 
he obtained a cession from the Indians of 
all the land between the Illinois River and 
the Mississippi. 

In 18 1 2 he was made Major-General of 
Kentucky militia and Brigadier-Genera! 
m the army, with the command of the 
Northwest frontier. In 1813 he was made 
Major-General, and as such won much re- 
nown by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the 
battle of the Thames, October 5, 1813. In 
1814 he left the army and was employed in 
Indian affairs by the Government. 

In 1816 General Harrison was chosen a 
member of the National House of Repre- 
sentatives to represent the district of Ohio. 
In the contest which preceded his election 
he was accused of corruption in respect to 
the commissariat of the army. Immedi- 
ately upon taking his seat, he called for an 
investigation of the charge. A committee 
was appointed, and his vindication was 
triumphant. A high compliment was paid 
to his patriotism, disinterestedness and 
devotion to the public service. For these 
services a gold medal was presented to him 
with the thanks of Congress. 

In 1819 he was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio, and in 1824, as one of the Presiden- 
tial electors of that State, he gave his vote 
to Henry Clay. In the same year he was 
elected to the Senate of the United States. 
In 1828 he was appointed by President 
Adams minister plenipotentiary to Colom- 
bia, but was recalled by General Jackson 
immediately after the inauguration of the 
latter. 

Upon his return to the United States, 
General Harrison retired to his farm at 



North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, six- 
teen miles below Cincinnati, where for 
twelve years he was clerk of the County 
Court. He once owned a distillery, but 
perceiving the sad effects of whisky upon 
the surrounding population, he promptly 
abandoned his business at great pecuniary 
sacrifice. 

In 1836 General Hairison was brought 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency. 
Van Buren was the administration candi- 
date; the opposite party could not unite, 
and four candidates were brought forward. 
General Harrison received seventy-three 
electoral votes without any general concert 
among his friends. The Democratic party 
triumphed and Mr. Van Buren was chosen 
President. In 1839 General Harrison was 
again nominated for the Presidency by the 
Whigs, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Van Buren being the Democratic candi- 
date. General Harrison received 234 elec- 
toral votes against sixty for his opponent. 
This election is memorable chiefly for the 
then extraordinar}^ means employed during 
the canvass for popular votes. Mass meet- 
ings and processions were introduced, and 
the watchwords "log cabin" and "hard 
cider " were effectually used by the Whigs, 
and aroused a popular enthusiasm. 

A vast concourse of people attended his 
inauguration. His address on that occasion 
was in accordance with his antecedents, and 
gave great satisfaction. A short time after he 
took his seat, he was seized by a pleurisy- 
fever, and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died April 4, just one short month after 
his inauguration. His death was universally 
regarded as one of the greatest of National 
calamities. Never, since the death of 
Washington, were there, throughout one 
land, such demonstrations of sorrow. Not 
one single spot can be found to sully his 
fame; and through all ages Americans wili 
pronounce with U^ve and reverence the 
name of William Henry Harrison. 



6o 



PRES/DEXTS OF Tl/E UN /TED STATES. 



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OHN TYLER, the tenth 
President of the United 
States, was born in 
Charles City County, 
Virginia, March 29, 1790. 
His father. Judge John 
Tyler, possessed large 
landed estates in Virginia, 
and was one of the most 
distinguished men of his 
da)', filling the offices of 
Speaker of the House of 
Delegates, Judge of the Su- 
preme Court and Governor 
of the State. 
At the early age of twelve 
young John entered William and Mary 
College, and graduated with honor when 
but seventeen years old. He then closely 
applied himself to the study of law, and at 
nineteen years of age commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession. When only twenty- 
one he was elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He acted with the Demo- 
cratic party and advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving 
nearly the unanimous vote of his county. 

When but twenty-six j-earsof age he was 
elected a member of Congress. He advo- 
cated a strict construction of the Constitu- 
tion and the most careful vigilance over 



State rights. He was soon compelled to 
resign his seat in Congress, owing to ill 
health, but afterward took his seat in the 
State Legislature, where he exerted a 
powerful influence in promoting public 
works of great utility. 

In 1825 Mr. Tyler was chosen Governor 
of his State — a high honor, for Virginia 
had many able men as competitors for 
the prize. His administration was signally 
a successful one. He urged forward inter- 
nal improvements and strove to remove 
sectional jealousies. His popularity secured 
his re-election. In 1827 he was elected 
United States Senator, and upon taking his 
seat joined the ranks of the opposition. He 
opposed the tariff, voted against the bank 
as unconstitutional, opposed all restrictions 
upon slaver}', resisted all projects of inter- 
nal improvements by the General Govern- 
ment, avowed his sympathy with Mr. Cal- 
houn's views f)f nullification, and declared 
that General Jackson, by his opposition to 
the nullifiers, had abandoned the principles 
of the Democratic party. Such was Mr. 
Tyler's record in Congress. 

This hostility tf) Jackson caused Mr. 
Tyler's retirement from the Senate, after 
his election to a second term. He soon 
after removed to Williamsburg for the 
better education of his children, and again 
took his scat in the Legislature. 



JOHN TVLER. 



63 



In 1839 he was sent to the National Con- 
vention at Harrisburg to nominate a Presi- 
dent. General Harrison received a majority 
of votes, much to the disappointment of the 
South, who had wished for Henry Clay. 
In order to concil'ate the Southern Whigs, 
John Tyler was nominated for Vice-Presi- 
dent. Harrison and Tyler were inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1841. In one short month 
from that time President Harrison died, 
and Mr. Tyler, to his own surprise as well 
as that of the nation, found himself an 
occupant of the Presidential chair. His 
position was an exceedingly difficult one, 
as he was opposed to the main principles of 
the party which had brought him into 
power. General Harrison had selected a 
Whig cabinet Should he retain them, and 
thus surround himself with councilors 
whose views were antagonistic to his own? 
or should he turn against the party that 
had elected him, and select a cabinet in 
harmony with himself? This was his fear- 
ful dilemma. 

President Tyler deserves more charity 
than he has received. He issued an address 
to the people, which gave general satisfac- 
tion. He retained the cabinet General 
Harrison had selected. His veto of a bill 
chartering a new national bank led to an 
open quarrel with the party which elected 
him, and to a resignation of the entire 
cabinet, except Daniel Webster, Secretary 
of State. 

President Tyler attempted to conciliate. 
He appointed a new cabinet, leaving out all 
strong party men, but the Whig members 
of Congress were not satisfied, and they 
published a manifesto September 13, break- 
ing off all political relations. The Demo- 
crats had a majoritv in the House ; the 
Whigs in the Senate. Mr. Webster soon 
found it necessary to resign, being forced 
out by the pressure of his Whig friends. 

April 12, 1844, President Tyler concluded, 
through Mr. Calhoun, a treaty for the an- 



nexation ot Texas, which was rejected by 
the Senate ; but he effected his object in the 
closing days of his administration by the 
passage of the joint resolution of March i 

1845. 

He was nominated for the Presidency by 
an informal Democratic Convention, held 
at Baltimore in May, 1844, but soon with- 
drew from the canvass, perceiving that he 
had not gained the confidence of the Demo- 
crats at large. 

Mr. Tyler's administration was particu- 
larly unfortunate. No one was satisfied. 
Whigs and Democrats alike assailed him. 
Situated as he was, it is more than can 
be expected of human nature that he 
should, in all cases, have acted in the wisest 
manner ; but it will probably be the verdict 
of all candid men, in a careful review of his 
career, that John T3'ler was placed in a 
position of such difficulty that he could not 
pursue any course which would not expose 
him to severe censure and denunciation. 

In 1813 Mr. Tyler married Letitia Chris- 
tian, who bore him three sons and three 
daughters, and died in Washington in 1842. 
June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mai-- 
riage with Miss Julia Gardner, of New 
York. He lived in almost complete retire- 
ment from politics until February, 1861, 
when he was a member of the abortive 
" peace convention," held at Washington, 
and was chosen its President. Soon after 
he renounced his allegiance to the United 
States and was elected to the Confederate 
Congress. He died at Richmond, January 
17, 1862, after a short illness. 

Unfortunately for his memor}' the name 
of John Tyler must forever be associated 
with all the misery of that terrible Re- 
bellion, whose cause he openly espoused. 
It is with sorrow that history records that 
a President of the United States died while 
defending the flag of rebellion, which was 
arrayed against the national banner in 
deadly warfare. 



<H 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 







^JT 




_ \iMES KNOX I'OLK, 

%#/^' ■ ''^^ eleventh President of 
•.!./// .V,- jj^^. United States, 1845- 
'49, was born in Meck- 
lenburg County, North 
Carolina, November 2, 
1795. He was the eldest 
son of a family of six sons 
and f( iiir daughters, and was 
a grand-nephew of Colonel 
Thomas I'olk, celebrated in 
connection with the Meck- 
lenburg Declaration of In- 
dependence. 

In 1806 his father, Samuel 
Folk, emigrated with his fam- 
113' two or three hundred miles west to the 
valley of the Duck River. He was a sur- 
veyor as well as farmer, and gradually in- 
creased in wealth until he became one of 
the leading men of the region. 

In the common schools James rapidly be- 
came proficient in all the common branches 
of an English education. In 1813 he was 
sent to Murfreesboro Academy, and in the 
autumn of 181 5 entered the sophomore class 
in the University of North Carolina, at 
Chapel Hill, graduating in 1818. After a 
short season of recreation he went to Nasn- 
ville and entered the law ofifice of Felix 
Grundy. As soon a? he had his finished 



legal studies and been admitted to the bar, 
he returned to Columbia, the shire town of 
Maury County, and opened an office. 

James K. Polk ever adhered to the polit- 
ical faith of his father, which was that of 
a Jeffersonian Republican. In 1823 he was 
elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. As 
a " strict constructionist," he did not think 
that the Constitution empowered the Gen- 
eral Government to carry on a system of 
internal improvements in the States, but 
deemed it important that it should have 
that power, and wished the Constitution 
amended that it might be conferred. Sub- 
sequently, however, he became alarmed lest 
the General Government become so strong 
as to undertake to interfere with slavery. 
He therefore gave all his influence to 
strengthen the State governments, and to 
check the growth of the central power. 

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss 
Mary Childress, of Rutherford County, Ten- 
nessee. Had some one then whispered to 
him that he was destined to become Presi- 
dent of the United States, and that he must 
select for his companion one who would 
adorn that distinguished station, he could 
not have made a more fitting choice. She 
! was truly a lady of rare beauty and culture. 
j In the fall of 1825 Mr. Polk was chosen 
1 a member of Congress, and was continu- 




-^wfj^v '•" 



JAMES K. POLK. 



67 



ously re-elected until 1839. He then with- 
drew, only that he might accept the 
gubernatorial chair of his native State. 
He was a warm friend of General Jackson, 
who had been defeated in the electoral 
contest by John Quincy Adams. This 
latter gentleman had just taken his seat in 
the Presidential chair when Mr. Polk took 
his seat in the House of Representatives. 
He immediately united himself with the 
opponents of Mr. Adams, and was soon 
regarded as the leader of the Jackson party 
in the House. 

The four years of Mr. Adams' adminis- 
tration passed awa}', and General Jackson 
took tne Presidential chair. Mr. Polk had 
now become a man of great influence in 
Congress, ana was chairman of its most 
important committee — that of Ways and 
Means. Eloquently he sustained General 
Jackson in all his measures — in his hostility 
to internal improvements, to the banks, and 
to the tariff. Eight years of General Jack- 
son's administration passed away, and the 
powers he had wielded passed into the 
hands of Martin Van Buren ; and still Mr. 
Polk remained in the House, the advocate 
of that type of Democracy which those 
distinguished men upheld. 

During five , sessions of Congress Mr. 
Polk was speaker of the House. He per- 
formed his arduous duties to general satis- 
faction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to 
hmi was passed by the House as he with- 
drew, March 4, 1839. He was elected 
Governor by a large majority, and took 
the oath of office at Nashville, October 14, 
1839. He was a candidate for re-election 
in 1841, but was defeated. In the mean- 
time a wonderful revolution had swept 
over the country. W. H. Harrison,the Whig 
candidate, had been called to the Presiden- 
tial chair, and in Tennessee the Whig ticket 
had been carried by over 12,000 majority. 
Under these circumstances Mr. Polk's suc- 
cess was hopeless. Still he canvassed the 



State with his Whig competitor, Mr. Jones, 
traveling in the most friendly manner to- 
gether, often in the same carriage, and at 
one time sleeping in the same bed. Mr. 
Jones was elected by 3.000 majority. 

And now the question of the annexation 
of Texas to our country agitated the whole 
land. When this question became national 
Mr. Polk, as the avowed champion of an- 
nexation, became the Presidential candidate 
of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic 
party, and George M. Dallas their candi- 
date for the Vice-Presidency. They were 
elected by a large majority, and were in- 
augurated March 4, 1845. 

President Polk formed an able cabinet, 
consisting of James Buchanan, Robert J. 
Walker, William L. Marcy, George Ban 
croft, Cave Johnson and John Y. Mason. 
The Oregon boundary question was settled, 
the Department of the Interior was created, 
the low tariff of 1846 was carried, the 
financial system of the Government was 
reorganized, the Mexican war was con- 
ducted, which resulted in the acquisition of 
California and New Mexico, and had far- 
reaching consequences upon the later fort- 
unes of the republic. Peace was made. 
We had wrested from Mexico territory 
equal to four times the empire of France, 
and five times that of Spain. In the prose- 
cution of this war we expended 20,000 
lives and more than $100,000,000. Of this 
money $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico. 

Declining to seek a renomination, Mr. 
Polk retired from the Presidency March 4, 
1849, when he was succeeded by General 
Zachary Taylor. He retired to Nashville, 
and died there June 19, 1849, i" the fifty- 
fourth year of his age. His funeral was at- 
tended the following day, in Nashville, with 
every demonstration of respect. He left 
no children. Without being possessed of 
extraordinary talent, Mr. Polk was a capable 
administrator of public affairs, and irre- 
proachable in private life. 



OS 



PRESfDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 






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ACIIARY TAY- 
LOR, the twelfth 
President of the 
United States, 
i849-'50, was born 
in Orange Count)', 
Virginia, Septem- 
1784. His father, 
Richard Taylor, was Colo- 
nel of a Virginia regiment 
in the Revolutionar}' war, 
and removed to Kentucky 
in 1785 ; purchased a large 
plantation near Louisville 
and became an influential cit- 
izen ; was a member of the convention that 
framed the Constitution of Kentucky; served 
in both branches of the Legislature ; was 
Collector of the port of Louisville under 
President Washington ; as a Presidential 
elector, voted for Jefferson, Madison, Mon- 
roe and Clay; died January 19,1829. 

Zachary remained on his father's planta- 
tion until 1808, in which year (May 3) he 
was appointed First Lieutenant in the 
Seventh Infantr}', to fill a vacancy oc- 
casioned by the deatii of his elder brother, 
Hancock. Up to this point he had received 
but a limited education. 

Joining his regiment at New Orleans, he 



was attacked with yellow fever, with nearly 
fatal tcrminatit)n. In November, 1810, he 
was promoted to Captain, and m the sum- 
mer of 181 2 he was in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the left bank of the Wabash 
River, near the present site of Terre Haute, 
his successful defense of which with but a 
handful of men against a large force of 
Indians which had attacked him was one of 
the first marked military achievements of 
the war. He was then brevetted Major, 
and in 1814 promoted to the full rank. 

During the remainder of the war Taylor 
was actively employed on the Western 
frontier. In the peace organization of 181 5 
he was retained as Captain, but soon after 
resigned and settled near Louisville. In 
May, 18 16, however, he re-entered the army 
as Major of the Third Infantry ; became 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eigiith Infantry 
in 1819, and in 1832 attained the Colonelcy 
of the First Infantry, of which he had been 
Lieutenant-Colonel since 1S21. On different 
occasions he had been called to Washington 
as member of a military board for organiz- 
ing the militia of the Union, and to aid the 
Government with his knowledge in the 
organization of the Indian Bureau, having 
for many years discharged the duties of 
Indian a"-ent over large tracts of Western 




'T'/CL 




'^^ 



ZA CHA RT TAYLOR. 



country. He served through the Black 
Hawk war in 1832, and in 1837 was ordered 
to take command in Florida, then the scene 
of war with the Indians. 

In 1846 he was transferred to the com- 
mand of the Army of the Southwest, from 
which he was relieved the same year at his 
own request. Subsequently he was sta- 
tioned on the Arkansas frontier at Forts 
Gibbon, Smith and Jesup, which latter work 
nad been built under his direction in 1822. 

May 28, 1845, he received a dispatch from 
the Secretary of War informing him of the 
receipt of information by the President 
"that Texas would shortly accede to the 
terms of annexation," in which event he 
was instructed to defend and protect her 
from "foreign invasion and Indian incur- 
sions." He proceeded, upon the annexation 
of Texas, with about 1,500 men to Corpus 
Christi, where his force was increased to 
some 4,000. 

Taylor was brevetted Major-General May 
28, and a month later, June 29, 1846, his full 
commission to that grade was issued. After 
needed rest and reinforcement, he advanced 
in September on Monterey, which city ca- 
pitulated after three-days stubborn resist- 
ance. Here he took up his winter quarters. 
The plan for the invasion of Mexico, by 
way of Vera Cruz, with General Scott in 
command, was now determined upon by 
the Govenrment, and at the moment Taylor 
was about to resume active operations, he 
received orders to send the larger part of 
his force to reinforce the army of General 
Scott at Vera Cruz. Though subsequently 
reinforced by raw recruits, yet after pro- 
viding a garrison for Monterey and Saltillo 
he had but about 5,300 effective troops, of 
which but 500 or 600 were regulars. In 
this weakened condition, however, he was 
destined to achieve his greatest victory. 
Confidently relying upon his strength at 
Vera Cruz to resist the enemy for a long 
time, Santa Anna directed his entire army 



against Taylor to overwhelm him, and then 
to return to oppose the advance of Scott's 
more formidable invasion. The battle of 
Buena Vista was fought February 22 and 
23, 1847. Taylor received the thanks of 
Congress and a gold medal, and '' Old 
Rough and Ready," the sobriquet given 
him in the army, became a household word. 
He remained in quiet possession of the 
Rio Grande Valley until November, when 
he returned to the United States. 

In the Whig convention which met at 
Philadelphia,June 7, 1848, Taylor was nomi- 
nated on the fourth ballot as candidate :,' 
the Whig party for President, over Henry 
Clay, General Scott and Daniel Webster. 
In November Taylor received a majority 
of electoral votes, and a popular vote of 
1,360,752, against 1,219,962 for Cass and 
Butler, and 291,342 lor Van Buren and 
Adams. General Taylor was inaugurated 
March 4, 1849. 

The free and slave States being then equal 
in number, the struggle for supremacy on 
the part of the leaders in Congress was 
violent and bitter. In the summer of 1849 
California adopted in convention a Consti- 
tution prohibiting slavery within its borders. 
Taylor advocated the immediate admission 
of California with her Constitution, and the 
postponement of the question as to the other 
Territories until they could hold conven- 
tions and decide for themselves whether 
slavery should exist within their borders. 
This policy ultimately prevailed through 
the celebrated " Compromise Measures" of 
Henry Clay ; but not during the life of the 
brave soldier and patriot statesman. July 
5 he was taken suddenly ill with a bilious 
fever, which proved fatal, his death occur- 
ring July 9, 1850. One of his daughters 
married Colonel W. W. S. Bliss, his Adju- 
tant-General and Chief of Staff in Florida 
and Mexico, and Private Secretary during 
his Presidency. Another daughter was 
married to Jefferaon Davis. 



PRF.SrnEXTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 







_a^^^'„ . _ 




Us 



"SS 



ILLARD FILL- 
JO, MORE, the thir- 
'^j teenth President 
of the United 
States, i85o-'3, was 
born in Summer 
Hill, Cayuga 
County, New York, Janu- 
ary 7, 1800. He was of 
New England ancestry, and 
his educational advantages 
were limited. He early 
learned the clothiers' trade, 
but spent all his leisure time 
in study. At nineteen years 
of age he was induced by 
Judge Walter Wood to abandon his trade 
and commence the study of law. Upon 
learning that the young man was entirely 
destitute of means, he took him into his 
own office and loaned him such money as 
he needed. That he might not be heavily 
burdened with debt, young Fillm.ore taught 
school during the winter months, and in 
various other ways helped himself along. 
At the age of twenty-three he was ad- 
mitted to the Court of Common Pleas, and 
commenced the practice of his profession 
in the village of Aurora, situated on the 



eastern bank of the Cayuga Lake. In 1825 
he married Miss Abigail Powers, daughter 
of Rev. Lemuel Powers, a lady of great 
moral worth. In 1825 he took his seat in 
the House of Assembly of his native State, 
as Representative from Erie County, 
whither he had recently moved. 

Though he had never taken a very 
active part in politics his vote and his sym- 
pathies were with the Whig party. The 
State was then Democratic, but his cour- 
tesy, ability and integrity won the respect 
of his associates. In 1832 he was elected 
to a seat in the United States Congress. 
At the close of his term he returned to his 
law practice, and in two years more he was 
again elected to Congress. 

He now began to have a national reputa- 
tion. His labors were very arduous. To 
draft resolutions in the committee room, 
and then to defend them against the most 
skillful opponents on the floor of the House 
requires readiness of mind, mental resources 
and skill in debate such as few possess. 
Weary with these exhausting labors, and 
pressed by the claims of his private affairs, 
Mr. Fillmore wrote a letter to his constitu- 
ents and declined to be a candidate for re- 
election. Notwithstanding this ccmmuni- 



0- 





(^£6a^l? 




c^rz/J 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



75 



cation his friends met in convention and 
renominated him by acclamation. Though 
gratified by this proof of their appreciation 
of his labors he adhered to his resolve and 
returned to his home. 

In 1847 Mr. Fillmore was elected to the 
important office of comptroller of the State. 
In entering upon the very responsible duties 
which tills situation demanded, it was nec- 
essary for him to abandon his profession, 
and he removed to the city of Albany. In 
this year, also, the Whigs were looking 
around to find suitable candidates for the 
President and Vice-President at the ap- 
proaching election, and the names of Zach- 
ary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
tlie rallying cry of the Whigs. On the 4th 
of March, 1849, General Taylor was inaug- 
urated President and Millard Fillmore 
Vice-President of the United States. 

The great question of slavery had as- 
sumed enormous proportions, and perme- 
ated every subject that was brought before 
Congress. It was evident that the strength 
of our institutions was to be severely tried. 
July 9, 1850, President Taylor died, and, by 
the Constitution, Vice-President Fillmore 
became President of the United States. 
The agitated condition of the country 
brought questions of great delicacy before 
him. He was bound by his oath of office 
to e-xecute the laws of the United States. 
One of these laws was understood to be, 
that if a slave, escaping from bondage, 
should reach a free State, the United States 
was bound to do its utmost to capture him 
and return him to his master. Most Chris- 
tian men loathed this law. President Fill- 
more felt bound by his oath rigidly to see 
it enforced. Slavery was organizing armies 
to invade Cuba as it had invaded Texas, 
and annex it to the United States. Presi- 
dent Fillmore gave all the influence of his 
exalted station against the atrocious enter- 
prise. 

Mr. Fillmore had serious difficulties to 



contend with, since the opposition had a 
majority in both Houses. He did every- 
thing in his power to conciliate the South, 
but the pro-slavery party in that section 
felt the inadequency of all measures of tran- 
sient conciliation. The population of the 
free States was so rapidly increasing over 
that of the slave States, that it was inevita- 
ble that the power of the Government 
should soon pass into the hands of the free 
States. The famous compromise measures 
were adopted under Mr. Fillmore's admin- 
istration, and the Japan expedition was 
sent out. 

March 4, 1853, having served one term, 
President Fillmore retired from office. He 
then took a long tour through the South, 
where he met with quite an enthusiastic 
reception. In a speech at Vicksburg, al- 
luding to the rapid growth of the country, 
he said: 

" Canada is knocking for admission, and 
Mexico would be glad to come in, and 
without saying whether it would be right 
or wrong, we stand with open arms to re- 
ceive them; for it is the manifest destiny of 
this Government to embrace the whole 
North American Continent." 

In 1855 Mr. Fillmore went to Europe 
where he was received with those marked 
attentions which his position and character 
merited. Returning to this country in 
1856 he was nominated for the Presidency 
by the "Know-Nothing" party. Mr. Bu- 
chanan, the Democratic candidate was 
the successful competitor. Mr. Fillmore 
ever afterward lived in retirement. Dur- 
ing the conflict of civil war he was mostly 
silent. It was generally supposed, how- 
ever, that his sympathy was with the South- 
ern Confederacy. He kept aloof from the 
conflict without any words of cheer to the 
one party or the other. For this reason 
he was forgotten by both. He died of 
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 
1874. 



76 



PRESrOENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 



'§M':\ 



^.^cH^^->. 



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FPI]I^LII] PIERCE. 









,, RANKLIN PIERCE, 
'^ the fourteenth Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, was born in 
Hillsborough, New 
Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 23, 1804. His 
father. Governor 
Benjamin Pierce, was a Rev- 
olutionarjr soldier, a man of 
rigid integrity ; was for sev- 
eral years in the State Legis- 
lature, a member of the Gov- 
ernor's council and a General 
of the militia. 
Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 
As a boy he listened eagerly to the argu- 
ments of his father, enforced by strong and 
ready utten'.nce and earnest gesture. It 
was in the days of intense political excite- 
ment, when, all over the New England 
States, Federalists and Democrats were ar- 
rayed so fiercely against each other. 

In 1820 he entered Bowdoin College, at 
Brunswick, Maine, and graduated in 1824, 
and commenced the study of law in the 
office of Judge Woodbury, a very distin- 
guished lawyer, and in 1827 was admitted 
to the bar. He practiced with great success 
in Hillsborough and Concord. He served 



in the State Legislature four years, the last 
two of which he was chosen Speaker of the 
House by a very large vote. 

In 1833 he was elected a member of Con- 
gress. In 1837 he was elected to the United 
States Senate, just as Mr. Van Buren com- 
menced his administration. 

In 1834 he married Miss Jane Means 
Appleton, a lady admirably fitted to adorn 
every station with which her husband was 
honored. Three sons born to them all 
found an early grave. 

Upon his accession to ofhce, President 
Polk appointed Mr. Pierce Attorney-Gen- 
eral of the United States, but the offer was 
declined in consequence of numerous pro- 
fessional engagements at home and the 
precarious state of Mrs. Pierce's health. 
About the same time he also declined the 
nomination for Governor by the Demo- 
cratic party. 

The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce 
into the arm)'. Receiving the appointment 
of Brigadier-General, he embarked with a 
portion of his troops at Newport, Rhode 
Island, May 27, 1847. He served during 
this war, and distinguished himself by his 
bravery, skill and excellent judgment. 
When he reached his home in his native 
State he was enthusiastically received by 






'^^e^t^:^ 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



the advocates of the war, and coldly by its 
opponents. He resumed the practice of his 
profession, frequently taking an active part 
in political questions, and giving his sup- 
port to the pro-slaverv wing of the Demo- 
cratic party. 

June 12, 1852, the Democratic convention 
met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate 
for the Presidenc}-. For four da3-s they 
continued in session, and in thirty-five bal- 
lotmgs no one had received the requisite 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote had been 
thrown thus far for General Pierce. Then 
the Virginia delegation brought forward 
his name. There were fourteen more bal- 
loting's, during which General Pierce 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth 
ballot, he received 282 votes, and all other 
candidates eleven. General Winfield Scott 
was the Whig candidate. General Pierce 
was elected with great unanimity. Only 
four States — Vermont, Massachusetts, Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee — cast their electoral 
votes against him. March 4, 1853, he was 
inaugurated President of the United States, 
and William R. Iving, Vice-President. 

President Pierce's cabinet consisted of 
William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jefferson 
Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert McClel- 
land, James Campbell and Caleb Cushing. 

At the demand of slavery the Missouri 
Compromise was repealed, and all the Ter- 
ritories of the Union were thrown open to 
slavery. The Territory of Kansas, west of 
Missouri, was settled by emigrants mainly 
from the North. According to law, they 
were about to meet and decide whether 
slavery or freedom should be the law of 
that realm. Slavery in Missouri and 
other Southern States rallied her armed 
legions, marched them into Kansas, took 
possession of the polls, drove awa}' the 
citizens, deposited their own votes by 
handfuls, went through the farce of count- 
ing them, and then declared that, by an 
overwhelming majority, slavery was estab- 



lished in Kansas. These facts nobody 
denied, and )'et President Pierce's adminis 
t ration felt bound to respect the decision 
obtained by such votes. The citizens of 
Kansas, the majority of whom were free- 
State men, met in convention and adopted 
the following resolve : 

"Resolved, That the body of men who, 
for the past two months, have been passing 
laws for the people of our Territory, 
moved, counseled and dictated to "hy the 
demagogues of other States, are to us a 
foreign body, representing only the lawless 
invaders who elected them, and not the 
people of this Territory ; that we repudiate 
their action as the monstrous consummation 
of an act of violence, usurpation and fraud 
unparalleled in the history of the Union." 

The free-State people of Kansas also sent 
a petition to the General Government, im- 
ploring its protection. In repl}- the Presi- 
dent issued a proclamation, declaring that 
Legislature thus created must be recog- 
nized as the legitimate Legislature of Kan- 
sas, and that its laws were binding upon 
the people, and that, if necessary, the whole 
force of the Governmental arm would be 
put forth to inforce those laws. 

James Buchanan succeeded him in the 
Presidenc)', and, March 4, 1857, President 
Pierce retired to his home in Concord, 
New Hampshire. When the Rebellion 
burst forth Mr. Pierce remained steadfast 
to the principles he had always cherished, 
and gave his sympathies to the pro-slavery 
party, with which he had ever been allied. 
He declined to do anything, either by 
voice or pen, to strengthen the hands of 
the National Government. He resided in 
Concord until his death, which occurred in 
October, i86g. He was one of the most 
genial and social of men, generous to 
a fault, and contributed liberally of his 
moderate means for the alleviation of suf- 
fering and want. He was an honored 
communicant of the Episcopal ohurch. 



>n 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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'AMES BUCHANAN, the 
fiftecnlli President of the 
United States. i857-'6i, 
was born in Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania, 
April 23, 1791.' The 
place where his father's 
cabin stood was called 
Stony Batter, and it was 
situated in a wild, romantic 
spot, in a gorge of mount- 
ains, with towering sum- 
mits rising all around. He 
was of Irish ancestry, his 
father having emigrated in- 
'783, with very little prop- 
erty, save his own strong arms. 

James remained in his secluded home for 
eight years enjoying very few social or 
intellectual advantages. His parents were 
industrious, frugal, prosperous and intelli- 
gent. In 1799 his father removed to Mer- 
cersburg, where James was placed in 
school and commenced a course in English, 
Greek and Latin. His progress was rapid 
and in 1801 he entered Dickinson College 
at Carlisle. Here he took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution, and was 
able to master the most abstruse subjects 
with facility. In 1809 he graduated with 
the highest honors in his class. 

He was then eighteen years of age, tall. 



graceful and in vigorous health, fond oi 
athletic sports, an unerring shot and en- 
livened with an exuberant flow of animal 
spirits. He immediately commenced the 
study of law in the city of Lancaster, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose 
very rapidly in his profession and at once 
took undisputed stand with the ablest law- 
yers of the State. When but twenty-six 
years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 
one of the Judges of the State, who was 
tried upon articles of impeachment. At 
the age of thirty it was generall)' admitted 
that he stood at the head of the bar, and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had 
a more extensive or lucrative practice. 

In 18 1 2, just after Mr. Buchanan had 
entered upon the practice of the law, our 
second war with England occurred. With 
all his powers he sustained the Govern- 
ment, eloquently urging the rigorous pros- 
ecution of the war; and even enlisHng as a 
private soldier to assist in repelling the 
British, who had sacked Washington and 
were threatening Baltimore. He was at 
that time a Federalist, but when the Con- 
stitution was adopted b)* both parties, 
Jefferson truly said, " We are all Federal- 
ists; we are all Republicans." 

The oppos'tion of the Federalists to the 
war with England, and the alien and sedi- 





^77z^ <2y^^C>^^.y^^,.^^ 



JAMES BUCHANAN. 



o? 



tioii laws of John Adams, brought the party 
into dispute, and the name of Federalist 
became a reproach. Mr. Buchanan almost 
immediately upon entering Congress began 
to incline more and more to the Repub- 
licans. In the stormy Presidential election 
of 1824, in which Jackson, Clay, Crawford 
and John Quincy Adams were candidates, 
Mr. Buchanan espoused the cause of Gen- 
eral Jackson and unrelentingly opposed the 
administration of Mr. Adams. 

Upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
General Jackson appointed Mr. Buchanan, 
minister to Russia. Upon his return in 1 833 
he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met as his associates, 
Webster, Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He 
advocated the measui'es proposed by Presi- 
dent Jackson of making reprisals against 
France, and defended the course of the Pres- 
ident in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removals from office of those who were not 
the supporters of his administration. Upon 
this question he was brought into direct col- 
lision with Henry Clay. In the discussion 
of the question respecting the admission of 
Michigan and Arkansas into the Union, Mr. 
Buchanan defined his position by sa3nng: 

" The older I grow, the more I am in- 
clined to be what is called a State-rights 
man." 

M. de Tocqueville, in his renowned work 
upon " Democracy in America," foresaw 
the trouble which was inevitable from the 
doctrine of State sovereignt}' as held by 
Calhoun and Buchanan. He was con- 
vinced that the National Government was 
losing that strength which was essential 
to its own existence, and that the States 
were assuming powers which threatened 
the perpetuity of the Union. Mr. Buchanan 
received the book in the Senate and de- 
clared the fears of De Tocqueville to be 
groundless, and 3'et he lived to sit in the 
Presidential chair and see State after State, 
in accordance with his own views of State 



rights, breaking from the Union, thus 
crumbling our Republic into ruins; while 
the unhappy old man folded his arms in 
despair, declaring that the National Consti- 
tution invested him with no power to arrest 
the destruction. 

Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presi- 
dencv, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of 
State, and as such took his share of the 
responsibility in the conduct of the Mexi- 
can war. At the close of Mr. Polk's ad- 
ministration, Mr. Buchanan retired to pri- 
vate life; but his intelligence, and his great 
ability as a statesman, enabled him to exert 
a powerful influence in National affairs. 

Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the 
Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with 
the mission to England. In the year 1856 
the National Democratic convention nomi- 
nated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. 
The political conflict was one of the most 
severe in which our country has ever en- 
gaged. On the 4th of March, 1857, Mr. 
Buchanan was inaugurated President. His 
cabinet were Lewis Cass, Howell Cobb, 
J. B. Floyd, Isaac Toucey, Jacob Thomp- 
son, A. V. Brown and J. S. Black. 

The disruption of the Democratic party, 
in consequence of the manner in which the 
issue of the nationality of slavery was 
pressed by the Southern wing, occurred at 
the National convention, held at Charleston 
in April, i860, for the nomination of Mr. 
Buchanan's successor, when the majority 
of Southern delegates withdrew upon the 
passage of a resolution declaring that the 
constitutional status of slavery should be 
determined b}' the Supreme Court. 

In the next Presidential canvass Abra- 
ham Lincoln was nominated by the oppo- 
nents of Mr. Buchanan's administration. 
Mr. Buchanan remained in Washington 
long enough to see his successor installed 
and then retired to his home in Wheatland. 
He died June i, 1868, aged seventy-seven 
years. 



84 



PRBSrOENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 








BRAHAM LIN- 
COLN, the sixteenth 
President of the 
United States, i86i-'5, 
was born February 
tjK^^ 12, 1809, in Larue 
^■^^ (then Hardin) County, 
Kentucky, in a cabin on Nolan 
Creek, three miles west of 
Hudgensville. His parents 
were Thomas and Nancy 
(Hanks) Lincoln. Of his an- 
cestry and early years the little 
that is known may best be 
given in his own language : " My 
parents were both born in Virginia, of un- 
distinguished families — second families, per- 
haps 1 should say. My mother, who died 
in my tenth year, was of a family of the 
name of Hanks, some of whom now remain 
in Adams, and others in Macon County, 
Illinois. My paterna' grandfather, Abra- 
ham Lincoln, emigrated from Rockbridge 
County, Virginia, to Kentucky in 1781 or 
1782, where, a year or two later, he was 
killed by Indians — not in battle, but by 
stealth, when he was laboring to open a 
farm in the forest. His ancestors, who were 
Quakers, went to Virginia from Berks 
County, Pennsylvania. An effort to iden- 



tify them with the New England family of 
the same name ended in nothing more defi- 
nite than a similarity of Christian names in 
both families, such as Enoch, Levi, Mor- 
decai, Solomon, Abraham and the like. 
My father, at the death of his father, was 
but si.x years of age, and he grew up, liter- 
ally, without education. He removed from 
Kentucky to what is now Spencer County, 
Indiana, in my eighth year. We reached 
our new home about the time the State came 
into the Union. It was a wild region, with 
bears and other wild animals still in the 
woods. There I grew to manhood. 

" There were some schools, so called, but 
no qualification was ever required of a 
teacher beyond ' readin', writin', and cipher- 
in' to the rule of three.' If a straggler, sup- 
posed to understand Latin, happened to 
sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked 
upon as a wizard. There was absolutely 
nothing to excite ambition for education. 
Ot course, when I came of age I did not 
know much. Still, somehow, I could read, 
write and cipher to the rule of three, and 
that was all. I have not been to school 
since. The little advance I now have upon 
this store of education I have picked up 
from time to time under the pressure of 
necessity. I was raised to farm-work, which 




^ 



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£j-^ Cy\^'—u~ 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



87 



I continued till I was twenty-two. At 
twent3'-one I came to Illinois and passed 
the first year in Macon County. Then I got 
to New Salem, at that time in Sangamon, 
now in Menard County, where I remained 
a year as a sort of clerk in a store. 

" Then came the Black Hawk war, and I 
was elected a Captain of volunteers — a suc- 
cess which gave me more pleasure than any 
I have had since. I went the campaign, 
was elated ; ran for the Legislature the 
same year (1832) and was beaten, the only 
time I have ever been beaten by the people. 
The next and three succeeding biennial 
elections I was elected to the Legislature, 
and was never a candidate afterward. 

" During this legislative period I had 
studied law, and removed to Springfield to 
practice it. In 1846 I was elected to the 
Lower House of Congress; was not a can- 
didate for re-election. From 1849 to 1854, 
inclusive, I practiced the law more assid- 
uously than ever before. Always a Whig 
in politics, and generally on the Whig elec- 
toral tickets, making active canvasses, I was 
losing interest in politics, when the repeal 
of the Missouri Compromise roused me 
again. What I have done since is pretty 
well known." 

The early residence of Lincoln in Indi- 
ana was sixteen miles north of the Ohio 
River, on Little Pigeon Creek, one and a 
half miles east of Gentryville, within the 
present township of Carter. Here his 
mother died October 5, 1818, and the next 
year his father married Mrs. Sally (Bush) 
Johnston, of Eiizabethtown, Kentucky. She 
was an affectionate foster-parent, to whom 
Abraham was indebted for his first encour- 
agement to study. He became an eager 
reader, and the few books owned in the 
vicinity were many times perused. He 
worked frequently for the neighbors as a 
farm laborer ; was for some time clerk in a 
store at Gentryville; and became famous 
throughout that region for his athletic 



powers, his fondness for argument, his in- 
exhaustible fund of humerous anecdote, as 
well as for mock oratory and the composi- 
tion of rude satirical verses. In 1828 he 
made a trading voyage to New Orleans as 
" bow-hand " on a flatboat ; removed to 
Illinois in 1830 ; helped his father build a 
log house and clear a farm on the north 
fork of Sangamon River, ten miles west of 
Decatur, and was for some time employed 
in splitting rails for the fences — a fact which 
was prominently brought forward for a 
political purpose thirty years later. 

In the spring of 185 1 he, with two of his 
relatives, was hired to build a flatboat on 
the Sangamon River and navigate it to 
New Orleans. The boat "stuck" on a 
mill-dam, and was got off with great labor 
through an ingenious mechanical device 
which some years later led to Lincoln's 
taking out a patent for "an improved 
method for lifting vessels over shoals." 
This voyage was memorable for another 
reason — the sight of slaves chained, mal- 
treated and flogged at New Orleans was 
the origin of his deep convictions upon the 
slavery question. 

Returning from this voyage he became a 
resident for several years at New Salem, a 
recently settled village on the Sangamon, 
where he was successively a clerk, grocer, 
surveyor and postmaster, and acted as pilot 
to the first steamboat that ascended the 
Sangamon. Here he studied law, inter- 
ested himself in local politics after his 
return from the Black Hawk war, and 
became known as an effective "stump 
speaker." The subject of his first political 
speech was the improvement of the channel 
of the Sangamon, and the chief ground on 
which he announced himself (1832) a candi- 
date for the Legislature was his advocacy 
of this popular measure, on which subject 
his practical experience made him the high- 
est authority. 

Elected to the Legislature in 1834 as 3 



88 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



" Henry Clay Whig," he rapidly acquired 
that command of language and that homely 
but forcible rhetoric which, added to his 
intimate knowledge of the people from 
which he sprang, made him more than a 
match in debate for his few well-educated 
opponents. 

Admitted to the bar in 1837 ^^ soon 
established himself at Springfield, where 
the State capital was located in 1839, 
largely through his influence ; became a 
successful pleader in the State, Circuit and 
District Courts ; married in 1842 a lady be- 
longing to a prominent family in Lexington, 
Kentucky; took an active part in the Pres- 
idential campaigns of 1840 and 1844 as 
candidate for elector on the Harrison and 
Clay tickets, and in 1846 was elected to the 
United States House of Representatives 
over the celebrated Peter Cartwright. 
During his single term in Congress he did 
not attain any prominence. 

He voted for the reception of anti-slavery 
petitions for the abolition of the slave trade 
in the District of Columbia and for the 
Wilmot proviso ; but was chiefly remem- 
bered for the stand he took against the 
Mexican war. For several years there- 
after he took comparatively little interest 
in politics, but gained a leading position at 
the Springfield bar. Two or three non- 
political lectures and an eulogy on Henry 
Clay (1852) added nothing to his reputation. 

In 1854 the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise by the Kansas-Nebraska act 
aroused Lincoln from his indifference, and 
in attacking that measure he had the im- 
mense advantage of knowing perfectly well 
the motives and the record of its author, 
Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, then popu- 
larly designated as the " Little Giant." The 
latter came to Springfield in October, 1854, 
on the occasion of the State Fair, to vindi- 
cate his policy in the Senate, and the " Anti- 
Nebraska" Whigs, remembering that Lin- 
coln had often measured his strength with 



Douglas in the Illinois Legislature and be- 
fore the Springfield Courts, engaged him 
to improvise a reply. This speech, in the 
opinion of those who heard it, was one of 
the greatest efforts of Lincoln's life ; cer- 
tainly the most effective in his whole career. 
It took the audience by storm, and from 
that moment it was felt that Douglas had 
met his match. Lincoln was accordingly 
selected as the Anti-Nebraska candidate for 
the United States Senate in place of General 
Shields, whose term expired March 4, 1855, 
and led to several ballots; but Trumbull 
was ultimately chosen. 

The second conflict on the soil of Kan- 
sas, which Lincoln had predicted, soon be- 
gan. The result was the disruption of the 
Whig and the formation of the Republican 
party. At the Bloomington State Conven- 
tion in 1856, where the new party first 
assumed form in Illinois, Lincoln made an 
impressive address, in which for the first 
time he took distinctive ground against 
slavery in itself. 

At the National Republican Convention 
at Philadelphia, June 17, after the nomi- 
nation of Fremont, Lincoln was put for- 
ward by the Illinois delegation for the 
Vice-Presidency, and received on the first 
ballot 1 10 votes against 259 for William L 
Dayton. He took a prominent part in the 
canvass, being on the electoral ticket. 

In 1858 Lincoln was unanimously nomi- 
nated by the Republican State Convention 
as its candidate for the United States Senate 
in place of Douglas, and in his speech of 
acceptance used the celebrated illustration 
of a "house divided against itself" on the 
slavery question, which was, perhaps, the 
cause of his defeat. The great debate car- 
ried on aft all the principal towns of Illinois 
between Lincoln and Douglas as rival Sena- 
torial candidates resulted at the time in the 
election of the latter ; but being widely cir- 
culated as a campaign document, it fixed 
the attention of the country upon the 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



89 



former, as the clearest and most convinc- 
ing exponent of Republican doctrine. 

Early in 1859 he began to be named in 
Illinois as a suitable Republican candidate 
for the Presidential campaign of the ensu- 
ing year, and a political address delivered 
at the Cooper Institute, New York, Febru- 
ary 27, i860, followed by similar speeches 
at New Haven, Hartford and elsewhere in 
New England, first made him known to the 
Eastern States in the light by which he had 
long been regarded at home. By the Re- 
publican State Convention, which met at 
Decatur, Illinois, May 9 and 10, Lincoln 
was unanimously endorsed for the Presi- 
dency. It was on this occasion that two 
rails, said to have been split by his hands 
thirty years before, were brought into the 
convention, and the incident contributed 
much to his popularity. The National 
Republican Convention at Chicago, after 
spirited efforts made in favor of Seward, 
Chase and Bates, nominated Lincoln for 
the Presidency, with Hannibal Hamlin 
for Vice-President, at the same time adopt- 
ing a vigorous anti-slavery platform. 

The Democratic party having been dis- 
organized and presenting two candidates, 
Douglas and Breckenrifige, and the rem- 
nant of the " American" party having put 
forward John Bell, of Tennessee, the Re- 
publican victory was an easy one, Lincoln 
being elected November 6 by a large plu- 
rality, comprehending nearly all the North- 
ern States, but none of the Southern. The 
secession of South Carolina and the Gulf 
States was the immediate result, followed 
a few months later by that of the border 
slave States and the outbreak of the great 
civil war. 

The life of Abraham Lincoln became 
thenceforth merged in the history of his 
country. None of the details of the vast 
conflict which filled the remainder of Lin- 
coln's life can here be given. Narrowly 
escaping assassination by avoiding Balti- 



more on his way to the capital, he reached 
Washington February 23, and was inaugu- 
rated President of the United States March 
4, 1 86 1. 

In his inaugural address he said: " I hold, 
that in contemplation of universal law and 
the Constitution the Union of these States is 
perpetual. Perpetuity is implied if not ex- 
pressed in the fundamental laws of all na- 
tional governments. It is safe to assert 
that no government proper ever had a pro- 
vision in its organic law for its own termi- 
nation. I therefore consider that in view 
of the Constitution and the laws, the Union 
is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability 
I shall take care, as the Constitution en- 
joins upon me, that the laws of the United 
States be extended in all the States. In 
doing this there need be no bloodshed or vio- 
lence, and there shall be none unless it be 
forced upon the national authority. The 
power conferred to me will be used to hold, 
occupy and possess the property and places 
belonging to the Government, and to col- 
lect the duties and imports, but beyond 
what may be necessary for these objects 
there will be no invasion, no using of force 
against or among the people anywhere. In 
your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-country- 
men, is the momentous issue of civil war. 
The Government will not assail you. You 
can have no conflict without being your- 
selves the aggressors. You have no oath 
registered in heaven to destroy the Gov- 
ernment, while I shall have the most sol- 
emn one to preserve, protect and defend 
it." 

He called to his cabinet his principal 
rivals for the Presidential nomination — 
Seward, Chase, Cameron and Bates; se- 
cured the co-operation of the Union Demo- 
crats, headed by Douglas ; called out 75.000 
militia from the several States upon the first 
tidings of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, 
April 15; proclaimed a blockade of the 
Southern posts April 19; called an extra 



90 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



session of Congress for July 4, from which 
he asked and obtained 400,000 men and 
$400,000,000 for the war; placed McClellan 
at the head of the Federal army on General 
Scott's resignation, October 31; appointed 
Edwin M. Stanton Secretary of War, Jan- 
uary 14, 1862, and September 22, 1862, 
issued a proclamation declaring the free- 
dom of all slaves in the States and parts of 
States then in rebellion from and after 
January i, 1863. This was the crowning 
act of Lincoln's career — the act by which 
he will be chiefly known through all future 
time — and it decided the war. 

October 16, 1863, President Lincoln called 
for 300,000 volunteers to replace those 
whose term of enlistment had expired ; 
made a celebrated and touching, though 
brief, address at the dedication of the 
Gettysburg military cemetery, November 
19, 1863; commissioned Ulysses S. Grant 
Lieutenant-General and Commander-in- 
Chief of the armies of the United States, 
March 9, 1864; was re-elected President in 
November of the same year, by a large 
majority over General McClellan, with 
Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, as Vice- 
President; delivered a very remarkable ad- 
dress at his second inauguration, March 4, 
1865; visited the army before Richmond the 
same month; entered the capital of the Con- 
federacy the day after its fall, and upon the 
surrender of General Robert E. Lee's army, 
April 9, was actively engaged in devising 
generous plans for the reconstruction of the 
Union, when, on the evening of Good Fri- 
day, April 14, he was shot in his box at 
Ford's Theatre, Washington, byjohn Wilkes 
Booth, a fanatical actor, and expired early 
on the following morning, April 15. Al- 
most simultaneously a murderous attack 
was made upon William H. Seward, Secre- 
tary of State. 

At noon on the isth of April Andrew 



Johnson assumed the Presidency, and active 
measures were taken which resulted in the 
death of Booth and the execution of his 
principal accomplices. 

The funeral of President Lincoln was 
conducted with unexampled solemnity and 
magnificence. Impressive services were 
held in Washington, after which the sad 
procession proceeded over the same route 
he had traveled four years before, from 
Springheld to Washington. In Philadel- 
phia his body lay in state in Independence 
Hall, in which he had declared before his 
first inauguration "that I would sooner be 
assassinated than to give up the principles 
of the Declaration of Independence." He 
was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, near 
Springfield, Illinois, on Mav 4, where a 
monument emblematic of the emancipation 
of the slaves and the restoration of the 
Union mark his resting place. 

The leaders and citizens of the expiring 
Confederacy expressed genuine indignation 
at the murder of a generous political adver- 
sary. Foreign nations took part in mourn- 
ing the death of a statesman who had proved 
himself a true representative of American 
nationality. The freedmen of the South 
almost worshiped the memor}' of their de- 
liverer; and the general sentiment of the 
great Nation he had saved awarded him a 
place in its affections, second only to that 
held by Washington. 

The characteristics of Abraham Lincoln 
have been familiarly known throughout the 
civilized world. His tall, gaunt, ungainly 
figure, homely countenance, and his shrewd 
mother-wit, shown in his celebrated con- 
versations overflowing in humorous and 
pointed anecdote, combined with an accu- 
rate, intuitive appreciation of the questions 
of the time, are recognized as forming the 
best type of a period of American history 
now rapidly passing away. 




c 




yxju^y 




VI- 



ANDREW yOHNSOM. 



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NDREW JOHNSON, 

the seventeenth Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, 1865-9, was 
born at Raleigh, 
North Carolina, De- 
c em b e r 29, 1808. 
His father died when 
he was four years old, and in 
his eleventh year he was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor. He nev- 
er attended school, and did 
not learn to read until late in 
his apprenticeship, when he 
suddenl}' acquired a passion for 
obtaining knowledge, and devoted 
all his spare time to reading. 

After working two years as a journey- 
man tailor at Lauren's Court-House, South 
Carolina, he removed, in 1826, to Green- 
ville, Tennessee, where he worked at his 
trade and married. Under his wife's in- 
structions he made rapid progress in his 
education, and manifested such an intelli- 
gent interest in local politics as to be 
elected as " workingmen's candidate " al- 
derman, in 1828, and mayor in 1830, being 
twice re-elected to each office. 

During this period he cultivated his tal- 
ents as a public speaker by taking part in a 



debating society, consisting largely of stu- 
dents of Greenville College. In 1835, and 
again in 1839, he was chosen to the lower 
house of the Legislature, as a Democrat. 
In 1841 he was elected State Senator, and 
in 1843, Representative in Congress, being 
re-elected four successive periods, until 
'853, when he was chosen Governor of 
Tennessee. In Congress he supported the 
administrations of Tyler and Polk in their 
chief measures, especially the annexation 
of Texas, the adjustment of the Oregon 
boundary, the Mexican war, and the tariff 
of 1846. 

In 1855 Mr. Johnson was reelected Gov- 
ernor, and in 1857 entered the United 
States Senate, where he was conspicuous 
as an advocate of retrenchment and of the 
Homestead bill, and as an opponent of the 
Pacific Railroad. He was supported by the 
Tennessee delegation to the Democratic 
convention in i860 for the Presidential 
nomination, and lent his influence to the 
Breckenridge wing of that part3\ 

When the election of Lincoln had 
brought about the first attempt at secession 
in December, i860, Johnson took in the 
Senate a firm attitude for the Union, and 
in May, 1861, on returning to Tennessee, 
he was in imminent peril of suffering from 



94 



PRES/DEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



popular violence for his loyalty to the " old 
flag." He was the leader of the Loyalists" 
convention of East Tennessee, and during 
the following winter was very active in or- 
ganizing relief for the destitute loyal refu- 
gees from that region, his own family being 
among those compelled to leave. 

By his course in this crisis Johnson came 
prominently before the Northern public, 
and when in March, 1862, he was appointed 
by President Lincoln military Governor of 
Tennessee, with the rank of Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, he increased in popularity by the vig- 
orous and successful manner in which he 
labored to restore order, protect Union 
men and punish marauders. On the ap- 
proach of the Presidential campaign of 1864, 
the termination of the war being plainly 
foreseen, and several Southern States being 
partially reconstructed, it was felt that the 
Vice-Presidency should be given to a South- 
ern man of conspicuous loyalty, and Gov- 
ernor Johnson was elected on the same 
platform and ticket as President Lincoln; 
and on the assassination of the latter suc- 
ceeded to the Presidency, April 15, 1865. 
In a public speech two days later he said: 
"The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a 
crime and must be punished; that the Gov- 
ernment will not always bear with its ene- 
mies; that it is strong, not only to protect, 
but to punish. In our peaceful history 
treason has been almost unknown. The 
people must understand that it is the black- 
est of crimes, and will be punished." He 
then added the ominous sentence: " In re- 
gard to my future course, I make no prom- 
ises, no pledges." President Johnson re- 
tained the cabinet of Lincoln, and exhibited 
considerable severity toward traitors in his 
earlier acts and speeches, but he soon inaug- 
urated a policy of reconstruction, proclaim- 
ing a general amnesty to the late Confeder- 
ates, and successively establishing provis- 
ional Governments in the Southern States. 



These States accordingly claimed represen- 
tation in Congress in the following Decem- 
ber, and the momentous question of what 
should be the policy of the victorious Union 
toward its late armed opponents was forced 
upon that body. 

Two considerations impelled the Repub- 
lican majority to reject the policy of Presi. 
dent Johnson: First, an apprehension that 
the chief magistrate intended to undo the re- 
sults of the war in regard to slaver}; and, sec- 
ond, the sullen attitude of the South, which 
seemed to be plotting to regain the policy 
which arms had lost. The credentials of the 
Southern members elect were laid on the 
table, a civil rights bill and a bill extending 
the sphere of the Freedmen's Bureau were 
passed over the executive veto, and the two 
highest branches of the Government were 
soon in open antagonism. The action of 
Congress was characterized b}- the Presi- 
dent as a " new rebellion." In July the 
cabinet was reconstructed, Messrs. Randall, 
Stanburv and Browning taking the places 
of Messrs. Denison, Speed and Harlan, and 
an unsuccessful attempt was made by 
means of a general convention in Philadel- 
phia to form a new part}' on the basis of the 
administration policy. 

In an excursion to Chicago for the pur- 
p(jse of laying a corner-stone of the monu- 
ment to Stephen A. Douglas, President 
Johnson, accompanied by several members 
of the cabinet, passed through Philadelphia, 
New York and Albany, in each of which 
cities, and in other places along the route, 
he made speeches justif}ing and ex[)laining 
his own policy, and violently denouncing 
the action of Congress. 

August 12, 1867, President Johnson re- 
moved the Secretary of War, replacing 
] him by General Grant. Secretary Stanton 
retired under protest, based upon the ten- 
ure-of-office act which had been passed the 
preceding March. The President then is- 
sued a proclamation declaring the insurrcc- 



A NDRE W yOHNSOK. 



9i 



tion at an end, and that " peace, order, tran- 
quility and civil authority existed in and 
throughout the United States." Another 
proclamation enjoined obedience to the 
Constitution and the laws, and an amnesty 
was published September 7, relieving nearly 
all the participants in the late Rebellion 
from the disabilities thereby incurred, on 
condition of taking the oath to support the 
Constitution and the laws. 

In December Congress refused to confirm 
the removal of Secretary Stanton, who 
thereupon resumed the exercise of his of- 
fice; but February 21, 1868, President 
Johnson again attempted to remove him, 
appointing General Lorenzo Thomas in his 
place. Stanton refused to vacate his post, 
and was sustained by the Senate. 

February 24 the House of Representa- 
tives voted to impeach the President for 
" high crime and misdemeanors," and March 
5 presented eleven articles of impeachment 
on the ground of his resistance to the exe- 
cution of the acts of Congress, alleging, in 
addition to the offense lately committed, 
his public expressions of contempt for Con- 
gress, in " certain intemperate, inflamma- 
tory and scandalous harangues" pronounced 
in August and September, 1866, and there- 
after declaring that the Thirty-ninth Con- 
gress of the United States was not a 
competent legislative body, and denying 
its power to propose Constitutional amend- 
ments. March 23 the impeachment trial 
began, the President appearing by counsel, 
and resulted in acquittal, the vote lacking 



one of the two-thirds vote required for 
conviction. 

The remainder of President Johnson's 
term of office was passed without any such 
conflicts as might have been anticipated. 
He failed to obtain a nomination for re- 
election by the Democratic party, though 
receiving sixty-five votes on the first ballot. 
July 4 and December 25 new proclamations 
of pardon to the participants in the late 
Rebellion were issued, but were of little 
effect. On the accession of General Grant 
to the Presidency, March 4, 1869, Johnson 
returned to Greenville, Tennessee. Unsuc- 
cessful in 1870 and 1872 as a candidate re- 
spectively for United States Senator and 
Representative, he was finally elected to the 
Senate in 1875, and took his seat in the extra 
session of March, in which his speeches 
were comparatively temperate. He died 
July 31, 1875, and was buried at Green- 
ville. 

President Johnson's administration was a 
peculiarly unfortunate one. That he should 
so soon become involved in bitter feud with 
the Republican majority in Congress was 
certainly a surprising and deplorable inci- 
dent; yet, in reviewing the circumstances 
altera lapse of so many years, it is easy to 
find ample room for a charitable judgment 
of both the parties in the heated contro- 
versy, since it cannot be doubted that any 
President, even Lincoln himself, had he 
lived, must have sacrificed a large portion 
of his popularity in carrying out ai«y pos- 
sible scheme of reconstruction. 



96 



PHESIDEIVTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 




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LYSSES SIMPSON 
GRANT, the eight- 
eenth President of the 
United States, i86g-'77, 
was born April 27, 1822, 
at Point Pleasant, 
^^f: Clermont County, 
Ohio. His father was of Scotch 
descent, and a dealer in leather. 
At the age of seventeen he en- 
tered the Military Academy at 
West Point, and four jears later 
graduated twent3'-first in a class 
of thirty-nine, receiving the 
commission of Brevet Second 
Lieutenant. He was assigned 
to the Fourth Infantry and re- 
mained in the army eleven years. He was 
engaged in every battle of the Mexican war 
except that of Buena Vista, and received 
two brevets for gallantry. 

In 1848 Mr. Grant married Julia,daughter 
of Frederick Dent, a prominent merchant of 
St. Louis, and in 1854, having reached the 
grade of Captain, he resigned his commis- 
sion in the army. For several years he fol- 
lowed farming near St. Louis, but unsuc- 
cessfully ; and in i860 he entered the leather 
trade with his father at Galena, Illinois. 

When the civil war broke out in 1861, 
Grant was thirty-nine years of age, but en- 
tirely unknown to public men and without 



any personal acquaintance with great affairs. 
President Lincoln's first call for troops was 
made on the 15th of April, and on the 19th 
Grant was drilling a company of volunteers 
at Galena. He also offered his services to 
the Adjutant-General of the arm}-, but re- 
ceived no reply. The Governor of Illinois, 
however, emplo3'ed him in the organization 
of volunteer troops, and at the end of five 
weeks he was appointed Colonel of the 
Twenty-first Infantry. He took command 
of his regiment in June, and reported first 
to General Pope in Missouri. His superior 
knowledge of military life rather surprised 
his superior officers, who had never before 
even heard of him, and they were thus led 
to place him on the road to rapid advance- 
ment. August 7 he was commissioned a 
Brigadier-General of volunteers, the ap- 
pointment having been made without his 
knowledge. He had been unanimously 
recommended by the Congressmen from 
Illinois, not one of whom had been his 
personal acquaintance. For a few weeks 
he was occupied in watching the move- 
ments of partisan forces in Missouri. 

September i he was placed in command 
of the District of Southeast Missouri, with 
headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th, with- 
out orders, he seized Paducah, at the mouth 
of the Tennessee River, and commanding 
tlic navigation both of that stream and 0/ 




-^-7^ 



ULrSSES S. G/fA.Vr. 



99 



the Ohio. This stroke secured Kentucky 
to the Union ; for the State Legislature, 
which had until then affected to be neutral, 
at once declared in favor of the Govern- 
ment. In November following, according 
to orders, he made a demonstration about 
eighteen miles below Cairo, preventing the 
crossing of hostile troops into Missouri ; 
but in order to accomplish this purpose he 
had to do some fighting, and that, too, with 
only 3,000 raw recruits, against 7,000 Con- 
federates. Grant carried off two pieces of 
artillery and 200 prisoners. 

After repeated applications to General 
Halleck, his immediate superior, he was 
allowed, in February, 1862, to move up the 
Tennessee River against Fort Henry, in 
conjunction with a naval force. The gun- 
boats silenced the fort, and Grant immedi- 
ately made preparations to attack Fort 
Donelson, about twelve miles distant, on 
the Cumberland River. Without waiting 
for orders he moved his troops there, and 
with 15,000 men began the siege. The 
fort, garrisoned with 21,000 men, was a 
strong one, but after hard fighting on three 
successive days Grant forced an " Uncon- 
ditional Surrender " (an alliteration upon 
the initials of his name). The prize he capt- 
ured consisted of sixty-five cannon, 17,600 
small arms and 14,623 soldiers. About 4,- 
000 of the garrison had escaped in the night, 
and 2,500 were killed or wounded. Grant's 
entire loss was less than 2,000. This was the 
first important success won by the national 
troops during the war, and its strategic re- 
sults were marked, as the entire States of 
Kentucky and Tennessee at once fell into the 
National hands. Our hero was made a 
Major-General of Volunteers and placed in 
command of the District of West Ten- 
nessee. 

In March, 1862, he was ordered to move 
up the Tennessee River toward Corinth, 
where the Confederates were concentrat- 
ing a large army ; but he was directed not 



to attack. His forces, now numbering 38.- 
000, were accordingly encamped near Shi- 
loh, or Pittsburg Landing, to await the 
arrival of General Buell with 40,000 more; 
but April 6 the Confederates came out from 
Corinth 50,000 strong and attacked Grant 
violently, hoping to overwhelm him before 
Buell could arrive ; 5,000 of his troops were 
beyond supporting distance, so that he was 
largely outnumbered and forced back to the 
river, where, however, he held out until 
dark, when the head of Buell's column 
came upon the field. The next day the 
Confederates were driven back to Corinth, 
nineteen miles. The loss was heavy on 
both sides ; Grant, being senior in rank to 
Buell, commanded on both days. Two 
days afterward Halleck arrived at the front 
and assumed command of the army. Grant 
remaining at the head of the right wing and 
the reserve. On May 30 Corinth was 
evacuated by the Confederates. In July 
Halleck was made General-in-Chief, and 
Grant succeeded him in command of the 
Department of the Tennessee. September 
19 the battle of luka was fought, where, 
owing to Rosecrans's fault, only an incom- 
plete victory was obtained. 

Next, Grant, with 30,000 men, moved 
down into Mississippi and threatened Vicks- 
burg, while Sherman, with 40,000 men, was 
sent by way of the river to attack that place 
in front ; but, owing to Colonel Murphy's 
surrendering Holly Springs to the Con- 
federates, Grant was so weakened that he 
had to retire to Corinth, and then Sherman 
failed to sustain his intended attack. 

In January, 1863, General Grant took 
command in person of all the troops in the 
Mississippi Valley, and spent several months 
in fruitless attempts to compel the surrender 
or evacuation of Vicksburg; but July 4, 
following, the place surrendered, with 31,- 
600 men and 172 cannon, and the Mississippi 
River thus fell permanently into the hands 
of the Government. Grant was made a 



PRESJDENTS OF I HE UN /TED UTATbS. 



Major-General in the regular armv, and in 
October following he was placed in com- 
mand of the Division of the Mississippi. 
The same month he went to Chattanoojja 
and saved the Army of the Cumberland 
from starvation, and drove Bragg from that 
part of the country. This victory over- 
threw the last important hostile force west 
of the Alleghanies and opened the way for 
the National armies into Georgia and Sher- 
man's march to the sea. 

The remarkable series of successes which 
Grant had now achieved pointed him out 
as the appropriate leader of the National 
armies, and accordingly, in Februar}', 1864, 
the rank of Lieutenant-General was created 
for him by Congress, and on March 17 he 
assumed command of the armies of the 
United States. Planning the grand final 
campaign, he sent Sherman into Georgia, 
Sigel into the valley of Virginia, and Butler 
to capture Richmond, while he fought his 
own way from the Rapidan to the James. 
The costl}' but victorious battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and 
Cold Harbor were fought, more for the 
purpose of annihilating Lee than to capture 
any particular point. In June, 1864, the 
siege of Richmond was begun. Sherman, 
meanwhile, was marching and fighting daily 
in Georgia and steadily advancing toward 
Atlanta; but Sigel had been defeated in the 
valley of Virginia, and was superseded bv 
Hunter. Lee sent Early to threaten the Na- 
tional capital ; whereupon Grant gathered 
up a force which he placed under Sheridan, 
and that commander rapidl}^ drove Early, 
inasuccessionof battles, through the valley 
of Virginia and destroyed his army as an 
organized force. The siege of Richmond 
went on, and Grant made numerous attacks, 
but was only partially successful. The 
people of the North grew impatient, and 
even the Government advised him to 
abandon the attempt to take Richmond or 
crush the Confederacy in that way ; but he 



never wavered. He resolved to ' fight it 
out on that line, if it took all summer." 

By September Sherman had made his 
way to Atlanta, and Grant then sent him 
on his famous " march to the sea," a route 
which the chief had designed six months 
before. He made Sherman's success possi- 
ble, not only by holding Lee in front of 
Richmond, but also by sending reinforce- 
ments to Thomas, who then drew off and 
defeated the only army which could have 
confronted Sherman. Thus the latter was 
left unopposed, and, with Thomas and Sheri- 
dan, was used in the furtherance of Grant's 
plans. Each executed his part in the great 
design and contributed his share to the re- 
sult at which Grant was aiming. Sherman 
finally reached Savannah, Schofield beat 
the enemy at Franklin, Thomas at Nash- 
ville, and Sheridan wherever he met him ; 
and all this while General Grant was hold- 
ing Lee, with the principal Confederate 
army, near Richmond, as it were chained 
and helpless. Then Schofield was brought 
from the West, and Fort Fisher and Wil- 
mington were captured on the sea-coast, so 
as to afford him a foothold ; from here he 
was sent into the interior of North Caro- 
lina, and Sherman was ordered to move 
northward to join him. When all this was 
effected, and Sheridan could find no one else 
to fight in the Shenandoah Valley, Grant 
brought the cavalry leader to the front of 
Richmond, and, making a last effort, drove 
Lee from his entrenchments and captured 
Richmond. 

At the beginning of the final campaign 
Lee had collected 73,000 fighting men in 
the lines at Richmond, besides the local 
militia and the gunboat crews, amounting 
to 5,000 more. Including Sheridan's force 
Grant had i io,ooo men in the works before 
Petersburg and Richmond. Petersburg fell 
on the 2d of April, and Richmond on the 
3d, and Lee fled in the direction of Lynch- 
burg. Grant pursued with remorseless 



l/LrSSES S. GRANT. 



energy, only stopping to strike fresh blows, 
and Lee at last found himself not only out- 
fought but also out-marched and out-gen- 
eraled. Being completely surrounded, he 
surrendered on the glh of April, 1865, at 
Appomattox Court-House, in the open field, 
with 27,000 men, all that remained of his 
army. This act virtually ended the war. 
Thus, in ten days Grant had captured 
Petersburg and Richmond, fought, by his 
subordinates, the battles of Five Forks and 
Sailor's Creek, besides numerous smaller 
ones, captured 20,000 men in actual battle, 
and received the surrender of 27,000 more 
at Appomattox, absolutely annihilating an 
army of 70,000 soldiers. 

General Grant returned at once to Wash- 
ington to superintend the disbandment of 
the armies, but this pleasurable work was 
scarcely begun when President Lincoln was 
assassinated. It had doubtless been in- 
tended to inflict the same fate upon Grant; 
but he, fortunately, on account of leaving 
Washington early in the evening, declined 
an invitation to accompany the President 
to the theater where the murder was com- 
mitted. This event made Andrew Johnson 
President, but left Grant by far the most 
conspicuous figure in the public life of the 
country. He became the object of an en- 
thusiasm greater than had ever been known 
in America. Every possible honor was 
heaped upon him ; the grade of General 
was created for him by Congress; houses 
were presented to him by citizens ; towns 
were illuminated on his entrance into them ; 
and, to cap the clima.x, when he made his 
tour around the world, "all nations did him 
honor" as they had never before honored 
a foreigner. 

The General, as Commander-in-Chief, 
was placed in an embarrassing position by 
the opposition of President Johnson to the 
measures of Congress ; but he directly man- 
ifested his characteristic loyalty by obeying 
Congress rather than the disaffected Presi- 



dent, although for a short time he had 
served in his cabinet as Secretary of War. 

Of course, everybody thought of General 
Grant as the next President of the United 
States, and he was accordingly elected as 
such in 1868 "by a large majority," and 
four years later re-elected by a much larger 
majority — the most overwhelming ever 
given b}^ the people of this country. His first 
administration was distinguished by a ces- 
sation of the strifes which sprang from the 
war, by a large reduction of the National 
debt, and by a settlement of the difficulties 
with England which had grown out of the 
depredations committed by privateers fit- 
ted out in England during the war. This 
last settlement was made by the famous 
" Geneva arbitration," which saved to this 
Government $1 5,000,000, but, more than all, 
prevented a war with England. " Let us 
have peace," was Grant's motto. And this 
is the most appropriate place to remark 
that above all Presidents whom this Gov- 
ernment has ever had. General Grant was 
the most non-partisan. He regarded the 
Executive office as purely and exclusively 
executive of the laws of Congress, irrespect- 
ive of " politics." But every great man 
has jealous, bitter enemies, a fact Grant 
was well aware of. 

After the close of his Presidency, our 
General made his famous tour around the 
world, already referred to, and soon after- 
ward, in company with Ferdinand Ward, 
of New York City, he engaged in banking 
and stock brokerage, which business was 
made disastrous to Grant, as well as to him- 
self, by his rascality. By this time an in- 
curable cancer of the tongue developed 
itself in the person of the afflicted ex- 
President, which ended his unrequited life 
July 23, 1885. Thus passed away from 
earth's turmoils the man, the General, who 
was as truly the " father of this regenerated 
country" as was Washington the father ot 
the infant nation. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNI TED STATES. 









UTHERFORD BIRCH- 
ARD HAYES, the nine- 
teenth President of 
the United States, 
i877-'8i, was born in 
J^ Delaware, Ohio, Oc- 
vTi tober 4, 1822. His 
ancestry can be traced as far 
back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish 
cliieftains fighting side by side 
with BaHol, WilUam Wallace 
and Robert Bruce. Both fami- 
lies belonged to the nobility, 
owned extensive estates and had 
a large following. The Hayes 
family had, for a coat of-arms, a 
shield, barred and surmounted by a flying 
eagle. There was a circle of stars about 
the eagle and above the shield, while on a 
scroll underneath the shield was inscribed 
the motto, " Recte." Misfortune overtaking 
the family, George Hayes left Scotland in 
1680, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. 
He was an industrious worker in wood and 
iron, having a mechanical genius and a cul- 
tivated mind. His son George was born 
in Windsor and remained there during his 
life. 

Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, married 
Sarah Lee, and lived in Simsbury, Con- 




necticut. Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born 
in 1724, and was a manufacturer of scythes 
at Bradford, Connecticut. Rutherford 
Hayes, son of Ezekiel and grandfather of 
President Hayes, was born in New Haven, 
in August, 1756. He was a famous black- 
smith and tavern-keeper. He immigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in 
Brattleboro where he established a hotel. 
Here his son Rutherford, father of Presi- 
dent Hayes, was born. In September, 1813, 
he married Sophia Birchard, of Wilming- 
ton, Vermont, whose ancestry on the male 
side is traced back to 1635, to John Birch- 
ard, one of the principal founders of Nor- 
wich. Both of her grandfathers were 
soldiers in the Revolutionary war. 

The father of President Hayes was of a 
mechanical turn, and could mend a plow, 
knit a stocking, or do almost anything that 
he might undertake. He was prosperous 
in business, a member of the church and 
active in all the benevolent enterprises of 
the town. After the close of the war of 1 8 1 2 
he immigrated to Ohio, and purchased a 
farm near the present town of Delaware. 
His family then consisted of his wife and 
two children, and an orphan girl whom he 
had adopted. 

It was in 1817 that the family arrived at 
Delaware. Instead of settling upon his 




^yL^C<^.i 




.lyt^U^j-^ 



RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



toS 



farm, Mr. Hayes concluded to enter into 
business in the village. He purchased an 
interest in a distillery, a business then as re- 
spectable as it was profitable. His capital 
and recognized ability assured him the 
highest social position in the communitj. 
He died July 22, 1822, less than three 
months before the birth of the son that was 
di^stined to fill the office of President of the 
United States. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, 
and the subject of this sketch was so feeble 
at birth that he was not expected to live 
beyond a month or two at most. As the 
months went by he grew weaker and weaker 
so that the neighbors were in the habit of 
inquiring from time to time "if Mrs. 
Hayes's baby died last night." On one oc- 
casion a neighbor, who was on friendly 
terms with the family, after alluding to the 
boy's big head and the mother's assiduous 
care of him, said to her, in a bantering way, 
"That's right! Stick to him. You have 
got him along so far, and I shouldn't won- 
der if he would really come to something 
yet." " You need not laugh," said Mrs. 
Hayes, " \'Ou wait and see. You can't tell 
but I shall make him President of the 
United States yet." 

The boy lived, in spite of the universal 
predictions of his speedy death; and when, 
in 1825, his elder brother was drowned, he 
became, if possible, still dearer to his mother. 
He was seven years old before he was 
placed in school. His education, however, 
was not neglected. His sports were almost 
wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circum- 
stances tended, no doubt, to foster that 
gentleness of disposition and that delicate 
consideration for the feelings of others 
which are marked traits of his character. 
At school he was ardently devoted to his 
studies, obedient to the teacher, and care- 
ful to avoid the quarrels in which many of 
his schoolmates were involved. He was 



always waiting at the school-house door 
when it opened in the morning, and never 
late in returning to his seat at recess. His 
sister Fannie was his constant companion, 
and their affection for each other excited 
the admiration of their friends. 

In 1838 )'Oung Hayes entered Kenyon 
College and graduated in 1842. He then 
began the study of law in the office of 
Thomas Sparrow at Columbus. His health 
was now well established, his figure robust, 
his mind vigorous and alert. In a short 
time he determined to enter the law school 
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where for 
two years he pursued his studies with great 
diligence. 

In 1845 lis was admitted to the bar at 
Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went 
into practice as an attorney-at-law with 
Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he 
remained three years, acquiring but limited 
practice, and apparently unambitious o( 
distinction in his profession. His bachelor 
uncle, Sardis Birchard, who had always 
manifested great interest in his nephew and 
rendered him assistance in boyhood, was 
now a wealth)^ banker, and it was under- 
stood that the young man would be his 
heir. It is possible that this expectation 
ma}' have made Mr. Hayes more indifferent 
to the attainment of wealth than he would 
otherwise have been, but he was led into no 
extravagance or vices on this account. 

In 1849 ^^ removed to Cincinnati where 
his ambition found new stimulus. Two 
events occurring at this period had a pow- 
erful influence upon his subsequent life. 
One of them was his marriage to Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James 
Webb, of Cincinnati; the other was his 
introduction to the Cincinnati Literary 
Club, a body embracing such men as Chief 
Justice Salmon P. Chase, General John 
Pope and Governor Edward F. Noyes. 
The marriage was a fortunate one as every- 
body knows. Not one of all the wives of 



lo6 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



our Presidents was more universally ad- 
mired, reverenced and beloved than is Mrs. 
Hayes, and no one has done more than she 
to reflect honor upon American woman- 
hood. 

In 1856 Mr. Hayes was nominated to the 
office of Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas, but declined t& accept the nomina- 
tion. Two years later he was chosen to the 
office of City Solicitor. 

In 1861, when the Rehellion broke out, 
he was eager to take up arms in the defense 
of his country. His military life was 
bright and illustrious. June 7, 1861, he 
was appointed Major of the Twenty-third 
Ohio Infantry. In July the regiment was 
sent to Virginia. October 15, 1861, he was 
made Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, 
and in August, 1862, was promoted Colonel 
of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Regiment, but 
refused to leave his old comrades. He was 
wounded at the battle of South Mountain, 
and suffered severely, being unable to enter 
upon active duty for several weeks. No- 
vember 30, 1862, he rejoined his regiment as 
its Colonel, having been promoted Octo- 
ber 15. 

December 25, 1862, he was placed in com- 
mand of the Kanawha division, and for 
meritorious service in several battles was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also 
brevetted Major-General for distinguished 



services in 1864. He was wounded lout 
times, and five horses were shot from 
under him. 

Mr. Hayes was first a Whig in politics, 
and was among the first to unite with the 
Free-Soil and Republican parties. In 1864 
he was elected to Congress from che Sec- 
ond Ohio District, which had always been 
Democratic, receiving a majority of 3,098. 
In 1866 he was renominated for Congress 
and was a second time elected. In 1867 he 
was elected Governor over Allen G. Thur- 
man, the Democratic candidate, and re- 
elected in 1869. In 1874 Sardis Birchard 
died, leaving his large estate to General 
Hayes. 

In 1876 he was nominated for the Presi- 
dency. His letter of acceptance excited 
the admiration of the whole country. He 
resigned the office of Governor and retired 
to his home in Fremont to await the result 
of the canvass. After a hard, long contest 
he was inaugurated March 5, 1877. His 
Presidency was characterized by compro- 
mises with all parties, in order to please as 
many as possible. The close of his Presi- 
dential term in 1881 was the close of his 
public life, and since then he has remained 
at his home in Fremont, Ohio, in Jefferso- 
nian retirement from public notice, in strik- 
ing contrast with most others of the world's 
notables. 



yAMES A. Garfield. 



109 




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'AMES A. GARFIELD, 
twentieth President of 
the United States, 1881, 
was born November 19, 
1 83 1, in the wild woods 
o f Cuyahoga Count}-, 
Ohio. His parents were 
Abram and EHza (Ballou) 
Garfield, who were of New 
England ancestry. The 
senior Garfield was an in- 
'' dustrious farmer, as the 
rapid improvements which 
appeared on his place at- 
tested. The residence was 
the familiar pioneer log cabin, 
and the household comprised the parents 
and their children — Mehetable, Thomas, 
Mary and James A. In Ma}', 1833, the 
father died, and the care of the house- 
hold consequently devolved upon young 
Thomas, to whom James was greatly in- 
debted for the educational and other ad- 
vantages he enjoyed. He now lives in 
Michigan, and the two sisters live in Solon, 
Ohio, near their birthplace. 

As the subject of our sketch grew up, he, 
too, was industrious, both in mental and 
physical labor. He worked upon the farm, 
or at carpentering, or chopped wood, or at 
any other odd job that would aid in support 
of the family, and in the meantime made the 



most of his books. Ever afterward he was 
never ashamed of his humble origin, nor for- 
got the friends of his youth. The poorest 
laborer was sure of his sympathy, and he 
always exhibited the ch^acter of a modest 
gentleman. 

Until he was about sixteen years of age, 
James's highest ambition was to be a lake 
captain. To this his mother was strongly 
opposed, but she finally consented to his 
going to Cleveland to carry out his long- 
cherished design, with the understanding, 
however, that he should try to obtain some 
other kind of employment. He walked all 
the way to Cleveland, and this was his first 
visit to the city. After making many ap- 
plications for work, including labor on 
board a lake vessel, but all in vain, he 
finallv engaged as a driver for his cousin, 
Amos Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsyl- 
vania Canal. In a short time, however, he 
quit this and returned home. He then at- 
tended the seminary at Chester for about 
three years, and next he entered Hiram In- 
stitute, a school started in 1850 by the 
Disciples of Christ, of which church he was 
a member. In order to pay his way he 
assumed the duties of janitor, and at times 
taught school. He soon completed the cur- 
riculum there, and then entered Williams 
College, at which he graduated in 1856, 
taking one of the highest honors of his class. 



no 



PRESfDEvTS OP THE VfflTED STATES. 



Afterward he returned to Hiram as Presi- 
dent. In his youthful and therefore zealous 
piety, he exercised his talents occasionally 
as a preacher of the Gospel. He was a 
man of strong moral and religious convic- 
tions, and as soon as he began to look into 
politics, he saw innumerable points that 
could be improved. He also studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1859. 
November 11, 1858, Mr. Garfield married 
Miss Lucrctia Rudolph, who ever after- 
ward proved a worthy consort in all the 
stages of her husband's career. They had 
seven children, five of whom are still living. 

It was in 1859 that Garfield made his 
first political speeches, in Hiram and the 
neighboring villages, and three years later 
he began to speak at county mass-meetings, 
being received everywhere with popular 
favor. He was elected to the State Senate 
this year, taking his seat in January, i860. 

On the breaking out of the war of the 
Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Garfield resolved to 
fight as he had talked, and accordingly he 
enlisted to defend the old flag, receiving 
his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Forty-second Regiment of the Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantr)', August 14, that year. He 
was immediately thrown into active service, 
and before he had ever seen a gun fired in 
action he was placed in command of four 
regiments of infantry and eight companies 
of cavalr}', charged with the work of driv- 
ing the Confederates, headed by Humphrey 
Marshall, from his native State, Kentucky. 
This task was speedily accomplished, al- 
though against great odds. On account of 
his success, President Lincoln commissioned 
him Brigadier-General, January 11, 1862; 
and, as he had been the youngest man in 
the Ohio Senate two years before, so now 
he was the youngest General in the army. 
He was with General Buell's army at Shi- 
loh, also in its operations around Corinth 
and its march through Alabama. Next, he 
was detailed as a member of the general 



court-martial for the trial of General Fitz- 
John Porter, and then ordered to report to 
General Rosecians, when he was assigned 
to the position of Chief of Staff. His mili- 
tary history closed with his brilliant ser- 
vices at Chickamauga, where he won the 
stars of Major-General. 

In the fall of 1862, without any effort on 
his part, he was elected as a Representative 
to Congress, from that section of Ohio 
which had been represented for sixty years 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and 
Joshua R. Giddings. Again, he was the 
youngest member of that body, and con- 
tinued there by successive re-elections, as 
Representative or Senator, until he was 
elected President in 1880. During his life 
in Congress he compiled and published by 
his speeches, there and elsewhere, more 
information on the issues of the day, espe- 
cially on one side, than any other member. 

June 8, 1880, at the National Republican 
Convention held in Chicago, General Gar- 
field was nominated for the Presidency, in 
preference to the old war-horses, Blaine 
and Grant ; and although many of the Re- 
publican party felt sore over the failure of 
their respective heroes to obtain the nomi- 
nation. General Garfield was elected by a 
fair popular majority. He was duly in- 
augurated, but on Jul}' 2 following, before 
he had fairl)' got started in his administra- 
tion, he was fatally shot by a half-demented 
assassin. After very painful and protracted 
suffering, he died September 19, 1881, la- 
mented by all the American people. Never 
before in the history of this country had 
anything occurred which so nearly froze 
the blood of the Nation, for the moment, as 
the awful act of Guiteau, the murderer. 
He was duly tried, convicted and put to 
death on the gallows. 

The lamented Garfield was succeeded by 
the Vice-President, General Arthur, who 
seemed to endeavor to carry out the policy 
inaugurated by his predecessor. 



CMBSTEIi A. ARTHUR. 



"3 






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HESTER ALLEN 
ARTHUR, the twen- 
ty-first Chief Execu- 
tive of this growing 
republic, i88i-'5, was 
born in Franklin 
County, Vermont, 
October 5, 1830, the eldest of a 
family of two sons and five 
daughters. His father, Rev. 
Dr. William Arthur, a Baptist 
clergyman, immigrated to this 
country from County Antrim, 
Ireland, in his eighteenth year, 
and died in 1875, in Newton- 
ville, near Albany, New York, 
after serving many years as a successful 
minister. Chester A. was educated at that 
old, conservative institution. Union Col- 
lege, at Schenectady, New York, where he 
excelled in all his studies. He graduated 
there, with honor, and then struck out in 
life for himself by teaching school for about 
two years in his native State. 

At the expiration of that time young 
Arthur, with $500 in his purse, went to the 
city of New York and entered the law office 
of ex-Judge E. D. Culver as a student. In 
due time he was admitted to the bar, when 
he formed a partnership with his intimate 



friend and old room-mate, Henry D. Gar. 
diner, with the intention of practicing law 
at some point in the West ; but after spend- 
ing about three months in the Westen 
States, in search of an eligible place, they 
returned to New York City, leased a room, 
exhibited a sign of their business and al- 
most immediately enjoyed a paying patron- 
age. 

At this stage of his career Mr. Arthur's 
business prospects were so encouraging 
that he concluded to take a wife, and ac- 
cordingly he married the daughter of Lieu- 
tenant Herndon, of the United States Navy, 
who had been lost at sea. To the widow 
of the latter Congress voted a gold medal, 
in recognition of the Lieutenant's bravery 
during the occasion in which he lost his 
life. Mrs. Artnur died shortly before her 
husband's nomination to the Vice-Presi- 
dency, leaving two children. 

Mr. Arthur obtained considerable celeb- 
rity as an attorney in the famous Lemmon 
suit, which was brought to recover posses- 
sion of eight slaves, who had been declared 
free by the Superior Court of New York 
City. The noted Charles O'Conor, who 
was nominated by the " Straight Demo- 
crats" in 1872 for the United States Presi- 
dency, was retained by Jonathan G. Lem- 



tU 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



mori; of Virginia, to recover the negroes, 
but he lost the suit. In this case, however, 
Mr. Arthur was assisted by William M. 
Evarts, now United States Senator. Soon 
afterward, in 1856, a respectable colored 
woman was ejected from a street car in 
New York City. Mr. Arthur sued the car 
company in her behalf and recovered $500 
damages. Immediately afterward all the 
car companies in the city issued orders to 
their employes to admit colored persons 
upon their cars. 

Mr. Arthur's political doctrines, as well 
as his practice as a lawyer, raised him to 
prominence in the party of freedom; and 
accordingly he was sent as a delegate to 
the first National Republican Convention. 
Soon afterward he was appointed Judge 
Advocate for the Second Brigade of the 
State of New York, and then Engineer-in- 
Chief on Governor Morgan's staff. In 1861, 
the first year of the war, he was made In- 
spector-General, and next, Quartermaster- 
General, in both which offices he rendered 
great service to the Government. After 
the close of Governor Morgan's term he 
resumed the practice of law, forming first a 
partnership with Mr. Ransom, and subse- 
quently adding Mr. Phelps to the firm. 
Each of these gentlemen were able law3'ers. 

November 21, 1872, General Arthur was 
appointed Collector of the Port of New 
York by President Grant, and he held the 
office until Jul}^ 20, 1878. 

The next event of prominence in General 
Arthur's career was his nomination to the 
V ice-Presidency of the United States, under 
the influence of Roscoe Conkling, at the 
National Republican Convention held at 
Chicago in June, 1880, when James A. Gar- 
field was placed at the head of the ticket. 
Both the convention and the campaign that 
followed were noisy and exciting. The 
iriends of Grant, constituting nearly half 



the convention, were exceedinglv persist- 
ent, and were sorely disappointed over 
their defeat. At the head of the Demo- 
cratic ticket was placed a ver}' strong and 
popular man ; yet Garfield and Arthur were 
elected by a respectable plurality of the 
popular vote. The 4th of March following, 
these gentlemen were accordingly inaugu- 
rated ; but within four months the assassin's 
bullet made a fatal wound in the person of 
General Garfield, whose life terminated 
September 19, 1881, when General Arthur, 
ex officio, was obliged to take the chief 
reins of government. Some misgivings 
were entertained by many in this event, as 
Mr. Arthur was thought to represent espe 
cially the Grant and Conkling wing of the 
Republican party ; but President Arthur 
had both the ability and the good sense to 
allay all fears, and he gave the restless, 
critical American people as good an ad- 
ministration as they had ever been blessed 
with. Neither selfishness nor low parti- 
sanisni ever characterized any feature of 
his public service. He ever maintained a 
high sense of every individual right as well 
as of the Nation's honor. Indeed, he stood 
so high that his successor. President Cleve- 
land, though of opposing politics, expressed 
a wish in his inaugural address that he 
could only satisfy the people with as good 
an administration. 

But the da}- of civil service reform had 
come in so far, and the corresponding re- 
action against "third-termism" had en- 
croached so far even upon "second-term" 
service, that the Republican party saw fit 
in 1884 to nominate another man for Presi- 
dent. Only by this means was General 
Arthur's tenure of office closed at Wash- 
ington. On his retirement from the Presi- 
dency, March, 1885, he engaged in the 
practice of law at New York City, where be 
died November 18, 18SG. 




'>7 



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GKOVER CLEVELAND. 



117 



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ROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- 
second President of the 
United States, 1885—, 
was born in Caldwell, 
Essex County, New 
Jersey, March 18, 
. The house in which he 
born, a small two-story 
wooden buildings, is still stand- 
ing-. It was the parsonage of 
the Presbyterian church, of 
which his father, Richard 
Cleveland, at the time was 
pastor. The family is of New 
England origin, and for two centuries has 
contributed to the professions and to busi- 
ness, men who have reflected honor on the 
name. Aaron Cleveland, Grover Cleve- 
land's great-great-grandfather, was born in 
Massachusetts, but subsequently moved to 
Philadelphia, where he became an intimate 
friend of Benjamin Franklin, at whose 
house he died. He left a large family of 
children, who in time married and settled 
in different parts of New England. A 
grandson was one of the small American 
force that fought the British at Bunker 
Hill. He served with gallantry through- 
out the Revolution and was honorably 
discharged at its close as a Lieutenant in 
the Continental army. Another grandson, 
William Cleveland (a son of a second Aaron 






Cleveland, who was distinguished as a 
writer and member of the Connecticut 
Legislature) was Grover Cleveland's grand- 
father. William Cleveland became a silver- 
smith in Norwich, Connecticut. He ac- 
quired by industry some property and sent 
his son, Richard Cleveland, the father of 
Grover Cleveland, to Yale College, where 
he graduated in 1824. During a year spent 
in teaching at Baltimore, Maryland, after 
graduation, he met and fell in love with a 
Miss Annie Neale, daughter of a wealthy 
Baltimore book publisher, of Irish birth. 
He was earning his own way in the world 
at the time and was unable to marry; but 
in three years he completed a course of 
preparation for the ministry, secured a 
church in Windham, Connecticut, and 
married Annie Neale. Subsequently he 
moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he 
preached for nearly two years, when he 
was summoned to Caldwell, New Jersey, 
where was born Grover Cleveland. 

When he was three years old the family 
moved to Fayetteville, Onondaga County, 
New York. Here Grover Cleveland lived 
until he was fourteen years old, the rugged, 
healthful life of a country boy. His frank, 
generous manner made him a favorite 
among his companions, and their respect 
was won by the good qualities in the germ 
which his manhood developed. He at- 
tended the district school of the villasre and 



ii8 



PRE$rDE!^TS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



was for a short time at the academy. His 
lather, however, believed that boj'S should 
be taught to labor at an early age, and be- 
fore he had completed the course of study 
at the academy he began to work in the 
village store at $50 for the first year, and the 
promise of $100 for the second year. His 
work was well done and the promised in- 
crease of pay was granted the second year. 

Meanwhile his father and family had 
moved to Clinton, the seat of Hamilton 
College, where his father acted as agent to 
the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, 
preaching in the churches of the vicinity. 
Hither Grover came at his father's request 
shortly after the beginning of his second 
year at the Fayetteville store, and resumed 
his studies at the Clinton Academy. After 
three years spent in this town, the Rev. 
Richard Cleveland was called to the vil- 
lage church of Holland Patent. He had 
preached here only a month when he was 
suddenly stricken down and died without 
an hour's warning. The death of the father 
left the family in straitened circumstances, 
as Richard Cleveland had spent all his 
salary of $1,000 per year, which was not 
required for the necessary expenses of liv- 
ing, upon the education of his children, of 
whom there were nine, Grover being the 
fifth. Grover was hoping to enter Hamil- 
ton College, but the death of his father 
made it necessary for him to earn his own 
livelihood. For the first year (i853-'4) he 
acted as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in 
the Institution for the Blind in New York 
City, of which the late Augustus Schell was 
for many years the patron. In the winter 
of 1854 he returned to Holland Patent 
where the generous people of that place, 
Fayetteville and Clinton, had purchased a 
home for his mother, and in the following 
spring, borrowing $25, he set out for the 
West to earn his living. 

Reaching Buffalo he paid a hasty visit to 
an uncle, Lewis F. Allen, a well-known 



stock farmer, living at Black Rock, a tew 
miles distant. He communicated his plans 
to Mr. Allen, who discouraged the idea of 
the West, and finally induced the enthusi- 
astic boy of seventeen to remain with him 

I and help him prepare a catalogue of blooded 
short-horn cattle, knownas " Allen's Amer- 
ican Herd Book," a publication familiar to 
all breeders of cattle. In August, 1855, he 
entered the law office of Rogers, Bowen 
t*i Rogers, at Buffalo, and after serving a 

I few months without pay, was paid $4 a 
week — an amount barely sufficient to meet 

I the necessary e.xpenses of his board in the 
family of a fellow-student in Buffalo, with 
whom he took lodgings. Life at this time 
with Grover Cleveland was a stern battle 
with the world. He took his breakfast bv 
candle-light with the drovers, and went at 
once to the office where the whole day was 
spent in work and study. Usually he re- 
turned again at night to resume reading 
which had been interrupted by the duties 
of the day. Gradually his employers came 
to recognize the ability, trustworthiness 
and capacit)' for hard work in their young 
em[)loye, and by the time he was admitted 
to the bar (1859) he stood high in their con- 
fidence. A year later he was made confi- 
dential and managing clerk, and in the 
course of three years more his salary had 
been raised to $1,000. In 1863 he was ap- 
pointed assistant district attorney of Erie 
County by the district attorney, the Hon. 
C. C. Torrance. 

Since his first vote had been cast in 1858 
he had been a staunch Democrat, and until 
he was chosen Governor he alwa\s made 
it his duty, rain or shine, to stand at the 
polls and give out ballots to Democratic 
voters. During the first year of his term 
as assistant district attorney, the Democrats 
desired especially to carry the Board of Su- 
pervisors. The old Second Ward in which 
he lived was Republican- ordinarily by 250 
majority, but at the urgent request of the 



G ROVER CLEVELAND. 



119 



party Grover Cleveland consented to be 
the Democratic candidate for Supervisor, 
and came within thirteen votes of an elec- 
tion. The three years spent in the district 
attorney's office were devoted to assiduous 
;abor and the extension of his professional 
attainments. He then formed a law part- 
nership with the late Isaac V. Vanderpoel, 
ex-State Treasurer, under the firm name 
of Vanderpoel & Cleveland. Here the bulk 
of the work devolved on Cleveland's shoul- 
ders, and he soon won a good standing at 
the bar of Erie County. In 1869 Mr. 
Cleveland formed a partnership with ex- 
Senator A. P. Laning and e.K-Assistant 
United States District Attorney Oscar Fol- 
som, under the firm name of Laning, Cleve- 
land & Folsom. During these years he 
began to earn a moderate professional in- 
come; but the larger portion of it was sent 
to his mother and sisters at Holland Patent 
to whose support he had contributed ever 
since i860. He served as sheriff of Erie 
County, i870-'4, and then resumed the 
practice of law, associating himself with the 
Hon. Lyman K. Bass and Wilson S. Bissell. 



The firm was strong and popular, and soon 
commanded a large and lucrative practice. 
Ill health forced the retirement of Mr. Bass 
in 1879, and the firm became Cleveland & 
Bissell. In 1881 Mr. George J. Sicard was 
added to the firm. 

In the autumn election of 1881 he was 
elected mayor of Buffalo by a majority of 
over 3,5oo^the largest majority ever given 
a candidate for mayor^and the Democratic 
city ticket was successful, although the 
Republicans carried Buffalo by over 1,000 
majority for their State ticket. Grover 
Cleveland's administration as mayor fully 
justified the confidence reposed in him by 
the people of Buffalo, evidenced by the 
great vote he received. 

The Democratic State Convention met 
at Syracuse, September 22, 1882, and nomi- 
nated Grover Cleveland for Governor 
on the third ballot and Cleveland was 
elected by 192,000 majority. In the fall ot 
1 884 he was elected President of the United 
States by about 1,000 popular majority, 
in New York State, and he was accordingly 
inaugurated tiie4tli of March following. 



PRESIDENTS OF T/fE CXTTED STATES. 




rS)(a^5^$Vs==JL_ 



^==.«^€^„ 



BENJAMIN HAI^I^ISON. 







ENJAMIN HARRISOK, 

the twenty-third Presi- 
dent of the United States, 
1889, was boru at North 
Bend, Hamilton County, 
Ohio, in the house of his 
grandfather, William Hen- 
ry Harrison (who was the 
ninth President of this 
country), August 20th, 
1833. He is a descendant 
of one of the historical 
fam.ilies of this country, as 
also of England. The 
head of tiie family was a 
Major-General Harrison 
who was devoted to the cause of Oliver 
Cromwell. It became the duty of this Har- 
rison to participate in tlie trial of Charles 1. 
and afterward to sign the death warrant of 
the king, which subsequently cost him his 
life. His enemies succeeding to power, he 
was condemned and executed October 13th, 
1660. His descendants came to America, 
and the first mention made in history of the 
Harrison family as representative in public 
affairs, is that of Benjamin Harrison, great- 
grandfather of our present President, who 
was a member of the Continental Congress, 
1774^-5-6, and one of the original signers of 



the Declaration of Independence, and three 
times Governor of Virginia. Ilis son, AVill- 
iam Henry Harrison, made a brilliant mili- 
tary record, was Governor of the Northwest 
Territory, and the ninth President of the 
United States. 

The subject of this sketch at an early age 
became a student at Farmers College, where 
he remained two years, at the end of which 
time he entered Miami University, at Ox- 
ford, Ohio. Upon graduation from said seat 
of learning he entered, as a student, the of- 
fice of Stover & Gwyne, a notable law firm at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he applied himself 
closely to the study of his chosen profession, 
and here laid the foundation for the honora- 
ble and famous career before him. He spent 
two years with the firm in Cincinnati, at the 
expiration of which time he received the 
only inheritance of his life, which was a lot 
left him by an aunt, which he sold for $800. 
This sum he deemed sufficient to justify him 
in marrying the lady of his choice, and to 
whom he was then engaged, a daughter of 
Dr. Scott, then Principal of a female school 
at Oxford, Ohio. 

After marriage he located at Indianapolis, 
Indiana, where he began the practice of law. 
Meeting with slight encouragement he made 
but little the first year, but applied himself 





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<^l^'^9^-'?v<^''Si-(S^^-Xyo 



BENJAMIN HARRISON. 



1=3 



closely to his business, and by perseverance, 
honorable dealing and an upright life, suc- 
ceeded in building up an extensive practice and 
took a leading position in the legal profession. 

In 1860 he was nominated for the position 
of Supreme Court Reporter for the State of 
Indiana, and then began his experience as a 
stump speaker. He canvassed the State 
thoroughly and was elected. 

In 1862 his patriotism caused him to 
abandon a civil office and to offer his country 
his services in a military capacity. He or- 
ganized the Seventieth Indiana Infantry and 
was chosen its Colonel. Although his regi- 
ment was composed of raw material, and he 
practically void of military schooling, he at 
once mastered military tactics and drilled his 
men, so that when he with his regiment was 
assigned to Gen. Sherman's command it was 
known as one of the best drilled organ- 
izations of the army. He was especially 
distinguished for bravery at the battles of 
Rosacea and Peach Tree Creek. For his 
bravery and efficiency at the last named bat- 
tle he was made a Brigadier-deneral, Gen- 
eral Hooker speaking of him in the most 
complimentary terms. 

While General Harrison was actively en- 
gaged in the Held the Supreme Court declared 
the office of Supreme Court Reporter vacant, 
and another person was elected to fill the 
position. From the time of leaving Indiana 
with his regiment for the front, until the fall 
of 1864, General Harrison had taken no leave 
of absence. But having been nominated 
that year for the same office that he vacated 
in order to serve his country where he could 
do the greatest good, he got a thirty-day leave 
of absence, and during that time canvassed 
the State and was elected for another term as 
Supreme Court Reporter. He then started 
to rejoin his command, then with General 
Sbennau in the South, but was stricken down 



with fever and after a very trying siege, made 
his way to the front, and participated in the 
closing scenes and incidents of the war. 

In 1868 General Harrison declined a re- 
election as Reporter, and applied himself to 
the practice of his profession. He was a 
candidate for Governor of Indiana on the 
Republican ticket in 1876. Although de- 
feated, the brilliant campaign brought him 
to public notice and gave him a National 
reputation as an able and formidable debater 
and he was much sought in the Eastern 
States as a public speaker. He took an act- 
ive part in the Presidential campaign of 
1880, and was elected to the United States 
Senate, where he served six years, and was 
known as one of the strongest debaters, as 
well as one of the ablest men and best law- 
yers. When his term expired in the Senate 
he resumed his law practice at Indianapolis, 
becoming the head of one of the strongest 
law firms in the State of Indiana. 

Sometime prior to the opening of the 
Presidential campaign of 1888, the two great 
political parties (Republican and Democratic) 
drew the line of political battle on the ques- 
tion of tariff, which became the leading issue 
and the rallying watchword during the mem- 
orable camp ul^'u. The Republicans appealed 
to the people for their voice as to a tariff to 
protect home industries, while the Democrats 
wanted a tariff for revenue only. The Re- 
publican convention assembled in Chicago in 
June and selected Mr. Harrison as their 
standard bearer on a platform of ] rinciples, 
among other important clauses being that of 
protection, which he cordially indorsed in 
accepting the nomination. November 6, 
1888, after a heated canvass. General Harri- 
son was elected, defeating Grover Cleveland, 
who was again the nominee of the Demo- 
cratic party. He was inaugurated and as- 
sumed the duties of his office March 4, 1889. 



La Crosse, Trempealeau, 



-AND 



Buffalo Counties. 



fW. LOSEY, senior member of the law 
firm of Losej & Woodward, was born in 
** Honesdale, Pennsylvania, December 
30, 1834, and is a son of Ebenezer T. and 
Lucy M. (Walton) Losey. He received his 
literary education in tlie common schools of 
Honesdale, the Honesdale Academj', and at 
Amherst College, where he was a student in 
1854 and 1855. In May, 1856, he came to 
La Crosse, and studied law in the ofBce of 
Denison & Lyndes; he was admitted to 
the bar in October, 1857, and at the election 
of the November following he was chosen 
District Attorney; he was re-elected in 1859, 
and in 1860 he was elected City Attorney of 
La Crosse. Upon the dissolution of the firm 
of Denison & Lyndes, Mr. Losey became 
the junior partner, tlio relationship continuing 
until 1861, when the law firm of Cameron 
& Losey was established. They conducted 
a successful business until 1889, when Mr. 
Cameron withdrew, and the present firm of 
Losey & Woodward was formed. 

Mr. Losey has been very closely identi- 
fied with the history of I^ia Crosse, and is a 
citizen in whom rests the confidence of the 
entire community. An able lawyer, pos- 

10 



sessing the rare gift of eloquence and persua- 
sive power, it is not strange that he soon 
came to be regarded as a most powerful ally, 
as well as a dangerous opponent. He has 
been loyal to every interest of La Crosse, 
and is an ardent supporter of home industry. 
It was through his exertions that the city 
came into the possession of the beautiful 
cemetery which furnishes a resting-place for 
the remains of the deceased. He has been 
active in the establishment of the water 
facilities and the various lighting processes 
already in operation. He served twelve 
years on the Board of Aldermen, where he 
was a valuable and honored counselor. He 
owns a fine legal ybrary, and has never lost 
the "student attitude." He was married in 
La Crosse in 1859, to Miss Florence T. Leh- 
man, a native of Gerinany. Six children have 
been born of this union: Mary, the wife of 
S. F. Easton; Fannie, Josephine and Joseph 
Walton, Two died in infancy. 

Mr. Losey is general attorney of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Northern Railroad, and 
was formerly the general attorney for the 
Southern Minnesota Railroad until it was 
bought by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 



126 



BIOORAPJIICA L UISTOR Y. 



Paul Railroad. He has beeu local attorney 
for the latter road for the past twenty years. 
Politically he affiliates with the Democratic 
party. 



— ^€^:i)^'^ — 

lOMINICK MADER, brick manufact- 
nrer, La Crosse, Wisconsin. — Mr. Mader 
is another of the many prominent citi- 
zens of foreign birth now residing in the 
county, and as a successful business man is 
well known. He was born in Germany, to 
the union of David and Mary (Sehalk) Mader, 
and came with his parents to the United 
States in 1853. They settled in the town of 
Shelby, rented a farm in Mormon Cooly, and 
after working that for two years the father 
bought forty acres in section 11, which he im- 
mediately began to improve. He bought 
160 acres adjoining and thus becanie tiie 
owner of 200 acres of rich land. He erected 
a large stone house, barns and otiier buildings, 
and was quite wealthy at the time of liis 
death, wliich occurred in 1880. His widow 
is still living, is seventy-six years of age, and 
is a resident of La Crosse. Mr. Dominick 
Mader bought the brick yard in La Crosse in 
1878 and has manufactured brick since that 
time, turning out from eight to ten hun- 
dred thousand each season, and selling tiiera 
in La Crosse. He is a self-made man wiio 
h:is procured a good income from his busi- 
ness. He is popular among his neighbors 
and is one of the influential citizens. 

Mr. Mader was married in 1887, to Miss 
Mary Suhling, daughter of August and Mary 
Suhling. natives of Germany, who came to 
the United States at an early date. The 
father is still living and makes his home 
with his son-in law, Mr. Mailer. The mother 
died at the age of sixty years. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mader are tlie parents of five children: 



Arthur, August, Henry, Dominick and Mary 
Louisa, all at home. The family are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Chnrch at La Crosse. Mr. 
Mader has held nearly all the offices of the 
town and filled them in a very satisfactory 
manner, as might be expected. He has been 
Clerk of his school district continuously for 
the last fourteen years. He has a good, 
commodious two-story brick dwelling and has 
large barns and sheds to cover millions of 
brick. He also owns one store building 
in La Crosse and is a popular representative 
of the energetic, wide-awake business man, 
which element has done and is doing so much 
for the advancement of the material interests 
of the city. 



.«jEV. FATHER AMBROSE MURPHY, 
K pastor of the St. James Catholic Church, 
corner of Caledonia and Windsor streets. 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a native of New 
Brunswick, born September 2, 1862. He is 
one of a family of nine children born to 
William and Catherine (Brown) Murphy, 
who are also natives of New Brunswick. 
The children are named as follows: Mary 
Ellen and Margaret Ann are both deceased; 
William has finished his course at the La 
Crosse Business College; Mary Paulina is a 
music teacher in the convent at La Crosse, 
where she is known as Sister Thaddea; 
Ellen Martina is in school; Leo is deceased; 
Charles and Clara are also attending school. 
When Father Murphy was a child of 
three years his parents removed to Chippewa 
Falls, Wisconsin, where he received his ele- 
mentary education. He began his classical 
work under Dr. Goldsmith, now deceased, 
and afterward entered St. Francis Seminary, 
Milwaukee, where he was a student three 
years; two years were spent in the Seminary 



BIOGIiAPHICAL HISTORY. 



127 



of Floreffe, Belgium, and over four years in 
the University of Itnisbruck, Austria, where 
lie was ordained October 28, 1880, by the 
Prince Bishop of Brixeii. Afterward be 
spent one year in the University of Paris, 
and was called thence to America by Bishop 
Flasch, who assigned him to duty at Chip- 
pewa Falls, where he remained eight months. 
While at this station he did missionary work 
in the outlying districts, as well as in the 
city, his labors being among the Frencli half- 
breeds and Indians. In January, 1888, he 
was transferred to St. James Church in North 
La Crosse; at that time the church was un- 
finished, and was carrying a debt of large pro- 
portions; the church has since been finished 
at a cost of several thousand dollars, and a 
handsome cottage, a residence for the priest, 
has been completed. Upon his arrival here tlie 
church was suffering from internal dissen- 
sions and contentions among the members; 
these differences have been harmonized, the 
debt has been materially reduced, and the un- 
paid balance has been satisfactorily arranged. 
A parochial school, conducted under the 
superintendence of Father Murphy, holds its 
sessions on the first floor of the church and 
is in charge of the Franciscan Sisters of 
Perpetual Adoration. There are four teach- 
ers employed in the regular work, and a 
special teacher for music. The classes are 
carefully graded, and are in excellent work- 
ing order. Father Murphy's tine intellectual 
training and attainments fit him pre-emi- 
nently for this responsible position, and his 
services have been appreciated. He is an 
ardent temperance worker, and through his 
influence some of the most eloquent speakers 
on the subject have been secured for La 
Crosse; among them may be mentioned 
Bishop Cotter, President of the Catholic 
Total Abstinence Union of America, and 
Father Cleary, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and 



the Dominican Missionaries, Splinter and 
Daly, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. These 
lectures are always free to the public, and 
are accomplishing a great deal in educating 
jieople as to their duty on this great question. 
Father Murphy is a member of the Ancient 
Order of Hibernians, a benevolent society, 
and of the Catholic Knights, of A¥isconsin, an 
insurance association, and of various other 
societies for the instruction of the young. 

tAFAYETTE HOLMES, secretary and 
treasurer of the Davidson Lumber 
Company, North La Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, and one of the reliable and represent- 
ative business men of that city, was originally 
from Ohio, his birth occurring in Jeffer- 
son county of that State, January 10, 1834. 
His parents, William and Eliza (Voorhees) 
Holmes, were natives also of the Buckeye 
State, and the latter is a relative of Senator 
Voorhees of Indiana. William Holmes was a 
blacksmith by trade, and this he followed 
while a resident of Ohio. In 1836 he moved 
to Iowa, opposite Navuoo, Illinois, but re- 
turned to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1838, 
and there remained until 1843. He then 
moved to Pittsburg and from there to Iro- 
qnois county, Illinois, two years later. In 
1846 he located in Galena, Illinois, and in 
1849 crossed tlie plains to California, where 
he remained working in the mines until 
1851. Afterward he was a short time in 
Galena and then returned to the gold regions 
of California, where he remained until 
1860. Again returning to Galena he worked 
in the mines until his death, which occurred 
March 11, 1802, when fifty-two years of 
age. His wife died in La Crosse in 1884, 
when seventy-two years of age. Of the ten 
children born to this union, seven are still 



198 



BIOQRAPBICAL HISTORY. 



living. Lafayette Holmes began for himself 
at the early age of fourteen as clerk at Scales 
Monnd, near Galena, Illinois, and has been 
clerk ami bookkeeper ever since, at Galena, 
St. Paul ami La Crosse. lie came to his 
pre.sent position in 1867, and this speaks 
well as to his ability as clerk and book- 
keeper. He is a popular salesman, and is an 
able and experienced gentleman, with whom 
it will always be found profitable and pleas- 
ant to have dealings. He became secretary 
of the company at the organization in 1885. 
He was connected with the different packet 
companies from 1853, the old Minnesota 
Packet Company, following all the successive 
companies until 1888, a period of thirtytive 
years. He followed shore business as agent, 
storekeeper, etc. This we believe is without 
a parallel in the State. The company have 
one boat, a raft boat, and he looks after this 
at present writing. In his line Mr. Holmes 
is one of the leading men of the city. He ob- 
tained his knowledge of bookkeeping by 
actual practice, for he did not attend school 
after the age of thirteen. He was married 
in 1860 to Miss Sarah J. Lee, dauehtor of 
George W. and Susan Loe, of Galena, Illi- 
nois, and became the father of three children : 
William M., living in Montana; Jessie L;, 
at home and a musician and artist of con- 
siderable note; Walter, in the office of James 
McCord, wholesale druggist. Mrs. Holmes 
is a strong believer in Christian Science. Mr. 
Holmes is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, 
belonging to the Wisconsin Consistory. He 
was Eminent Commander of La Crosse Coin- 
mandery. No. 9, three successive years, 
Worshipful Master of Frontier Lodge, No. 
45, four successive years, and is at present 
High Priest of Smith Chapter,No. 13. Of tiie 
Knights of Pythias he has passed the chairs. 
He went through all the different decrees of 
the I. O. C). V. order thirty years ago. In 



politics he has ever been a Democrat. He 
has many times been city delegate to 
county conventions. Mr. Holmes is pro- 
gressive and public-spirited in his views, is 
a worthy and valued citizen, and is respected 
by his many friends. 



-^^tnrWy- 



■^jiru^^^ 



IL HOUGH, train-master on the 
m Chicago, Burlington & Northern Kail- 
' road, was originally' from Connecticut, 
born June 29, 1845. His parents, Isaac T 
anil Julia F. (Wilcox) Hough, were both na- 
tives of that State also, and the father was a 
manufacturer of tinsmith tools. He died in 
his native State at the age of forty-nine, and 
his wife received her final summons there at 
the age of fifty-four. They were the parents 
of five children, four of whom are yet living. 
P. H. Hough received a good academic edu- 
cation in Connecticut, and on the 5th of Sep- 
tember, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, 
Twenty-fourth Coiinecticut Volunteer In- 
fantry, for nine months, and served thirteen 
months under General Banks in the Depart- 
ment of tlie Gulf. Ilis first en<>;aijement was 
at Irish Bend in Louisiana, and the next at 
Bayou Sara, Port Hudson. He enlisted when 
only seventeen years of age, there being only 
two younger in the regiment, but stood the 
service quite well, especially in marching, 
when he had more endurance than older 
men. He was discharged at Middletown, 
Connecticut, October 81, 1863. He then 
came West and located in Ogle county, Illi- 
nois, and engaged in telegraphy, having stud- 
ied it in the East, and came West to secure a 
position. He located at Forres ton, Illinois, 
had charge of a day office, and continued there 
sixteen years in the em])loy of the Illinois 
Central and Chicago & Iowa railroads. From 
there he was promoted to train dispatcher, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT. 



129 



and went to Ainboy, Illinois, where he re- 
mained for five years, lie then came to La 
Crosse (1886) and took the position of train 
dispatcher for the Chicago, Burlington & 
Northern liailroad. In 1888 he was pro- 
moted to chief train dispatcher. This posi- 
tion he held for two years, and was then 
promoted to train master, his present posi- 
tion. 

In 1881: Mr. Hough married Miss Anna 
M. French, daughter of John French, of 
Kappa, Illinois. Mr. French died in 1878, 
at tiie age of fifty-nine years. The mother is 
still living, and is in her fifty-sixth year. 
Mr. Hough is a member of the Masonic order 
and of the G. A. R. Post at La Crosse. 



i,ENRY B. KLICH, 1301 Winnebago 
street, La Crosse, is a contractor and 
builder, and is one of the inost prosper- 
ous in the city. He is an American by 
adoption, his native country being Bohemia, 
Austria. He was born in 1854, a son of Simon 
and Theresa Klich, also Bohemians by birth. 
They bade farewell to their country in 1872, 
and crossed the sea to the United States, lo- 
cating in La Crosse in 1873, where they still 
reside. Henry B., the third of a family of 
five children, began working at the brick- 
layer's trade in 1872, and for a few years he 
traveled up and down the Mississippi river 
from St. Paul to New Orleans. In 1875 he 
came to La Crosse, and here he has since 
followed the business of building and con- 
tracting. Up to 1886 he was employed as 
foreman for different contractors, but in that 
year began taking contracts on his own ac- 
count. He has erected a number of residences 
in La Crosse, the addition to the Eighth ward 
schoolhouse, and a number of other build- 
ings, including the Fay Hotel and Mitchel's 



building on Third street. By his strict and 
honorable dealings he has won a reputation 
for substantial and reliable building that has 
placed him in the front ranks of his calling. 
Mr. Klich was naan-ied in 188U to Miss 
Mary Matejka, who was born in 1861, a 
daughter of John and Elizabeth Matejka. 
Her father died in 1891, aged sixty-four 
years. The mother is still living. Mr. and 
Mrs. Klich are the parents of five children: 
Henry, Amelia, Albert, Julia and Frank. 
All are at home comfortably and happily sit- 
uated. Mr. Klich is a member of the Build- 
ers' Association of La Crosse, and the 
International Progressive Association of 
Mansfield, Ohio, and belongs to the C. S. 
P. S., of which he has been an ofiicer for 
many years. 

EV. FATHER J. W. RITZ, pastor of 
I St. John's Church, corner of Avon 
and St. James streets. La Crosse, is 
a native of Germany, born in Bavaria, Au- 
gust 18, 1859. He received his education 
in the "Fatherland," and after he had finished 
his theological training he was ordained a 
priest of the Roman Catholic Church. In 
1883 he came to America, and soon after his 
arrival here he was assigned to duty as pastor 
of the Medford Church in Taylor county, 
Wisconsin. While stationed at this point he 
was instrumental in building new churches, 
and infused new life into many congregations 
to which he ministered. He had charge of 
six missions, Medford being the principal one; 
there he built a new edifice and established a 
parochial school. 

He came to La Crosse in August, 1890, 
having been assigned to St. John's Church. 
Here ho also has commenced the erection 
of a new church of modern design, 48 x 100 



130 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



feet, with a seating capacity of three or 
four Inindrod, the cost to be not less 
than $10,000. St. John's Catholic School is 
also under control of Father Ilitz, the fall 
term of which opened with ninety-six chil- 
dren enrolled. Two teachers are employed 
to give instruction in the school. St. John's 
congregation was organized from a portion of 
the communicants of St. Joseph's Cathedral 
three years ago, and under the care of Father 
Kitz has steadily increased in interest and 
grown in numbers. He has devoted himself 
faithfully to the needs of those entrusted to 
his care, and has proven himself worthy of 
the coutidence reposed in him by his superiors 
and congregation. 



4^ 



^ 



lAPTAIN ALBERT J. HILL was born 
in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 14, 1841, a 
son of George W. and Margaret (Wil- 
son) Hill, natives of Johnstown, Pennsylva- 
nia, and Baltimore, Maryland, respectively. 
The father was a carpenter and contractor, 
and in 1842 removed to Burlington, Iowa. 
He was one or the most prominent and pro- 
gressive of the early settlers, and was highly 
esteemed by the members of the community 
in which he lived. He died April 5, 1888, 
aged seventy-six years. His wife died in 
June, 1889. They had born to them a family 
of live children, the Captain and one sister 
being the only ones living at the present 
time. Albert J. received his education at 
Burlington, Iowa, and learned tiie carpenter's 
trade with his father. When President Lin- 
coln made a call for 75,000 men to aid in 
putting down the rebellion, private interests 
sank into insignificance, and all hopes, all 
plans, all aspirations were abandoned that the 
country might be preserved from disintegra- 
tion. Captain Hill enlisted in Company I, 



First Iowa Volunteer Infantry, "The Bur- 
lington Blues," and went out to a long term 
of service, to encounter hardships and pri- 
vations unknown to any life except that of 
the soldier. J5efore the end of ninety days 
he had seen the fall of one of the most 
promising officers. General Lyon, and had 
participated in the battle of Wilson Creek. 
He re-enlisted in the Twenty -fifth Iowa 
Volunteer Infantry, and served until the 
declaration of peace. Among the most noted 
engagements in which he participated may be 
mentioned the following: Vicksburg, Arkan- 
sas Post, Atlanta, Jonesboro and the great 
march to the sea. At Atlanta he saw Mc- 
Pherson shot from his horse, and on the 
inarch under Sherman he barely escaped 
starvation, lie paid S20 for a half-pint of 
rice, a rather dainty lunch for the price. He 
was in the city of Columbia, South Caro- 
lina, when it was fired by the /darkies. Upon 
the arrival of the troops in the city the 
colored population matiifested great joy, es- 
teeming it a day of jubilee. They were free 
in rendering service, and freely gave infor- 
mation, both desirable and undesirable. The 
citizens called for a guard, which was readily 
granted. At dusk, just as night was settling 
upon the city, a fire broke out and spread 
rapidly. The engines were brought out, and 
soldiers and citizens made a common tight 
in subduing the flames, the work of incen- 
diaries. It was a terrible, though magnifi- 
cent sight, and the sounds were as those of 
pandemonium; the cries of helpless women 
and children, the clattering of horses through 
the streets, maddened by the flames, the 
shouts of the firemen, are beyond description, 
but were recorded on the memory of those 
witnessincr the conflagration to remain there 
as long as life and memory exist. 

Captain Hill was at the Grand Review 
at Washington, and was mustered out of the 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



181 



service at Davenport, Iowa. He was never 
seriously wounded or taken prisoner, but had 
his liearing injured by the l)ursting of a sliell. 
This trouble pi'oved permanent, and is a 
source of annoyance to him even now. 

After the close of the war he had his first 
lessons as a jjilot on the river, and since 
that time has been employed on the packets 
plying between St. Louis and St. Paid. He 
was married August 31, 1868, to Miss Fran- 
ces Chenoworth, a daughter of William and 
Althea Chenoworth, of Burlington, Iowa. 
Mrs. Hill's father died when she was two 
years old, but the mother lived until some 
time in the '60s. There were four children 
in the family, Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Nancy 
Morrell being the only surviving members. 
Captain and Mrs. Hill have one child, 
Eunice May, the wife of Thomas J. Madden, 
Chief of Police of Duluth, Minnesota. 
The parents are members of the Presby- 
terian Church. Captain Hill belongs to the 
G. A. R. and to the Pilot's Association; he 
takes little interest in politics, but votes with 
the Democratic party. After the injury 
received in battle he could have secured an 
honorable discharge, but, filled with the zeal 
of the patriot, declined to do so, and served 
through the rest of the war as a musician, 
his impaired hearing making it unsafe for 
him to do guard duty. 



-^^LnJlM/- 



~^Uinn^^ 



[EV. JOSEPH B. WIEDMANN, Rector 
of St. Joseph's Cathedral, La Crosse, 
was born in Westphalia, Prussia, No- 
vember 19, 1855. In 1851 his father died, 
and in 1868 he came with his mother to 
America, locating at Fountain City, Buffalo 
county, Wisconsin. The next year he entered 
St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, and con- 
tinued his studies until 1879, when he was 



ordained priest by Bishop Heiss of La Crosse 
diocese, and was assigned to the pastorate of 
St. Patrick's Church at Sparta, Wisconsin, 
where he remained till June 19, 1881, when 
he was appointed to his present position. 
During his pastorate here in La Crosse he 
has made improvements upon the church 
property to tlie extent of $30,000, and not a 
dollar of debt remains. St. Joseph's Cathe- 
dral is a magnificent edifice, erected in 1869. 
Its present value, including organ, altars and 
furniture, is estimated at $60,000. 



fKRlS. ADOLPH, one of the steam- 
boat captains of the Mississippi river, 
was born in the State of Iowa in 1850, 
a son of Chris, and Matilda (Babrenfuss), 
Adolph, natives of Germany. The parents 
bade farewell to their native land in 1864, 
and crossed the sea to America, settling in 
Iowa; there the father died in 1874, but the 
mother still survives, and has reached the age 
of seventy- two years. Chris. Adolph, Jr., had 
the advantage of a few terms of schodling, 
but at an early age sought employment on 
the river. He was engaged in rafting lum- 
ber until the beginning of the use of steam for 
that purpose; he was then employed on the 
boats, and worked through all the positions 
until he reached the head of the business. 
He has now been in the employ of McDonald 
Bros, for about twenty years, a fact which 
attests his efficiency and a due apprecia- 
tion of his services. Ho was among the first 
to pass with boats up the Black and Chip- 
pewa rivers to the lumber regions. He has 
experienced all the phases of life on the 
river, and has endured all the privations inci- 
dent to his occupation. The work of a pio- 
neer in any line is not an easy one, and the 
life of the pioneer in the lumber regions 
proves no exception to the rule. 



132 



Bl OGRAPUICA L UISTOR T. 



Mr. Adolpli was united in marriage, in 
1888, to Miss Mary Miles, a daughter of 
Calvin and Julia Miles, of Ox Bow, Jackson 
county, Wisconsin. Mr. Miles was a soldier 
in the late war, and did gallant service for 
his country from 1861 to 1865. He is now 
engaged in fanning, and is prominently 
identified with the agricultural interests of 
Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Adolph have 
had born to them one child, Chris., Jr., De- 
cember 20, 1889. They are both consistent 
members of the Lutheran Church. 

H. ANDREWS, supply agent for the 
Chicago, Burlington & Northern 
'** Kailroad, and a successful business 
man of La Crosse, Wisconsin, first saw the 
light of day in Greenfield, Massachusetts, 
in 1858. liis parents, James and Mary H. 
(Pratt) Andrews, were natives also of the Bay 
State. The parents moved to Chicago, Illi- 
nois, in 1866, and here the father engaged in 
the printing and blank-book business for 
some time. Mr. Andrews received the rudi- 
ments of an education in the public schools 
of Chicago, and supplemented the same by 
a course in the high school of Greenfield, 
Massachusetts. In 1882 he engaged with the 
Chicago, Biirlington & Quincj Kailroad, in 
the constrnction department, and remained 
in that about one year, when he was promoted 
to the purchasing department. lie was in 
the Chicago office a short time, and was then 
sent to the St. Paul office. From there, in 
1886, he was transferred to La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, to take charge of the supply depart- 
ment of the Chicago, Burlington & North- 
ern Railroad at this place, and has since had 
full charge of that department of the road. 
This department carries a stock of about 
$50,000 worth of material, and at various 



times it lias been over §100,000. Mr. An- 
drews was married in Chicago, Illinois, in 
1881, to Miss Lonia I. Harmon, daughter 
of Channcy and Mary Harmon. 



.J«ILO J. PITKIN, collector for the 
i7;'i\( La Crosse Gas-Light Company, was 
born at Fort Madison, Lee county, 
Iowa, August 28, 1839, a son of James and 
Lucy (Austin) Pitkin, natives of Connecti- 
cut and New York respectively. The father 
was a farmer by occupation, and he also 
worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1817 he 
came with his parents to Summit county, 
Ohio, and remained tliere until 1835, when 
he made a prospecting tour through the great 
Northwest, seeking a home. He settled in 
Fort Madison, and when the subject of this 
notice was an infant of thirteen months the 
mother died, aged twenty years. lie was 
one of the earliest pioneers of Iowa, and 
experienced many of the privations and 
hardships attending life on the frontier. He 
was a man of the highest principles, hon- 
ored and respected by a wide circle of 
acquaintances. 

Milo J. came to La Crosse in 1854, receiv- 
ing his education in the common schools. He 
is one of the pioneers of the city, and has 
witnessed many changes since he became a 
resident of the straggling hamlet on the 
banks of the Mississippi. Having deter- 
mined to master the printer's trade, he 
entered the office of the Republican and con- 
tinued there until 1861, when the dark clouds 
of war began to skirt the horizon. Private 
enterprise was crippled and so abandoned for 
a time. He responded to the call for 75,000 
men, and became a member of the La Crosse 
Light Guard, which was attached to the Iron 
Brigade of the AVest; his regiment belonged 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



133 



to the old First Corps of the Army of the 
Potomac. He participated in the battle of 
Blackburn's Ford, and afterwards in the first 
battle of Bull Kun; he was in many skirm- 
ishes fully as dangerous to life and limb as a 
battle. He was also at Fredericksburg; was 
in Burnside's march in January, 1863; took 
part in the battle at ChancellorBville; was in 
the battle at Rappahannock Station and 
White Sulphur Springs, and later was at 
Gettysburg, where he was taken prisoner. 
He was taken with others to Richmond, 
thence to Belle Isle, where he was held two 
months before he was paroled. It was then 
eight months belbre he was exchanged, and 
after this event he rejoined his command at 
Cold Harbor. He was honorably discharged 
June 30, 1864, having served his country 
faithfully and gallantly for three years and 
two and a half months. While a prisoner he 
suffered all the agonies of the military captive, 
and while in field service he had a sunstroke 
from which he has never recovered. On 
account of this he was confined in the hos- 
pital which was improvised in the Eighth 
Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Wash- 
ington, District of Columbia. 

After the declaration of peace he returned 
to his printing-press in La Crosse, and followed 
this vocation until twenty years had passed 
away; then on account of close confinement 
abandoned this work, and since that time 
has been in the employ of the La Crosse Gas- 
Light Company. 

Mr. Pitkin was married July 24, 1864, to 
Miss Marie Louise Rogers,danghter of Joshua 
H. and Jane Rogers, of La Crosse, and of 
this union three children have been born: 
Arthur J. is in the employ of the United 
States School Furniture Company, of Chi- 
cago; he married Miss Mary L. Reed; Louis 
Harvey is with the firm of Cargill Brothers, 
at Spring Valley, Minnesota; Louise R. is I 



the third child. The parents are members of 
the Congregational Church. Mr. Pitkiu is a 
Mason, being Tyler of the Blue Lodge, Guard 
of the Chapter, and Sentinel of the Com- 
mandery. He is a member of the Wilson 
Colwell Post, G. A. R. Li politics he is a 
Republican, and an ardent supporter of the 
principles of that party. Li all the walks of 
life he has borne himself with great credit 
and honor, and he and his wife have the 
highest esteem of the community in wiiich 
they live. 



tOmS WENSOLE, commercial traveler 
for the firm of Cahn, Warapold & Co., 
Chicago, was born in Norway, August 2, 
1849, and is a son of Simon and Randine 
Wensole, natives of the same country. The 
father emigrated with his family from Nor- 
way in 1867, and after his arrival in the 
United States proceeded to Wisconsin, set- 
tling at Stevenstown, La Crosse county; thence 
he went to West Salem, and in two years he 
came to North La Crosse; he next removed 
to Minneapolis, where he carried on a shoe- 
shop for ten or twelve years; he afterward 
returned to Stevenstown, and again came to 
La Crosse; he is a superior woi-kman and 
ranks among the best. Before coming to 
America he was engaged at the same trade, 
and had a shop at Lille-Hammer. He and his 
wife are members of the Norwegian Luthei-an 
Church. They are people of much force of 
character, and have reared their children to 
lives of industry and honor. They have a 
family of nine: Christian, the oldest son, 
served his king five years, and durin^^ that 
time received injuries from which he never 
recovered; he died in 1872, at the age of 
twenty-eight years; John died in childhood; 
Sarah is the wife of Ole Frederickson, and 



184 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



the mother of five children ; Louis is the sub- 
ject of this notice; Jolin is a resident of 
Minneapolis, and married Miss Mary Jensen; 
Bertha; Ole, deceased; Otto, who also died 
at the age of twenty-eight years, was a printer 
by trade; he married Miss Tillie Jensen, who 
died in 1889; Julia is the wife of Andrew 
Johnson, and the mother of one child. 

Louis Wensole acquired an education in 
his native land, and came to America in 
August, 1808; during the summer he worked 
with liis father in the shoe shop, but in the 
winter he availed himself of the opportunity 
of continuing his studies in the common 
schools of this country; lie worked for his 
board with Abraham Pruett, but in the 
spring he went down the river to Daven- 
port, Iowa, where he was employed as a 
clerk in a hotel. When he had saved a little 
money he invested in a small stock of no- 
tions; this was a profitable investment, and 
as soon as he had $100 saved up he came 
back to La Crosse to visit his parents. While 
here he was taken ill, and lay sick for two 
months; upon his recovery he secured a posi- 
tion as clerk in the store of John L. Grun 
of West Salem, remaining there three and 
a half years. He was next engaged in the 
same capacity with Mens Anderson in La 
Crosse for three and a half years, and it was 
during this period that he gained his experi- 
ence in business from an American stand- 
point; he next took a position as clerk in the 
Boston One Price Clothing House at Minne- 
apolis, but in eighteen months returned to La 
Crosse. 

Mr. Wensole was married December 28, 
1876, to Miss Clara A. Simenson, a daughter 
of Ole Simenson, deceased; her mother, 
whose maiden name was Anna Jorginnie, is 
still living, a resident of La Crosse; Matilda, 
the wife of Ole Larson and Mrs. Wensole are 
the only surviving children. 



In June, 1881, Mr. Wensole started out 
as a traveling salesman for the firm of S. 
Mann Austrian, Wise & Co., of Cleveland, 
Ohio, with whom he remained nine years; 
the first six years he received a salary, and 
the last three years he had an interest 
in the business. The firm removed to 
Chicago, and at the end of three years 
dissolved partnership. Since that time Mr. 
Wensole has been with liis present firm, 
which is one of the oldest and most promi- 
nent in this line of business. He has been 
very successful, and has made an enviable rec- 
ord in commercial circles. As a citizen he 
is above reproach, is genial and companion- 
able, and is in every way worthy of the con- 
fidence reposed in him. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wensole are the parents 
of four children: Stewart Monroe, Oscar 
Alfelt, Louis Howard Robin and Lucre tia 
Antonia. Tiie parents are members of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church, and Mr. Wen- 
sole belongs also to the Masonic order, being 
a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and 
Commandry. Politically he affiliates with 
the Democratic party, but takes no active 
interest in the movements of that body. 

„>,►, ? . ; t I t ♦ ^ ■•♦> 



[APTAIN ALLEN M. SHORT, of one 

of the Mississippi river steamers, was 
born in Carroll county, Illinois, in 
1847, and is a son of Ira and Eliza (Higgins) 
Short. The father was born in Tioga county. 
New York, in 1803, and the mother in Tren- 
ton county. New Jersey, in 1811. They 
were married in the State of New York 
in 1829, and reared a family of nine children, 
all of whom are living at the present time. 
They removed to Carroll county, Illinois, in 
1841, making the entire journey by ox-team 
in true pioneer style. There they resided 



BIOORAPEIOAL HISTORY. 



135 



many years, loved and respected by all the 
settlers. In 1864 Mr. Short started to Cali- 
fornia with a valuable team, but as he was 
never heard from afterward it is supposed 
that he was murdered for his team and 
the money he had with hiin. Mrs. Short 
died in 1884, aged seventy years. Four of 
the sons of this family served with distinc- 
tion during the civil war. 

Allen M. Short attended the common 
schools of his country until he was thirteen 
years of age, when he was thrown upon his 
own responsibilities, and began the battle of 
life for himself. The first work he did was 
on a farm, and he remained there two years, 
at the end of whicli time he enlisted in the 
One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry; he was sent direct from 
camp to Georgia, and joined General Sher- 
man's army on its march to the sea, taking 
part in all the engagements of the march, 
and returning through Georgia. His regiment 
was retained in the service until January 20, 
1866, when they were mustered out at Savan- 
nah, receiving their discharge and pay Feb- 
ruary 7, 1866. 

When peace was declared, and he was left 
free to follow his own inclinations, Mr. Short 
secured employment on the steamer Pearl, 
and continued on that boat until he became 
pilot and master. In 1866 he bought an in- 
terest in the Fearl, and has owned an interest 
in other vessels since that date. In 1872 he 
connected himself with the Davidson Lumber 
Company, and has been in their employ con- 
tinuously since that time, a testimonial to 
his faithful and efficient service. 

Mr. Short was united in marriage, in 1872, 
at La Crosse, to Miss Nellie Congdon, a 
daughter of G. R. and Diana (Fleming) Cong- 
don, natives of New York and Ohio respect- 
ively. They were married in Ohio in 1848, 
and are living in La Crosse. They have 



reared a family of seven children. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Short have been born two children: 
Clinton L. and Gracie Fleming. The family 
belong to the Baptist Church. Mr. Short is 
a member of the G. A. R. of La Crosse. 

Clinton L. Short was clerk of the boat of 
which his father is master in the season of 
1891 and 1892. He aspires to the position 
of captain, and will doubtless attain it in the 
course of a short time. 

Mrs. Short is of American ancestry for 
several generations, her great-great-grand- 
parents coming over in the Mayflower. Her 
great-grandfather, Peter Fleming, served 
eight years in the Revolutionary war, and 
was married in Redstone Fort, on the bank 
of the Ohio river, near Wheeling, West Vir- 
ginia, by Rev. J. D. Finley, a Presbyterian 
clergyman. W. P. Fleming, her grandfather, 
was born in 1791, a short distance from the 
fort, and was called for service during the 
war of 1812-'14, but peace was declared be- 
fore his company was called into action. He 
was married the same year to Eleanor Collins, 
a native of the eastern shore of Maryland, 
who emigrated, with others, to Ohio when 
sixteen years old. They endured the hard- 
ships of a frontier life, rearing a family of 
ten children, of whom the youngest was Mrs. 
Short's mother. 



-«-|<>-5»-»f' 



J. POLLARD, the gentlemanly and 
accommodating passenger conductor 
■ ** on the Chicago, Burlington & North- 
ern Railroad, with residence at La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, was .born in Morgan county, Illi- 
nois, in 1844, a son of William H. and 
Lucretia (Gray) Pollard, natives of Vermont, 
who removed to Illinois in 1840, and for 
many years resided on a farm in Morgan 
county. The father is now residing at Rock 



136 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTORY. 



Island, Illinois, aged eighty years, but since 
1891 has l)een a widower, i>is wife dying in 
lier seventieth year. They were the parents 
of five sons and two daughters. E. J. Pol- 
lard was educated in the public schools of 
Morrison, Illinois, and at the age of eighteen 
years he started out to make his own way in 
the world, and for one year worked as a farm 
hand. Tiie next year he clerked in a dry- 
goods and clotiiing store, which position he 
retained until the tall of 1864, when he en- 
listed in the One Uundred and Fortieth 
Regiment of Illinois Infantry — a one hun- 
dred-day regiment— and was in the service 
for live months ijefore being mustered out. 
He immediately re-enlisted for one year, but 
was in the service fourteen mouths before 
receiving liis discharge. He was on the staff 
of GeneralJudy, and was the one who carried 
the news of the assassination of President 
Lincoln to tlie army. After General Judy's 
resignation he was assigned to the staff of 
General Wilson, with whom he remained 
until his term of service had expired. His 
first work after leaving the army was as a 
clerk in tiie hotel at Morrison, Illinois, whore 
he was employed about one year. He then 
went to work for the Chicago and North- 
western Railroad, first as brakeman, being 
promoted one year later to the position of 
conductor. He remained in the employ of 
tiiat road until 1869, when he went to Rock 
Island to work in the construction depot of 
the Rock Island and St. L(juis Railroad as 
conductor, and at the end of six months 
began traveling for tlie road as advertising 
airent. Followiner this he was conductor for 
two years on the Rock Island and Pacific 
Railroad; but in 1880 went to Chicago, and 
for one year was in the employ of the Street 
Railway Company. In 1881 he went to work 
in the construction department of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington and Northern Railroad, 



upon the Omaha division of that road, and 
npon the completion of that branch he ran a 
train over the road for about six years. 
When the river branch of the Burlington and 
Northern Railroad was built he was trans- 
ferred to the construction department of that 
branch, and when it was completed was given 
a train on that division, which position he 
still retains. He is an old and experienced 
railroad man, and has always shown himself 
to be competent, and has given good satis- 
faction in tlie different positions lie has held. 
He is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
of Freeport, Illinois. He was married 
November 29, 1882, to Miss Mary McCor- 
mack, whose parents are James and Anna 
McCormack, of Kane county, Illinois. Mrs. 
Pollard is an amiable and intelligent lady, 
and is a member of the Catholic Church. 



.MSS^USTAV CARL, wine dealer. La Cro.-se 
— In this age of gross and almost uni- 
versal adulteration, it is a pleasure to 
be able to refer to those reliable houses where 
the public are assured of obtainiiig only the 
purest and best goods. Of such is the re- 
sponsible establishment of Gustav Carl, wine 
dealer of La Crosse. This gentleman was 
born December 23, 1836, in Saxony, Ger- 
many, of which country his parents, Adam 
and Laura (Smith) Carl, were also natives. 
In the year 1854 the family sailed for Amer- 
ica, and after an ocean voyage of six weeks 
landed in New York city, on July 2. The 
family remained in that city about two years, 
and the father followed the trade of a book- 
binder. He died in Milwaukee when fifty- 
nine years of age, but the mother is still 
living and is seventy-nine years of age. 
Both parents were Freethinkers in their re- 
ligious views. Of the nine children born to 



BIOGSAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



137 



this union six died in infancy, and were buried 
in Germany. From the three living children 
Mrs. Carl has twenty-seven grandchildren 
and six great-grandchildren. She still pos- 
sesses great power both of body and mind, 
and is well preserved for her years. One of 
her children, Emelie, resides in Milwaukee, is 
the wife of George Schrader, and the mother 
of thirteen children. Gustav is next in 
order of birth, and then Adolph, who died 
in 1889, at the age of forty-two years. The 
latter was a regular in the United States 
Army for five years, and then in the navy for 
two and a half years, during the civil war. 
Pie married a lady in Canada and became the 
father of five children, two deceased. On 
coming to America Gustav Carl worked in a 
book-bindery with his father for a year, but 
■was taken sick, and went to St. Louis, where 
he worked on a farm for a year, without 
compensation, his employer being worth 
nothing. However, he was restored to health 
by his out-door employment, and after re- 
ceiving remittances from home he went to 
Chicago in search of work at his trade, book- 
binding. Not being successful in this, he 
went on a farm sixteen miles from Chicago, 
and worked three months at $13 per month. 
He then paid up his indebtedness, and with 
the remainder went to Milwaukee, where he 
again tried to find work as a bookbinder. 
Failing again, he engaged for fifty cents a day 
as a waiter in a hotel, and there continued 
for two months. He was then coaxed away 
by a boarder, and served as bartender in his 
place at $30 a month. He remained there 
about fourteen months, then, in 1857, re- 
turned to New York on a visit to his parents, 
and at the same time was a delegate from 
the Bundes Turner's Society of Milwaukee to 
attend the Bnndes Festival of New York. 
From there the whole family moved to Chi- 
cago, rented a farm sixteen miles west of that 



city, and there tilled the soil. They worked 
hard, but could not make a living, produce 
being so cheap, potatoes selling for ten cents 
a bushel. Gustav then went to Milwaukee 
and became bartender at the same place for 
the same man, sending his means to his 
parents. He remained there seven months 
and then became bartender for John S. 
Becker, at La Crosse, Wiconsin, in 1860. His 
former employer failed, and Mr. Carl took 
his pay in an imported Swiss cheese that he 
brought to La Crosse as his stock in trade, 
his entire capital. He worked for one year 
as clerk in a grocery store at $15 a month 
and board. About this time John S. Becker 
burned out, and the stock he saved he let 
our subject have to go up to "Winona and 
start a saloon, the latter taking in partnership 
John Fox. On June 2, 1861, they started 
that saloon, and on the 4th of July the whole 
city (135 buildings) was destroyed in two 
hours, the saloon with the rest. They owed 
$1,100 on this, and they returned to La 
Crosse without even a Swiss cheese. They 
were helped by friends to start another sa- 
loon, and Mr. Fox, being a stone mason, 
worked at his trade while our subject at- 
tended the bar. Mr. Becker, sympathizing 
with their condition, made them a present 
of $300, and they then had but $800 of the 
$1,100 to pay. They soon paid off all their 
indebtedness, and were even with the world. 
Mr. Carl purchased property, built the stone 
house in which he now resides at 517 and 519 
South Third street, and on January 24, 1864, 
he married Miss Bertha Herzberg, whose 
parents were from Germany, the mother dy- 
ing there when Mrs. Carl was but three years 



of age. 



The father was Ernst Herzberg. 



After this Mr. Carl was in the saloon busi- 
ness with Mr. Fox for seven years, when they 
dissolved partnership, and Mr. Carl started in 
the manufacture of soda and mineral waters. 



138 



BIOORAPUICAL HI STORY. 



This 1)usiness he sold out in April, 1891, 
and since then he has been dealing in Cali- 
fornia and imported wines. To his marriage 
liave been born live children: Gnstavus, now 
working at Ashland; I'ertha, wife of Carl 
Lelirkind, resides in Asiiland and is the 
mother of one child, Thekla; Oscar, married 
to Susan Toolen and resides in La Crosse; he 
runs the City Steam Laundry, which is doing 
a very successful business; and Albert A., a 
pnpil of the public schools. Mr. Carl is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., the U. W., the 
German ia Society and for one year wjs presi- 
dent of the Liederkranz Singing Society. 
Mr. Carl held the position of City Treasurer 
for two years, was also Alderman and Super- 
visor, and has held other prominent posi- 
tions. During the war he was an ardent 
Republican. He is a self-made man, and 
wliat lie has accomplished in the way of this 
world's goods has been the result of his own 
energy and good management. 

On September 26, 1881, Mr. and Mrs. 
Carl started to Germany, and s|»ent four 
montlis visiting friends in their native land. 



jLBION CLARK, who has been for many 
years a resident of Wisconsin, is a New 
Yorker by birth, having first seen the 
light of day in the Empire State in 1821. 
His parents, Adin and Mehitta (Palmer) Clark, 
were also natives of Otsego county. New 
York, and in early life removed to Chau- 
tauqua county, New York, where they reared 
a family of nine children and passed the 
remainder of their lives. Albion Clark was 
the sixth of the family, and the only member 
who ever came to the West. The opportuni- 
ties of the frontier, however, seemed so much 
greater tlian in those sections where progress 
had made longer strides, that he determined 



to take the consequences of the venture, and 
in 1854 went to Iowa and spent one season 
in Appanoose county. He was engaged in 
the construction of a mill, his trade being 
that of a millwright; then he worked one sea- 
son at F'ort Madison on a sawmill, and in 
1856 he came to La Crosse. The first em- 
ployment he had here was with the firm of 
White, Dyer & Gregory, and the ne.xt was 
with Crosby it Hickson. In the year 1859 
he began work for Captain P. S. Davidson & 
Co., and was with that firm continuously 
until 1891, when he resigned his position to 
make a trip to Oregon and California. 

Mr. Clark was married in 1844, in Chau- 
tauqua county. New York, to Miss Hetsey 
Chase, a daughter of Christopher and Sallie 
(Streight) Chase, who lived and died in Chau- 
tauqua county. New York To Mr. and Mrs. 
Clark have been born six children: Lorisa was 
first married to Arthur Boardman, who died 
in San Jose, California, having gone there 
in quest of health; their three children are 
also deceased; she was married a second time, 
in 1883, to Judge R. A.' Odell, of Trem- 
pealeau county, Wisconsin; Adin Clark, now 
a resident of Minnesota, married Rose Story, 
and they have five children, three daughters 
and two sons; Ilittie married Nathaniel 
Green, who was accidentally killed on a 
steamboat; thej^ had two sons born to them; 
Mrs. Green was married again to Francis 
Garner, of La Crosse, and of this union one 
daughter was born; Mr. Garner died in 
Feljruary, 1892; Frank Clark, the fourth of 
the family,died at the age of two years; Ella, 
one of the twins, whose mate died in infancy, 
is the wife of Walter Garner, of La Crosse; 
he is the purchasing agent of the Pullman 
Palace Car Company, of Chicago; they are 
the parents of three children, one son and two 
daujihters. 

Mr. Clark atiiliales with the Republican 



BIOORAPEWAL HISTORY. 



139 



party, and is a stanch supporter of the princi- 
ples of that body. He is a man of strict 
integrity, and on all questions has possessed 
the courage of his convictions. 

W. PETTIBONE, lumber merchant, 
La Crosse. — In the various enterprises 
'" that have made La Crosse one of the 
commercial centers of the country, the lumber 
trade lias always held an important place, 
employing large capital in its conduct, and 
giving to cognate industries a decided im- 
petus by the energy and ability displayed in 
its development. In every department the 
enterprise characteristic of its leading ex- 
ponents has been abundantly shown, and the 
flourishing character of their establisiimeuts 
amply demonstrates the vigorous grasp with 
which they have seized and held the trade in 
this gigantic national industry. Among 
tliose actively engaged in this business is Mr. 
A. W. Pettibone, wiio is one of the leading 
business men of the city, having been en- 
gaged in the lumber and log business here 
for many years. He was born in Benning- 
ton county, Vermont, April 22, 1827, and is 
the son of John S. and Laura (Grave) Petti- 
bone, natives also of the Green Mountain 
State. A. W. Pettibone came to La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, in 1854, engaged at once in the 
manufacture of lumber, and here continued 
until 1866, when lie moved to Hannibal, 
Missouri, where he resided until 1884. He 
then returned to La Crosse and has been a 
much esteemed resident of this city ever 
since. He has been president of the Flan- 
nibal Sawmill Company of Missouri since its 
organization in 1880. It employs about 150 
operatives and is one of the most extensive 
mills in that part of the State. He is also 
interested in another mill located at Qiiincy, 



Illinois, and still another at Merrill, Wiscon- 
sin. Mr. Pettibone was married in his native 
State in 1855, to Miss Cordelia Wilson, 
daughter of Isaac Wilson, of Vermont, and 
the fruits of this union were three living 
children: Wilson, residing at Hannibal, Mis- 
souri, and in charge of the milling interests 
of that locality; he married Miss Laura Jones, 
of Missouri; Anna, at home, and A. W., 
Jr., who is now in the junior class in Yale 
College. Mr. Pettibone takes very little in- 
terest in politics, but acts with the Demo- 
cratic party. In the spring of 1862 he was 
elected Mayor of La Crosse, was re-elected 
in 1863, and aijainin 1864. This was during- 
the troublesome times of the civil war, and 
the duties of that office he discharged in an 
eminently satisfactory manner. His life has 
been one of industry and activity, and by his 
honest, upriglit dealing he has won a host of 
warm friends. He is well equipped to suc- 
ceed in whatever he is likely to undertake. 
He and Mrs. Pettibone are among the most 
worthy and respected citizens of La Crosse. 



^^ 



^^ 



lETER SCHINTJEN, ice and wood 



iia^ dealer of La Crosse. 



In reviewing the 
various enterprises that have contributed 
toward making La Crosse the commercial cen- 
tre that it now is, it is interestino- to note 
the advance made in each industry, and among 
those demanding business ability of a high 
order is that in which Mr. Schintjen is en- 
gaged. He was born in Luxemburg, Ger- 
many, May 2, 1829, to Michael and Lucy 
(SchafP) Schintjen, being the youngest and 
the only one of their Ave children now living 
in America. The father died in 1845, at the 
age of sixty-four years, his wife having died 
a year earlier, when about fifty-three years of 
age, both of whom were earnest members of 



140 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



the Catholic Church at the time of their death. 
In 1854 Peter Schiiitjen deterniined to seek a 
lioine for hiinselt' in America, liis attention 
np to this time having been principally de- 
voted to tilling the soil. lie iirst placed 
his foot on American soil in the city of New 
York, but at the end of one week he went to 
Galena, Illinois, and two weeks later to St. 
Paul, Minnesota, where he remained one 
year. In 1854 he purchased some real estate 
in La Crosse, and on the beautiful building 
spot where his residence now stands only two 
houses could be seen. While in St. Paul 
lie was in the iiotel business, but at the end of 
one year he sold out and returned to Europe 
for his bride. Miss Lucy Keeper, whom he 
married on the 6th of March, 1855. Their 
bridal tour was across the ocean to this coun- 
try, the voyage occupying twenty-two days 
from the 9th of April. They came in the 
French vessel, the Delta, were delayed by 
storms and were compelled to put up at the 
Azores Islands for forty-eight hours tor re- 
pairs. Upon their arrival in this country 
the}' came straight to La Crosse, which city 
they reached on the 4th of May. After 
farming for five j'ears Mr. Schintjen operated 
a mill for one year, and since that time has re- 
sided in La Crosse. He has followed the va- 
rious occupations of a grocer, miller and ice 
dealer for the past thirty years, and has been 
deservedly successful. lie possesses the char- 
acteristics of the German people — is indus- 
trious, thrifty and honest, and has proven 
himself a good financier. He has served in 
the capacity of City Alderman for five years 
and has discharged his duties in a manner 
highly satisfactory to all concerned, as is evi- 
denced by his continuous reelection. His 
home has been bleased in the birth of six chil- 
dren: Mary; Susan, wife of L. Reimers, Lucy 
being the only child of this couple; Sophia, 
who died at the age of eleven years; Loona, 



who died when eight years of age; Philli- 
pujna and Bertha. Mr. Schintjen and his 
family are members of the Catholic Church, 
and in politics he is a Democrat. By his 
straightforward business methods he has won 
the esteem of the public in general and is 
a substantial factor among the Inisiness men 
of La Crosse. He has laid aside his busi- 
ness cares and is now living a retired life 
in his pleasant home on South Third street, 
enjoying the competence earned in his active 
business career. 



-^^^yinyb- 



-ojmn^, 



HEO. MANNSTEDT.— Tiie nndertak- 
ingbusiness is of the utmost importance 
to society, and every consideration sug- 
gests that its representatives shall be reliable, 
sympathetic and experienced. An old estab- 
lished and popular house is that of Theo. 
Mannstedt, which was founded in 1881. The 
store is well equipped and fully stocked with 
coffins, caskets, trimming, shrouds and other 
burial goods of the handsomest kind, and he 
is so situated as to furnish everything neces- 
sary for the j)lainest or most imposing fu- 
nerals. He is prompt in meeting his engage- 
ments, performs his duties with accuracy 
and propriety, and can always be relied upon 
in all mattei-s relating to the last rites of 
burial. His establishment is the most ex- 
tensive and oldest in La Crosse, and as an 
honorable business man he has secured a large 
patronage by honestly deserving it. He was 
born in Germany, May 5, 1850, to Philip 
and Emily (Keicher) Mannstedt, and in 1870 
came with them to America, first settling 
in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1878 Theo. Mann- 
stedt came to La Crosse and succeeded in 
obtaining a position with the La Crosse 
Carriage Company, with which he remained 
for three years, at the end of which time he 



BIOaRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



141 



became the proprietor of his present estab- 
lishment. The building is two stories in 
height, 50x20 feet, and he and his family 
live on the second floor. He learned the art 
of carriage-trimming in his native land, and 
at the age of nineteen years was so expert 
at his trade that he was made foreman of 
forty-three men in the employ of Fred Stein- 
metz, who did work for the Emperor and 
Princes of Germany. Mr. Mannstedt was 
married in 1879 to Miss Elizabeth Joseph, of 
Dubuque, one of four surviving members of 
a family of six children born to John B. and 
Mary Joseph, who came from Germany and 
have been honored and respected residents of 
Dubnque for the past forty years. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Mannstedt three children have been 
born: Gustavo, who died at the age of three 
years and one month in 188B; Lizzie, who 
died in 1888 when four years and six 
months old, and Arthur, a bright and promis- 
ing boy of six years. Mr. and Mrs. Mann- 
stedt are members in good standing of the 
Episcopal Church of La Crosse, and in his 
political views he is a Democrat. He has 
been a member of the Third AVard Aid So- 
ciety, and is the present competent Comp- 
troller of the Second District. He has made 
his own way in life, and his iuccess is in a 
greater measure due to tact and natural kind- 
ness of heart than to luck. His father is 
still residing in Dubuque, Iowa, and the 10th 
of November, 1891, reached the advanced 
age of seventy-nine years. His wife died of 
paralysis in 1881, at the age of fifty-eight 
years. Of thirteen children born to them six 
are living, of whom the subject of this 
sketch 18 the second. 



feJlLLIAMH. LEWIS, master inechan- 
uMp ic on the Chicago, Burlington and 
Northern Railroad, is a native of the 
11 



Empire State, born in Onondaga county, Octo- 
ber 18, 1845, and is of Welsh and English 
descent, his p.ii-ents, George and Mary 
(French) Lewis, being natives of those coun- 
tries respectively. They were married at 
Barnstable, Devonshire, England, and crossed 
the ocean to the United States in the early 
part of this century. The father was a rail- 
road man, was one of the old conductors on 
the New York Central for many years, was 
also in the service of the Delaware and 
Western, but subsequently returned to the 
New York Central and remained in their em- 
ploy until he retired. He and wife are both 
deceased, the former dying in 1876, at the 
age of sixty nine, and the latter in 1865, at 
the age of fifty-four. Their family consisted 
of four sons and three daughters, William 
H. being the sixth in order of birth. The 
latter secured a good practical education in 
the p\iblic schools of New York, and is a 
natural mechanic, learning his trade with 
the New York Central. In response to Mr. 
Lincoln's call for 75,000 men, Mr. Lewis 
enlisted in April, 1861, and by general order 
of the War Department was discharged, 
October 24 of the same year, he being less 
than sixteen years of age. He stood the ser- 
vice remarkably well, and during that time 
his growth was marvelous. When he en- 
listed he measured five feet, five and a half 
inches, and when he was discharged his 
height was five feet, eleven and a half inches. 
From 1862 until 1864 he was in the employ 
of the United States Government and worked 
in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In the latter 
year he came West and entered the service 
of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Kail- 
road as machinist and located at Quincy, Illi- 
nois. A year later he engaged with the 
Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, as loco- 
motive engineer, remaining in their employ 
until 1873, \?hen he received the appoint- 



142 



BIOQRAPJICAL BISTORT. 



mcnt of master mechanic of the Nortliern 
Pacific Raih-oad. lie filled that position, 
rendering satisfactory service, for over five 
years. 

In January, 1878, when he severed his con- 
nection with the Northern Pacific Kailroad, 
be applied to President Hayes for a Govern- 
ment position, as Chief of the Steamboat 
Inspection Service of the United States. His 
application was supported by the following 
endorsements, which speak for themselves. 
On the hack of a letter sent to General Sheri- 
dan, this high testimonial was written: 
Headquautees Milit.\ky Division, Missouri. 

Chicago, December 22, 1877. 
Respectfully returned: 

I have no hesitancy in endorsing on the 
within pajier my high appreciation of the 
ability of Mr. Lewis as a master mechanic, 
and my confidence in his skill and industry 
to meet and carry out any work whicii per- 
tains to his line of business that may be en- 
trusted to him. P. II. Sheridan, 

Lieutenant- General United States Army. 
From Alf. H. Terry: 

St. Paul, Minnksota, January 25, 1878. 
To all whom it may concern; 

I have known William II. Lewis, Esq., for 
some years past, as the head of the mechani- 
cal department of the Northern Pacific Rail- 
road, and I take great pleasure in commend- 
ing him as a gentleman of unusual skill in 
his profession, of high character and ability, 
and of personal qualities which command the 
respect and good will of all his acquaintances 
and associates. Full confidence may be given 
to any representations which Mr. Lewis may 
make. Alfred H. Terry, 

Brigadier-General United States Army. 
Washington, District of Columbia. 

February 21, 1878. 

Recommended: 

W. T. Sher.man, General. 

Among other prominent men who en- 
dorsed his application were William Wiiidom, 
General La Due, Commissioner of Agri- 



culture, and Alexander Ramsey, ex-Secretary 
of War. 

Mr. Lewis next entered the service of the 
Kansas Pacific, in charge of the second divi- 
sion west of Kansas City. He remained 
there four years, and in 1882 was ap- 
pointed master mechanic of the Oregon Short 
Line, with which he remained two years. He 
left them to accept the position of master 
mechanic of the Nickel Plate, the shops being 
located in Chicago. Five years later he re- 
ceived the appointment to his present posi- 
tion, November 1, 1888, and has filled this 
ever since. 

Mr. Lewis had but few of the advantages to 
which systematic schooling is conducive until 
late in youth. He is well informed and 
especially so in all matters that pertain to his 
line of work. He is master mechanic in all 
that the words imply. 

He was married July 10, 1870, to Miss 
Anna A., daughter of Wilbur Baldwin of 
Alinira, Missouri. Fourchildien have blessed 
this union: T. E. Jr., a locomotive fireman 
on the Chicago, Burlington and Northern 
Railroad; Eddie, who died when a year and a 
half old; Effie and Archie W. Mrs. Lewis 
was a member of the Episcopal Church, and 
her death occurred at Englewood, Illinois, 
January 14, 188(). Mr. Lewis is a member of 
the I. b. O. F. and the G. A. R. He has 
been very fortunate in his business, was never 
discharged, never hunted for work, and his 
positions came to him on account of his 
special fitness. He never worked for a cor- 
poration but that he left them on good terms, 
and with the assurance that he could return 
to his position if he so desired. He is con- 
nected with the American Association of 
Master Mechanics and Master Car Builders. 
He is first vice-president of the Western 
liailroad Club, of Chicago; also a member of 
the Northwestern Club of St. Paul, and has 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



143 



always taken an active intei-est in whatever 
pertains to the best interests of the several 
organizations of which he is a member. He 
has furnisiied several papers on mechanical 
suhjects and other topics of interest. He is 
a committee member in the association of 
master mechanics. He is on two important 
questions in two different committees of the 
Car Builders' Association, viz.: "On steam 
heating, lighting and ventilation of passenger 
coaches,'" and on " compound locomotives." 
These are questions of vital importance, and 
are of notable intercbt to the railroad world, 
as it is a departure from former methods. 
Tiie traveling public are indebted to sucli pro- 
ductions for tlie safety and comfort that are 
enjoyed in the modern coaches as compared 
to those of former days. In personal ap- 
pearance, Mr. Lewis is of goodly size, strongly 
built and robust. He possesses a vigorous 
intellect, his perceptive faculties are ever on 
the alert, and being of a jovial, pleasant dis- 
position he is admired and respected by all. 

lEORGE STANGL, furniture dealer and 
manufacturer of upholstered goods at 
123 North Third street, La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, is an Austrian by birth, in which 
country he first saw the light of day on No- 
vember 20, 1854. His parents, Frank and 
Barbara (Stadick) Stangl, have been residents 
of La Crosse since 1872, and are residing at 
1019 State street. The father is a cooper 
by trade and still follows this calling. George 
Stangl became a resident of this city in 1871, 
and was at first employed in the furniture 
store of Gantert & Schwartz as a journeyman 
at painting and finishing. After following 
this calling for about fourteen years, he 
started in business for himself, but in a very 
modest vvaj, as his capital was small; but his 



previous experience now stood him in good 
stead, and to his distinguished entei'prise, 
energy and skill is largely due the recog- 
nized preeminence of La Crosse in this line. 
He has one of the largest, if not the largest, 
and most comprehensive stock in the city, 
including full lines of parlor, library, dining- 
room, hall and bed-room furniture, which 
occupies three floors and the basement of his 
store, which is 96x24 feet. His push and 
energy is most praiseworthy, he is prominent 
and respected in the trade, and is well worthy 
the success achieved. In 1880 Miss Terrissa 
Becker, daughter of Frank Becker, of La 
Crosse, became his wife, and their union has 
reunited in the birth of the following children : 
George, Joseph, Gracy, John and Fraukie. 
Mr. Stangl is a credit to the community in 
which he has so long made his home, and in 
business relations is as highly re:ipected as 
he is widely known. 



fULIUSJ.HlRSHHEIMER,attorneyand 
counselor at law. La Crosse, was born in 
Lehrensteiusfeld, Kingdom of Wlirtem- 
burg, Germany, January 12, 1839, and is 
the eldest son of Leopold and Fannie (Herz) 
Hirshheimer. The family bade farewell to 
the » Fatherland " May 8, 1850, and landed 
in New York, July 3. They located at Blairs- 
ville, Pennsylvania, remaining there six 
years; in 185(5 thev came to La Crosse, where 
the father and mother died, the former 
February 9, 1879, and the latter November 6, 
1885. The paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject was a distinguished man in iiis tiuie, 
beinor chief rabbi of his district. He was a 
fine linguist and a profound Hebrew scholar. 
He made several journeys to Jerusalem acd 
ended his days in the service of his church. 
His widow came to America with her son 



144 



niOGHAPlIICAL HISTORY. 



Leopold, and died in this city in 1858. The 
sons of tlie family were Julius J., Albert, 
Augustus, Henry, Morris and Solomon; the 
daughters, JVlalinda, Theresa, Emma and 
Eosa. 

Julius J. attended the parochial schools of 
Germany, and an academy at Weinsbercr in 
wliich languages and higher branches were 
taught. Upon coming to America he en- 
tered the public schools of Pennsylvania for 
the purpose of acquiring a knowledge of the 
English language. When the father came to 
La Crosse he engaged in the lumber business. 
His mill was burned in the spring of 1860, 
when he embarked in the foundry business. 
His son Julius J. had charge of the books 
and a general superintendence of the lum- 
bering interests. After the burning of the 
mill he went to Brownsville, Minnesota, and 
operated a mill there for a time. Li the fall 
of 1860 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and 
thence to Napoleon, Arkansas, where he 
passed the fall and winter of 1860-'61. Li 
the spring of 1861 he went to JNew Orleans, 
where he made his home for seven years. 
After the capture of the city by General But- 
ler, Mr. Hirshheimer had charge of one of 
the draining machines of the city. Prior to 
the occupancy of the city by the Union troops, 
he was imprisoned for refusing to enter the 
Confederate army. He was several times 
court-martialed and imprisoned for too loud 
an e.xpression of Union sentiments. In 1863 
he enlisted in the Ninety-second United States 
Colored Infantry, and was made Quarter- 
master-Sergeant. He was mustered out of 
service December 31, 1865, at New Orleans. 
He participated in all the campaigns of the 
Army of the Gulf. On receiving his dis- 
charge he returned to his home in New Or- 
leans, and embarked in the mercantile trade. 

Mr. Hirshheimer was an active factor in 



State and local politics; was elected as a 
member of the Constitutional Convention to 
give the State a new constitution, made im- 
perative by the reconstruction legislation of 
Congress. It was during this session of the 
convention, which was held in the Mechanics' 
Institute on Barvone street, that the riot took 
place, when the mob attacked the convention, 
killing a number of the meml)ers of the con- 
vention, wounding Governor Hahn and Dr. 
Doslie, who died of his injuries. Mr. Hirsh- 
heimer was saved from death by the inter- 
vention of a policeman, who was a Unionist. 
The marked hostility manifested against all 
who had taken an active part in suppressing 
the rebellion, by the disloyal population of 
the city, operated against him, compelling 
him to dispose of his business at a sacrifice, 
selling out at the end of two years and com- 
ing to La Crosse; he stopped but a short 
time, however, and went on to Winona, 
Minnesota, where he remained from 1868 to 
1878 as clerk in a mercantile establishment. 
In 1878 he returned to La Crosse, and en- 
tered the law office of Judge Hugh Cameron, 
Wing (fe Prentiss, where he studied law for 
one year. In the spring of 1879 he began 
the practice of his profession, combining it 
with insurance and pension work. In addi- 
tion to his professional interests, he was en- 
gaged for a few years in selling hardwood 
logs. 

Mr. Hirshheimer was married October 10, 
1859, to Miss Camelia T. Kenworthy, in the 
city of St. Louis, Missouri. She is a daughter 
of J. S. and M. E. Kenworthy, and was born 
in Baltimore, Maryland, July 21, 1839, on 
the day of the arrival of her jiarcnts in 
America; they were natives of London, Eng- 
land. The maternal grandparents had already 
emigrated to tliis country, and were resi- 
dents of Richmond, Virginia. Mrs. Hirsh- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



145 




heiiner is a lady of good education and rare 
reitineiuent. Siie is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Charcli and an advocate of 
Christian Science. Mr. Hirsliheimer and his 
wife have no living children. Politically he 
affiliates with the Itepublican party and is 
deeply interested in its movements, although 
he is not an office-seeker. He has been a 
member of the La Crosse Board of Trade, 
and is thoroughly loyal to home interests. 

ROOSEVELT, who has been a 
resident of La Crosse since 1855, 
occupies a very prominent position 
in commercial circles, and is justly entitled 
to the space that has been accorded him in 
this history of La Crosse county. He was 
born in Oakland county, Michigan, Septem- 
ber 7, 1833, and is a son of Nelson and 
Sarah (Arraitage) Roosevelt, natives of New 
York State. His father died at the age of 
seventy-nine years, and the mother at the age 
of sixty-five. When lie was four years old 
his father removed with the family to De- 
troit, Michigan, and remained there until 
1840. Then they went to Sandusky, Ohio, 
where our subject learned the machinist's 
trade. January 17, 1855, he arrived in La 
Crosse, having determined to try his for- 
tunes on the frontier. He first chartered the 
steam ferryboat Honeoye, which he ran for 
a time, and then purchased a third interest 
in the Adila, of which he was engineer until 
the fall of 1857. This boat ran between Du- 
buque and St. Paul. After disposing of this 
interest he was employed for ten years as 
engineer and captain on the Mississippi 
river. From 1857 to 1868 he was engaged 
continuously as steamboat engineer. 

Desirous of establishing himself in busi- 
ness iu La Crosse, in 1868 the W. A. Roose- 



velt Company was formed, and incorporated 
in 1888, of which he is the president and 
treasurer. This firm deals in wrought-iron 
piping, brass and iron goods, plumbers' and 
Bteamfitters' supplies, wood, iron and chain 
pumps, and steam and hot water heating ap- 
paratus. They are also general agents for 
"Ideal" windmills, "Ideal Junior" sectional- 
wheel, vanelet^s windmills, and Floridasteain- 
heating boilers. Tliis is the only wholesale 
house in the city dealing in this line of 
goods. 

Mr. Roosevelt has been closely connected 
with the progressive movements of the place, 
and has done his share in developing the 
resources of the county. He has been an 
active worker in all moral and social reforms, 
and has ever given a generous support to 
educational enterprises. He has filled the 
office of Mayor of La Crosse one term, and 
was a member of the County Eoard for several 
terms. His official services were well ren- 
dered, and were a high testimonial to his 
ability and fidelity to duty. 

— «--^*inf»|+— 



^|RVIN GRAVES BOYNTON, lum- 
i. ber merchant. La Crosse, was born at 
Cortland, New York, September 8, 
1847, the son of Edwin and Cynthia (Graves) 
Boynton. Edwin Boynton was born in Coven- 
try, Connecticut, in 1819, of Connecticut 
ancestry, and was a farmer by occupation. 
The Boynton families of America are trace- 
able back to two brothers, John and William 
Boynton, who came over from England in 
early Colonial times. The first exodus from 
Connecticut known was that of Justus Boyn- 
ton, gra)idfather of the subject of this sketch, 
who settled in Cortland, New York, in 1812. 
He was a farmer and artisan. 

Mr. Boynton, whose name introduces this 



14G 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



sketch, completed liis scliooling at the New 
York Central College at McGrawville, New 
York, where he graduated in his sixteenth 
year. In 18t)6 his parents removed to Jeffer- 
son county, AVisconsin. where be was a clerk 
for a lumber firm for about three yeai's. In 
1869 he went to Chicago and continued in 
the same line of business, becoming a part- 
ner the next year; but the great fire of Octo- 
ber, 1871, swept away all his possessions. 
For the next four or five years he was en- 
gaged in various pursuits, and was making 
a good start toward the reparation of his lost 
fortune when the panic of 1873 disastrously 
supervened. In 1880 he went to Egan, Da- 
kota, as a lumber agent for John Paul, of La 
Crosse, and during the two years of his resi- 
dence there he was elected the first ]\[ayor of 
that town. In 1882 he came to La Crosse, 
and until 1885 was superintendent of the 
branch yard department of Mr. Paul. The 
next two years he was a retail lumber mer- 
chant at Spring Valley, Minnesota, and since 
then he has been a wholesale lumber mer- 
chant in La Crosse. He is now Alderman for 
the Nineteenth Ward. 

Mr. Eoynton is a member of the orders 
of F. & A. M., I. O. O. F., and K. of P.; 
and both himself and wife are members of 
the Baptist Church, he being a deacon in the 
same. He was married in La Crosse, to Miss 
Nellie A. Parker, a native of Iowa and a 
daughter of James Parker, of Monona, Iowa. 
Her father was a native of the State of New 
York. 



flJANK BAILEY.— The boot and shoe 
trade has many able and worthy ex- 
ponents in the city of La Crosse, but 
none that enjoys a wider or better deserved 
popularity than the boot and shoe emporium 



belonging to Frank Bailey, at 220 Main 
1 street, and the citizens of the place refer to 
it with justifiable pride as an evidence of 
j what the possibilities of the trade are, when 
I distinguished enterprise is allied to business 
capacity of the highest order, and unre- 
! mitting energy and industry. Mr. Bailey 
j was born in Wimiesheik county, Iowa, April 
25, 18(51, his parents, Andrew and Mary 
(Butler) Bailey, being natives of Connecticut 
and New York respectively. The father was 
for many years a dyer in Elgin, Illinois, and 
although now retired from the active duties 
of life, he was for thirty-five years a tiller of 
the soil and was well known as a law-abiding 
and useful citizen. He has now reached the 
advanced age of eighty years, and throughout 
his long career has never had a serious spell 
of sickness. His wife died in March, 1865, 
when forty-five years of age, her life having 
been characterized by a conscientious dis- 
charge of duty and a desire to follow the 
teachings of the golden rule. Of a family 
of seven children l)orn to them, the subject 
of this sketch is the youngest, and one of the 
six surviving members. His early knowledge 
of books was acquired in the public schools 
of Iowa, and his literary education was fin- 
ished in a business college of Dekorali. At 
the age of sixteen years he began learning 
the trade of a blacksmith, which calling he 
energetically pui'sued nntil 1880, when he 
began clerking for his brother, M. H. Bailey, 
in a general mercantile store in Hokah, Min- 
nesota, in whose employ he remained for four 
years. At the end of this time he came to 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, and entered the em- 
ploy of Quinn, Batchelder & Co., shoe mer- 
ciiants, but at the eiid of one and one-half 
years, or in 1886, he opened an establishment 
of his own, aiid at once reached the foremost 
place "in the confidence and patronage of a 
discriminatinsr public. He carries a stock of 



BIOGRAPHIC AL HISTORY. 



147 



goods valued at over $0,000, which is one of 
the most comprehensive and carefully selected 
in the city. Mr. Bailey is known to handle 
only the productions of the most reputable 
and responsible makers, such as he can recom- 
mend and guarantee to his customers for 
superiority of material, workmanship, style 
and durability. On the 24th of September, 
1884, Miss Anna Boehm, daughter of Xever 
Boehm, of Ilokah, Minnesota, became his 
wife, and to tiieir union one child has been 
born: Eugene A., a bright and promising 
little son. Mr. Bailey is a member of the 
Baptist Church, and socially is a member of 
the Modern Woodmen. He is an indus- 
trious, pushing business man, has made his 
own start in the world, and deserves much 
credit for the success of his efforts. Mrs. 
Bailey's parents are now quite advanced in 
years, and are well known and highly re- 
spected residents of Houston county, Minne- 
sota. To them a family of three sons and 
live daughters were born, all of whom are 
living, respected, law-abiding citizens, and 
are doing well. 

-^-^^^^^^^^^^^ 

fALVlN W. DEMMON of La Crosse, 
was born in the village of Tuscarora, 
Livingston county, New York, Novem- 
ber 26, 1835. He is of New England par- 
entage, his father, Calvin Demmon, having 
been a native of Vermont, and his mother, 
whose maiden name was Nancy Swett, a 
native of New Hampshire. Their earliest 
married life was passed in Cayuga county, New 
York, they removing to Livingston county 
about 1830. Calvin Demmon followed the 
occupation of wool-carding and cloth-dressing 
many years. His death occurred near Nunda, 
New York, in March, 1875, his wife passing 
away at the same place, August 17, 1868. 



They were the parents of six children, the 
eldest and third of whom, Charlotte and 
Warren, died in childhood. B. F., the eldest 
of the family who grew to mature years, was 
a soldier in the war of the rel)e]lion, serving 
three years as a member of the One Hun- 
dred and Thirty-sixth Regiment, New York 
Volunteer Infantry, which served with the 
Eleventh Corps in the Army of the Potomac, 
and later with the Twentieth Corps, partici- 
pating in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign and 
"March to the Sea." He died at Nunda, 
New York, in December 1886, at the age of 
about lifty-nine years. The subject of this 
sketch and Mrs. Eliza A. Ashton, of New 
Hartford, Iowa, are the only surviving mem- 
bers of the family. Calvin W. Demmon was 
educated in the school of his native village 
and at the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary at 
Lima, New York. He began teaching at the 
age of twenty, teaching and attending school 
alternately. 

He came West in March, 1806, and taught 
one term of school in Decatur, Illinois. In 
August, however, of the same year, he was 
elected principal of the Third Ward school in 
Dubuque, Iowa. This school enrolled a thou- 
sand pupils and employed fifteen teachers 
besides the principal. Here one half of his 
time was given to instructing classes, and 
the other half to superintending the school. 
He fully sustained the excellent reputation 
he had gained at Decatur, Illinois, as in- 
structor, disciplinarian and organizer. In 
August, 1867, he was appointed principal of 
the First Ward school of La Crosse, a position 
he held for seven years. This school, under 
his superintendence, was carefully and thor- 
oughly graded, and to him belongs the honor 
of preparing the first course of study for the 
public schools of La Crosse. He discharged 
the duties of principal with signal success 
and ability for seven years, winning a promi 



148 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



nent place araong the successful educators of 
the State in the ineantiim^. On severing his 
connection witli tlie .schools of La Crosse, lie 
left behind liini a universal rej^ret at a serious 
loss incurred, but an impression of his per- 
sonal force upon the work of the schools 
which, it is stated on good authority, is felt 
to this day. In 1874-, he engaged in the 
mercantile business at Spring Valley, Alin- 
nesota, with Mr. M. F. Varney, who was for 
a number of years the popular principal of 
the Third AVard school of La Crosse. After 
two years' experience in the mercantile busi- 
ness, Mr. Demmon removed to Iowa with 
his family and resumed teaching, temporarily 
in the high scliool at Cedar Falls. In 1879 
lie returned to La Crosse. 

He has for many years been engaged in 
county history work, much of the time as a 
representative of the Lewis Publishing Com- 
pany, of Chicago, the publisiiei's of this work. 

Mr. Demmon was married in La Crosse, in 
1870, to Miss Laura C. Wheeler, daugliter of 
Charles and Laura Wheeler. The former 
was born in Ohio, in 1802, and the latter in 
Massachusetts, in 1808. They resided many 
years of their married life in Lake county, 
Ohio, removing thence to Adams county, 
Wisconsin, and thence to Dunn county. The 
father died in La Crosse, at tlie home of his 
daughter, Mrs. Adelaide Dudley, May 31, 
1878, and tiie mother at the iiome of Mr. and 
Mrs. Demmon, May 23, 1886. There are 
live surviving members of the family of 
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. Solon S., the eldest, 
is a resident of Dunn county, Wisconsin. 
He enlisted early in the war of the rebellion 
as a member of the Fourth Wisconsin. lie 
was twenty-two months a prisoner of war, 
first confined at Belle Isle, Virginia, and 
soon after the erection of the stockade at 
Andersonville he was transferred to that 
place, where lie was confined until the close 



of the war. His confinement in that infa- 
mous prison pen included nearly the whole 
time of its e.xistence, exhibiting powers of 
endurance in that most loathsome of rebel 
pri.ions, almost without parallel; Adelaide A., 
widow of E. D. Dudley, resides in Pomona, 
California; Evelyn L, wife of T. S. A\ in- 
chell, in Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Dem- 
mon is next in order of birth, having been 
born June 20, 1849, in Lake county, Ohio; 
Ciiarles E., tlie youngest, resides in Day 
county. South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Dem- 
mon have liad five children: Byron Franklin, 
born May 27, 1S71, died at the age of four- 
teen months; Nannie Laura, born July 1, 
1872, attained to the age of eighteen years; 
graduated at the liigh school of La Crosse, in 
the class of 1890, a most lovely and accom- 
plished girl, and her death occurred October 
15, of the same year; Adda E., born August 
18, 1874; Callie W., November 7, 1877, and 
Marion Louise, September 2, 1891. 



APTAIN M. M. LOONEY, Captain of 
the Clyde on the Mississippi river, is 
one of the prominent residents of La 
Crosse, and although young in years he has 
made a fine reputation for business ability. 
He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, June 
6. 1854, and is tlie son of Captain A. H. and 
Elizabeth (Wright) Looney, the father a na- 
tive of Kandoiph county, Illinois, born in 
1830, and the mother of Washington county, 
New York. The paternal grandfather, John 
S. Looney, was a native of Tennessee and 
one of the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, 
coming here as early as 1836. He settled 
in what is now La Fayette county and 
resided there until 1852, when he came to 
La Crosse. Tlie following year lie moved to 
Minnesota, settling in the valley of Root 



BJOORAPHlCAL UISTOBT. 



149 



river, aud was the first white settler in what 
is still known as "Looney's Valley." His 
death occurred at Warren, Illinois, October 
15, 1891. Captain A. H. Looney came to 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, in April, 1851, and 
ten years later moved to Winona county, 
Minnesota. In the spring of 1859 he went 
to the Rocky mountains and was engaged in 
speculating and mining until 1861, wiien he 
returned to Minnesota, where he followed 
steam boating. In the fall of 1878 he located 
in La Crosse, but made no change in his 
business for some time. However he has 
done but little on the river for the past ten 
years and is now in the Unit.id States em- 
ploy under the jurisdiction of the general 
land office, having held that position most 
of the time for seven years. He was mar- 
ried in the fall of 1851 to Miss Wright, and 
to them were born five children, their eldest 
son, Frank, being among the first white 
children born in La Crosse. This son died 
with consumption in 1889, at the early age 
of thirty-seven. lie was widely and favor- 
ably known, and was as popular as he was 
widely known, lie was pilot and Captain 
on the river also. The remainder of the 
ciiildren were named in the order of their 
births as follows: Captain M. M.; Grant, 
who died in 1859, at the age of three years; 
Carrie B., who graduated from the high school 
of La Crosse in 1882, and since that 
time has been teaching in the primary de- 
partment of the public schools here; Lark, 
the youngest child, is the wife of Frank Toms 
and now resides in La Crosse. She is the 
mother of one child, Robert. Captain A. 
H. Looney is a man possessed of many admir- 
able qualities of mind and heart and his 
career has been upright and honorable. 
Captain M. M. Looney was reared and edu- 
cated in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and has 
followed the river all his life, the Mississippi 



and St. Croix. He has qnite an extensive 
experience and lias been a steamboat Captain 
for some time. 

He was married first in 1879, to Miss Minnie 
Moore, daughter of B. J. and Alvina Moore, 
of Minnesota. Three children were born 
to this union: Susie, Hollis and Wilbur. 
Mrs. Looney died in 1882, when but twenty- 
six years of age. She was a worthy member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Captain 
Looney's second marriage was in 1889, to 
Miss Ella Moore, sister of his former wife. 
They have one child, Jerry Thurman. Mrs. 
Looney is also a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. Captain Looney belongs 
to several orders. He takes but little interest 
in politics, but generally affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 



fj. KAVENAUGH, manager of the 
North American Postal Telegraph Com- 
® pany, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, is one 
of the later acquisitions to the business cir- 
cles. of the city, and although comparatively 
a new man he is fast working into the front 
line in his business, and ranks among the 
leading men of his calling in this portion of 
the State. He brings with him business ca- 
pacity and sagacity, which, coupled with an 
extensive experience in his calling, as well 
as in other lines of business, enables him to 
readily take an advanced position in any 
community. He was born in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, July 1, 1868, to Torrence and 
Elizabeth (Burns) Kavenaugh, both of whom 
were born in Ireland, the former being still 
engaged in contracting in Dane county, Wis- 
consin, although fifty-seven years of age. 
He has won an excellent reputation as a busi- 
ness man, and is an honored citizen of the 
section in which he resides. His wife, who 



150 



BlOGRAPniVAL HISTORY. 



is about the same age as liimself, is possessed 
of those womanly graces and virtues wliich 
make a pleasant home, and they are numbered 
among the pioneer residents of their adopted 
connty. Both are devout members of the 
Catiiolic Churcii, and reared their children in 
this faith. 

J. J. Kavenaugh is the third of their six 
children, and was educated in the public and 
private schools of Madison, Wisconsin. 
When thirteen years of age he took charge 
of the telegraph othce at at Portage, Wiscon- 
sin, as day operator, and after working six 
months was promoted to the dispatciier's 
office at Stevens' Point, Wisconsin. At the 
end of one year he was sent to St. Paul, 
Minnesota, and there worked as a day opera- 
tor for one year in charge of the Great North- 
ern Railroad. Following this he worked in 
Heron, Montana, one year as manager of the 
Northern Paciiic Telegraph Company, then 
accepted his old position in St. Paul, and in 
1886 came to La Crosse, wliere he has been 
ever since. He worked in tiie Western Union 
until 1887, when he accepted his present 
position, which he has filled in a very satis- 
factory manner. During all his changes in 
telegraphic work he has never been discharged, 
but on the contrary has the best of testimoni- 
als as to his efficiency. He has always been 
strictly temperate, and neither smokes, chews 
nor drinks. He is very methodical in his 
habits, and his course of life from year to 
year does not deviate from the established 
rules adopted years ago. He is of a social 
disposition, and his many sterling character- 
istics make him an acquisition to the business 
and social cii-cles of La Crosse. He was the 
youngest operator in the United States when 
at Portage, Wisconsin, and before he was 
fourteen years of age he received §50 per 
month for his services. 

He was married in La Crosse, October 24, 



1888, to Miss Sarah Masterson, daugh'.er of 
John and Sarah Masterson, of La Crosse, the 
former of (vhom died in 1869 when abont lifty 
years of age. The widow is still living, an 
honored resident of La Crosse. They were the 
oldest residents of Vernon county from Ohio, 
in which State Mr. Masterson was a successful 
and wealthy farmer. Li the early history of 
this State he carried the mail on horseback 
from Rising Sun to La Crosse for three years. 
He was an intimate friend of ex-Governor 
Rusk, and was familiarly known as "T^ncie 
John " by the many who knew and loved him. 
His wife, whose maiden name was Lyons, was 
twice married, her first husband being Michael 
Morrison. He was frozen to death within 
one-half mile of his home, with others, in 
the winter of 1865. He was the father of 
the following children: Mary, now Mrs. Hugh 
Donahoe; Anna, wife of P. K. Mann; Mar- 
garet, who died at the age of sixteen years. 
To Mr. Masterson and his wife three daugh- 
ters were born: Ella, a milliner of La Crosse; 
Dora, wife of J. P. Rogers, of Glasgow, Mon- 
tana, and Mrs. Kavenaugh, who is the young- 
est of the family. One child has blessed the 
union of Mr. and Mrs. Kavenaugh: Helen, 
who is a bright little girl now three years of 
age. His residence is a pleasant and attractive 
one, an air of refinement and taste pervades 
all its surroundings; and the generous and 
true-hearted hospitality displayed there is the 
delight of the many friends who gather be- 
neath its roof. 



^\ 



^ 




ILLTAM R. SILL, of La Crosse, is a 
native of Windsor, Connecticut, born 
in 1822. He is of English descent, of 
the seventh generation in this country, dat- 
ing back to 1638. Mr. Sill spent the early 
days of his business life in the practice of 



BIOOEAPUIOAL HISTORY. 



151 



civil encrineerinor on railroads, and came to 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1853 to take charge 
of the construction of the La Crosse & Mil- 
waukee Railroad, and retained connection 
with that road under its various titles (with 
the exception of two years) until 1866. 

He came to La Crosse in 1856, and with 
others platted the village of North La Crosse, 
he owning one-fourth of same and acting as 
asrent for the other owners. He also became 
interested in the lumber business in 1856, 
and aided in building one of the four sawmills 
constructed during that year in North La 
Crosse, and operated the same up to 1880. 
He was one of the company (and manager) 
to build the wagon road between La Crosse 
and North La Crosse, which road was made 
passable early in 1857, and was afterwards 
turned over to the city, and is to-day probably 
the greatest thoroughfare in Western Wis- 
consin. 

In May, 1858, he was married to Mary Gr. 
Edgar, of St. Louis, Missouri, started house- 
keeping on the corner of State and Tenth 
streets, La Crosse, and has occupied the same 
premises as resident to this date. 



i4»-»t 



'-^ 



^UNCAN D. McMillan, banker. La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. — Mr. McMillan, who 
has been identified with the best inter- 
ests of La Crosse for many years, and who is 
president of the State Bank of this city, was 
born in Stormont county, Ontario, Canada, 
June 20, 1837, and is of Scotch descent, 
his parents, D. B. and Mary (McMillan) 
McMillan, both being natives of Scotland. 
(See sketch of Alexander McMillan.) Duncan 
McMillan received a thorough education in 
the public schools of Canada, and first started 
out for himself by engaging in the lumber 
business in his native country. He came to 



La Crosse, Wisconsin, November 13, 1856, 
and was with his brothers, John and Alex- 
ander, in the lumber trade for some time. 
He subsequently studied law with his brother, 
E. H. McMillan, was admitted to the bar but 
never practiced that profession, as other pur- 
suits engaged his attention. In August, 
1868, he was in the ordnance department 
with Captain J. H. I'urdick for several months 
after the fall of Vicksburg, and later he was 
in tiie Quartermaster's department for a year 
with Captain A. R. Eddy, who was after- 
wards promoted to the rank of Colonel. 
Mr. McMillan engaged permanently in the 
lumber business in 1864, and has followed 
that until the present time. He and his 
brother owned the gas works in La Crosse, but 
the former sold out in 1882. The following 
year he was elected president of the State 
Bank of La Crosse, which position he has 
held ever since. He was elected president 
of the Black River Improvement Company, 
and has been a director in the same for 
eighteen years. He was Alderman of the city 
in 1878-'79, also a member of the Board 
of Supervisors, served seven years in the 
City Council, and served on the Board of 
Education for two terms. He was also one of 
the members of the Bridge Committee that 
built the bridge across the Mississippi river. 
It will thus be seen that Mr. McMillan is 
a man possessed of extraordinary executive 
ability, good judgment and dignity, and to 
these qualities the able and efiicient discharge 
of his official duties may be attributed. His 
official relations have proven his sympathy 
for the city's best interests, and his fellow- 
townsmen have expressed their appreciation 
of his services by several re-elections to the 
same office. Mr. McMillan was married in 
1866 to Miss Mary J. McCrea, daughter of 
Stephen McCrea, of Canada. They have six 
children now living, namely: Mary I., wife 



152 



BIOQRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



of Dr. Rowles, a prominent pliysician of La 
Crosse; John II., at Fort Wortli, Texas, 
engaged in the grain trade; he was for three 
years messenger in the State Bank, after 
which he spent two years in the grain busi 
ness at Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the firm 
of Osborn AMcMiUan. William D. is with 
his brother John ; he was a student at Lake 
Forest College for two years. Dan is also at 
Fort Worth, and Jennie and Bessie are pupils 
of the La Crosse public schools. Mr. Mc- 
Millan and wife are worthy members of the 
[-"resbyterian Church, of which the former is 
trustee; are leading and popular members 
of society, and possess social qualities of a 
high order, lie is a member of the Knights 
of Honor and Royal Arcanum. He was for- 
merly a Republican in his political views, but 
since 1872 has acted with the Democratic 
party. Mr. McMillan deservedly enjoys an 
enviable reputation in his official and busi- 
ness relations, and a generous appreciation as 
a good citizen. 

— -^ ^sxr - ^ — 

OTT, Sk., is the proprietor of the West 
Wisconsin Iron Works, located at La 
® rosso, and has associated with him in 
business his three sons: B., Jr., who is vice- 
president; Fred. A., who is treasurer and book- 
keeper, and John, who is general superintend- 
ent. This is one of the most noteworthy and 
representative houses engaged in the iron 
foundry business in the city, and the founda- 
tion of this enterprise dates from 1879, when 
it was established by Mr. Ott. The shop is 
equipped with the best anil latest improve- 
ments in machinery and tools for the success- 
ful prosecution of this important business, 
and steady employment is given to eleven 
skilled mechanics. In 1867 Mr. Ott and 
Joseph Barter invented the twine binder — the 



first ever invented in the country — a part of 
which is used at the present time. They 
sold the patent to McCormick and the Deer- 
ing Manufacturing Company, but it has 
now run out and the machines are in general 
use. The members of this firm are machinists, 
mill furnishers, engine builders and are the 
agents for pumj)S, engines, governors, etc. 
Mr. Ott invented the bark-shaving mill, a 
machine for cutting the bark for tanuers, 
and this they patented in 1885, taking out 
three patents. B. Ott, Sr., was born in 
Bavaria, June 3, 1836, and came with his 
parents, John and Magdalena (Wiesman) 
Ott, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1841, where 
the father followed the calling of a stone- 
cutter. The father died December 17, 1873, 
when sixty- seven years old, the mother's 
death occurring December 13, 1878, at the 
age of seventy throe. Both were members 
of the Catholic Church. B. Ott was the second 
of their nine children, three of whom are now 
living, and began life for himself by peddling 
matches in Buffalo, New York, and later in 
Milwaukee. His next busin?s8 was in strip- 
ping and packing tobacco, and tiiis he fol- 
lowed until he obtained a position at mixing 
clay with his feet in a tile factory, in which 
occupation many other boys were engaged. 
Following this he was engaged in putting up 
stoves for a stove factory of Milwaukee, after 
which he was put to grinding and polishing 
flat irons with the firm of Decker & Saville 
(now E. F. Ellis) and later became an ap- 
prentice in a machine shop with Turken & 
Circums. In the fall of 1854, he went to 
Dubuque, lovva, wher^ he worked at his trade 
in the foundry and machine shop of Ruggles 
Walter until 1856, when he came to La Crosse. 
He first secured employment with Thomas & 
Stantield,on tlireshing-machines, after which 
he served in the same capacity with George 
M. Leech in the Pioneer foundry, and after 



BIOGRAPEICAL HISTORY. 



153 



Mr. Leech sold out to C. C. and E. iy. 
Smitii he remained with these gentlemen until 
they sold to Thornely & James, when he 
established his present business. He has been 
Chief of the Fire Department of La Crosse 
one season, and has served as city Alderman 
one term. He has been and is now a director 
of one of the building and loan associations 
of the city, — the La Crosse Building and 
Loan Association, — and has otherwise inter- 
ested himself in the affairs of the city. 

February 14, 1857, Theresa Ulrich of Mil- 
waukee became his wife, and is the mother 
of his nine children: Benedict, married to 
Lina Bichter, by whom he has one child; 
(■rusta, Jolin, George, who married Lizzie 
Tultns; Teresa, wife of Arnold Roemer; 
Willie, a bookkeeper for Segelke & Kaul- 
house, and married to Lena Blumstrib; Fred, 
a bookkeeper in liis father's factory; Ida, 
Gustave and Matilda. Mr. Ott is a member 
ot the A. F. & A. M., the T. O. O. F., and in 
his political views is independent. He is a 
skillful and excellent workman, and is held 
in high esteem for his sterlinj^ worth and many 
admirable quilities. 



ifSON. ADELBERT E. BLEEKMAN, of 
the law Arm of Bleekman & Blooming- 
dale. La Crosse, was born in Salisbury, 
Herkimer county, New York, March 26, 
1846. On the paternal side he is of Holland 
ancestry, and on the maternal side he is of 
German extraction. His great-grandfather, 
Daniel Bleekman, a Hollander, Jccated near 
Stratford, Connecticut, prior to tlie Revolu- 
tionary war, and belonged to a cointnunityof 
colonists. He was one of a party who erected 
a liberty pole, and protected it from the 
British ax by foi-ging nails and driving 
them into tlic pole. 



He was a soldier all through the Revolu- 
tionary war, and was with Ethan Allen when 
he demanded the surrender of Ticonderoga 
"in the name of the great Jehovah and the 
Continental Congress." Eljcuezer Bleekman, 
a son of Daniel, and grandfather of our sub- 
ject, served in the war of 1812, and partici- 
pated in the historic battle of Sackett's 
Harbor. 

Warren Bleekman, the father of Adelbert 
E., was born at Stratford, Fulton county, 
New York, December 14, 1816, and died at 
La Fayette, Ohio, September 2, 1865. His 
wife, Amanda Jacobs, was born in Salisbury, 
New York, February 26, 1826, and died at 
the same place as her husband, March 7, 
1857. Three children were born to them: 
Adelbert E., Herbert E. and Ernest L. After 
the death of Mrs. Bleekman, Mr. B. married 
again, and had one child, Mary A. 

In 1850 the family removed to Ohio, 
where our subject attended schools of va- 
rious grades until his enlistment in the army, 
which occurred February 24, 1864, being 
assigned to Company A, Second Ohio Cav- 
alry. The company was organized at Akron. 
From the time of his enlistment until he re- 
ceived a disabling injury, he participated in 
all of the engagements of his regiment; took 
part in the Wilderness campaign, being with 
the Ninth Army Corps on the right during 
the terrible fighting of May 5, 1864. He 
was in the engagement of Spottsylvania, Han- 
over Courthouse, Ashland Station and Mal- 
vern Hill; he was with the Wilson raiding 
party, which destroyed the Danville and Wel- 
don Railroad. He received a severe injury 
to his leg, and was sent to the City Point 
Hospital, and thence to Washington, where 
he obtained a furlough, remaining at home 
forty-five days during the presidential cam- 
paign of 1864. He was mustered out of 
service June 30, 1865. Returning home he 



154 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



again entered school; he was a student ar the 
academy at Little Falls, New York, and after- 
ward at Albert College, Belleville, Ontario. 
In March, 18^9, he located at Toinah, Wis- 
consin, and taught school two years, mean- 
while devoting his leisure hours to the study 
of law. In September, 1870, he was admitted 
to practice, and in July of tiie following year 
lie opened an office for the practice of his 
profession in Tomah. He was elected to the 
Assembly of Wisconsin in the fall of 1872, 
and in the following year he was chosen to 
represent his party in the State Senate. At 
tiie close of the senatorial term he removed 
to Sparta, where he continued in the prac- 
tice of his profession until 1886, the date of 
his removal to La Crosse. In 1876 he was 
elected District Attorney of Monroe county, 
in whicii position he served one term. Since 
h)c:iting in La Crosse Mr. Bieekman has 
devoted himself assiduously to his profes- 
sional work, and has declined any honors not 
connected with his legal interests. A close 
student, witii ample facilities for self-improve- 
ment, a tine professional library, a highly 
developed literary taste, and a fluent speaker, 
it is not strange that he soon received recog- 
iiition as a trial lawyer among the most able 
aTul successful attorneys in the city. He is 
closely devoted to his profession, and makes 
that paramount to all otiier considerations. 
A large and increasing practice is the legiti- 
mate outgrowth of close attention to busi- 
ness in all its details. 

Mr. Bieekman has been twice married. 
His tirst wife, Eliza, daughter of Timothy 
and Tirzah Farnham, of Belleville, Ontario, 
died in April. 1875, leaving one child, Will- 
iam E. August 24, 1876, Mr. B. was mar- 
ried to Alice, daughter of Harvey and Maria 
(Whitoii) Basil, of Tomah. Wisconsin. Three 
children have blessed this union: Katie (de- 
ceased), Adelbert E. and Ruth. Mr. B. is a 



Republican in politics, and socially is a mem- 
ber of the G. A. K, I. O. O. F. &. A. F. & 
A. M. 



-«-T-^c/2/2/- 



~^uwy^^^ 



E. IIOIIXE is a member of the firm of 
Miller & Home, whose fine wholesale 
' and retail crockery establishment is 
located at 322 Pearl street. La Crosse, Wis- 
consin. This flourishing concern was founded 
in December, 1890, and they have secured 
for their stock in trade the enviable reputa- 
tion of being the best and most comprehen- 
sive in its line of all in the city. Their 
commercial career has been one highly credit- 
able in every respect, and they have already 
gained the confidence of leading mercantile 
and financial circles, and are merchants of 
the highest standing and soundest judgment, 
whose success has been developed upon the 
sure basis of efficiency and integrity. The 
business now is 300 per cent, greater than it 
was in the same building before the present 
partnership was formed, and bnt few of the 
people of La Crosse know the vast amount of 
goods h.'ndled by this firm. In addition to 
their store they have several large storage 
rooms, with a capacity equal to five times that 
of their retail store, and their freight bills 
are perhaps the largest of all in the mercantile 
line in the city. Mr. Home was born in 
Iowa, March 13, 1863, to H. B. and J. K. 
(Baird) Home, the former of whom was born 
in Northumberland, England, and the latter 
in Canada. The father's trade was cabinet- 
making, but for the jiast twentj' years he has 
been a market gardener. Both parents are 
still living and reared a family of seven chil- 
dren, five cf whom are living, the subject of 
this sketch being the eldest of the family. 
He obtained his education in the public 
schools, and after working in a fruit and 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



155 



fancy grocery house at McGregor, Iowa, for 
some time, he began traveling for the firm, 
continuing in their employ for four years, 
following which he was with a La Crosse 
wholesale grocery house for six years. He 
was a shrewd, yet perfectly honorable sales- 
man, and his services were highly valued by 
his employers. In 1888 Miss Ellen Eowen, 
of Marysville, California, became his wife, and 
their union has been blessed in the birth of 
a bright little daughter of two summers, 
Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Home are members of 
the Pi-esbyterian Church, and in politics he 
afhliates with the Republican party. Mr. 
Home and Mr. Miller have paved their own 
way to success, and are reaping the reward 
of industi-y and integrity. 



-'^ux/yi,-- 



-^innn^^ 



^AVID LAW, who is now retired from 
active business, was formerly connected 
with some of the leading enterprises of 
La Crosse, and is fully entitled to the follow- 
ing space in the history of La Crosse county. 
He WHS born September 17, 1833, at James- 
town, Chautauqua county, New Y'ork, and is 
a son of Hiram and Johanna (Arnold) Law. 
The mother was a daughter of David Arnold, 
who was one of the first white settlers of 
Chautauqua county, New York. Our suliject 
lived at Jamestown until he was twenty-two 
years uf age, receiving a common-school edu- 
cation. In the spring of 1855 he came AVest 
and located at La Crosse. His first business 
venture was in cutting and storing ice and 
furnishing supplies to steamboats. He car- 
ried on this enterprise four or five years, 
and then purchased the omnibus line of Mr. 
Blossom. Later he bought an interest in the 
livery business from Thomas Davis, and af- 
terwards added the tran;^fer line of Mi-. Met- 
calf, continuing the management of the three 



branches until 1861, when he disposed of 
the entire business. 

Upon the breaking out of the civil war he 
enlisted in the service, and had been on 
duty two years when his health failed him, 
and he was obliged to return to his home. 
In 1865 he bought his old transfer line, and 
built up an enormous business. In 187-1 he 
engaged in the lumber business, forming for 
this purpose the firm of Hackett, Law & 
Mosher. Mr. Hackett retiring in 1879, the 
firm became Law & Mosher, and this 
relationship existed until 1886. 

Mr. Law was united in marriacre, Decem- 
ber 25, 1864, to Miss Emma Smith, a daugh- 
ter of Samuel Smith. To them have been 
born five children: Lillie M., Charles, Archie, 
Josie and Sydney. 

Politically Mr. Law is identified with the 
Democratic party. He has served as Mar- 
shal of La Crosse for tliree years, as Alderman 
nine years, and as Mayor three years. He 
has filled these various positions with much 
credit to himself, and has made a most effi- 
cient otficer. He has always taken a deep 
interest in his party, and has been a promi- 
nent member of its councils. He is now 
retired from active business pursuits, as be- 
fore stated, but the commerce of tJie county 
for many years felt the strong impetus of 
his touch, and was greatly profited thereby. 



■-5M5- 



I^ENRY C. HEATH, the present Grand 
CM) Recorder in the Jurisdiction of Wiscon- 
~^M sin. Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
was born in the city of New York, May 31, 
1831. When a lad of eight years his par- 
ents removed to Plattsburg, New York, and 
there the father engaged in the business of 
marble-cutting. In his early youth our sub- 
ject was employed in those occupations which 



m> 



BIOORAPUICAL n I STORY. 



assured liiin a robust pliysical developineiit, 
a possession that lias been of tbo greatest 
value to liim. lie received an academic edu- 
cation, and at the age of eighteen years he 
went to learn the carriageinaker's trade. 
This he rapidly acquired, and in 1852 he 
embarked in the business on his own account; 
he operated a factory at Ran<lolph, New 
York, for three years, meeting with marked 
success. Desirous of seeing something of 
the West, he sold this business and came 
to La Crosse, Wisconsin. Here he estab- 
lished himself in the same trade, and in con- 
nection with the manufacture of carriages, 
did building and contracting in partnership 
with his brother, W. F. Heath. Their busi- 
ness increased to such an extent that they 
found it to their advantage to admit another 
partner, and in 1859 Mr. K. C. Tift joined 
them; the old firm of Heath & Tift will 
long be remembered by the pioneer citizens 
of La Crosse. At the end of two years Mr. 
Tift bought the entire business. 

Mr. Heath's next investment was in a pho- 
tograph gallery, which he bought of J. S. Pat- 
ten. This enterprise claimed his attention 
until 1867, when he sold out and embarked 
ill the wholesale and retail grocery business 
with O. H. Smith as a partner, the firm name 
being Heath & Smith. In 1870 he pur- 
chased Mr. Smith's interest in the concern, 
and conducted it alone until 1874, when he 
closed out and returned to the photographic 
art. He bought the gallery of J. A. Ray- 
mond, and by close attention soon became an 
expert operator. There is scarcely a collec- 
tion of photographs in La Crosse that does 
not contain a specimen of his work. 

In September, 1876, he became a member 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
and February 2, 1877, he was elected Grand 
Recorder. He brought to this ofHce the same 
business methods, good judgment and tact 



which he had always exercised in his private 
affairs. He has so completely won the 
confidence and good will uf tiie order that 
he has been elected to the office to succeed 
himself since 1877 to the jiresent time. His 
last election was at Milwaukee, in May, 1891. 
He has several times represented this juris- 
diction in the Supreme Lodge of the order, 
filling the position with great credit to him- 
self and to the advantage of the entire order. 
In 1885 the work of the office of tiie Grand 
Recorder had reached such proportions as to 
require the entire time of Mi'. Heath. He 
disposed of his private interests and has 
since been devoting his time exclusively to 
the business of the order. He has been a 
most efficient officer, courteous and oblitrino, 
and has won a wide circle of friends through- 
out the State. 



AVID AUSTIN, a member of the Saw- 
yer & Austin Lumber Company, is a 
^^ native of Scotland, but came with his 
parents to America i»1835, at the age of nine 
years. The family settled in Cattaraugus 
county, New York, where he received his 
education in the common schools. In the 
fall of 1848 he embarked in the lumber 
business on the Alleghany river, at Alleghany, 
New York, where he remained sixteen or 
eighteen years. He then closed up his busi- 
ness and removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where 
he conducted a lumber business for four years. 
The tide of emigrationwas sweeping strongly 
to the frontier, which was not then removed 
far from the baid<s of the Jklississippi river, 
and drifting with the current he came to La 
Crosse, where he formed a partnership with 
A. E. Sawyer, of Black River Falls, Wis- 
consin, under the firm name of Sawjer «fe 
Austin, for tiie jiurpose of carrying on a 



BIOGUAPHWAL HISTORY. 



157 



general logging and lumber business on Black 
river, with headquarters at La Crosse. In 
the spring of 1872 Mr. Austin removed to 
La Crosse, the firm continuing in business 
until the death of Mr. Sawyer. His widow 
and son, William E., still held an interest in 
the establishment until the business was 
incorporated xinder the name of the Sawder & 
Austin Lumber Company. They have their 
offices and sawmills located at La Crosse, and 
are doing a large business; their logs come 
from the Black and Chippewa rivers, where 
tliey own large tracts of land. 

Although Mr. Austin lacks but five years 
of the allotted three score and ten years, he 
is still actively engaged in commercial enter- 
prises, confining the most of his time to the 
lumber trade, which he has steadily followed 
since 1848. 

He has been twice married: his first union 
was in 1851, to Miss Lovina Crosby, of 
Franklinville, New York. She died October 
1, 1864, leaving two children, one of whom, 
Ora G., is still living; he is a member of 
the Sawyer & Austin Lumber Company. 
The second marriage was in 1866, to Miss 
Millie Baillet, of Ellicottville, New York, a 
daughter of Francis E. Baillet, who was 
County Clerk of Cattaraugus county, New 
York, for nine years, and Deputy Clerk for 
three years or more. 

During his long business career Mr. Aus- 
tin has been too closely occupied to give much 
attention to politics, but he served as Mayor 
of La Crosse in 1887 and 1888. He is at 
this time a member of the School Board of 
the city, and is deeply interested in the pros- 
perity of our educational system. He is a 
member of the Nineteenth Century Club, a 
literary association, and of the La Crosse Club 
a social organization of the business men of 
the city. Since coming to the county he has 
been a conspicuous figure in all those enter- 

12 



prises which advance the general welfare, and 
he has won a reputation for honorable and 
upright dealing which has characterized the 
operations of his corporation. 

EDER OLAITS EVENSEN, editor and 
^ publisher of Yarden, a weekly news- 
paper in the Norwegian language, issued 
at La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born near the 
historical town of Eidsvold, Norway, nearly 
forty-nine years ago, namely, on the 24th of 
November, 1843. His father was a farmer 
at this place, and here the son remained until 
his seventeenth year, assisting his parents in 
their work, and obtaining such education as 
the locality afforded. 

At the age of seventeen he left the old 
homestead, with his mind made up to learn 
more of the world. The transactions of 
mercantile business appeared especially at- 
tractive to him, and he succeeded in obtain- 
ing a situation with a large wholesale mill- 
ing establishment at Moss, Norway. Be- 
sides acquiring a practical education in ofiice 
work, he took advantage of the spare time 
allowed him to further improve his mind by 
attending a private school of higher instruc- 
tion. The house with which he was em- 
ployed advanced him later to the position of 
traveling salesman, in which employment he 
continued for five years, from 1863 to 1868. 
It was while engaged in this employment 
that he laid the foundation for those careful 
and sound business methods which have 
stood him in so good stead in later life. His 
next residence was in Fredrikstad, where he 
carried on a grocery business of his own until 
1874. When he abandoned this occupation 
it was to accept a situation on the railway 
system of Western Norway. Here he ad- 
vanced to the position of station agent, which 



158 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



is a very responsible office in the railway 
service of that country. 

Tlie opportunities for progress and finan- 
cial improvement were, however, small in his 
native land, and he determined to emigrate 
to America, this grand country where the 
mind as well as the purse have greater op- 
portunities for growth. In 1877 he landed 
on these shores, and was forced to take hold 
of whatever employment first came to liand, 
as tliousands have done both before and since. 
He began with the hotel business at La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1880, and carried it on 
successfully until ill health compelled him to 
give it up. He was of too active tempera- 
ment, however, to remain idle long, and soon 
began casting about for a different occupa- 
tion. Every cloud has its silver lining, they 
say, and so it was with Mr. Evensen's career 
at this time. In looking over the situation 
in search of a more congenial employment he 
thought of the newspaper publishing busi- 
ness. No time in the history of La Crosse 
could have been more opportune for the 
launching of such an enterprise, although it 
might appear upon first thought that to start 
a Norwegian paper in that place was to in- 
vite certain ruin and defeat. Two weekly 
newspapers in the Norwegian language had 
already filled "a long-felt want'' in LaCrosse, 
but had lieen forced to give up existence; 
Still there was room and opportunity for the 
right kind of paper, and Mr. Evensen cor- 
rectly interpreted the situation, as the result 
shows. It required a great courage, especially 
as the capital was limited, to undertake such 
an enterprise in the face of past experiences; 
but Mr. Evensen, nevertheless, issued the 
first number of Varden on the 18th of Sep- 
tember, 1888. The paper struck the popular 
chord and gave evidence, almost from the 
beginning, of future success. Careful and 
shrewd management has brought it from a 



small becinnins to be the foremost Nor- 
wegian newspaper in Wisconsin, and its 
present position and worth in the newspaper 
world are too well known to require further 
mention. 

Mr. Evensen is a stanch Republican, and 
Varden is a valuable organ in the service of 
that party. 



fOHJSI A. SALZER, deceased, late presi- 
dent of the John A. Salzer Seed Com- 
pany, was a native of Dettinger, Wiir- 
temburg, Germany, born December 8, 1823. 
He emigrated to America in 184(5, first set- 
tling at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later 
removing to Galena, Illinois. He entered 
the ministry of the German Methodist Church 
and was stationed at Des Moines, Iowa, and 
subsequently at Iowa City, Iowa; Manitowoc, 
West Bend and Baraboo, Wisconsin; Peru, 
Illinois, and La Crosse, Wisconsin, at each 
place remaining the full length of time per- 
mitted by tlie church rules. He was every- 
where successful as a pastor, not only in 
marked additions to the membership, but in 
each of the above points he either built and 
paid for either a parsonage or church. In 
La Crosse under his pastorate, from 1860 to 
1869, he purchased the present site of the 
First German Methodist Church, and re- 
moved the old church thereon, which has now 
given way to the new. 

In 1869, on account of ill health, he with- 
drew from the active ministry and devoted 
his full time to the greenhouse business, 
which to-day has assumed such mammoth 
proportions that it is looked upon by seeds- 
men as the largest mail order business of the 
kind in America. In 1866 he came to La 
Crosse and established the La Crosse Floral 
Gardens. From a small beginning the busi- 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



159 



ness has grown to mammoth proportions. 
He built several greenhouses and conducted 
a general plant trade. He owned and con- 
trolled several thousand acres devoted ex- 
clusively to the growth of seeds and plants, 
this land being located in Wisconsin, Min- 
nesota, Dakota and other States. 

Mr. Saizer's system of saving only the 
best seed and testing the same carefully be- 
fore placing upon the market, created a large 
demand for his northern-grown seeds. For 
years he made a specialty of farm seeds, and 
in this line he led all American dealers. He 
was known as introducing many choice, new 
varieties of potatoes, wheat, oats, barley and 
corn, and won a reputation which extended 
from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. 

In his annual catalogue he thus described 
his early love for flowers: "From early 
childhood I have been passionately fond of 
flowers. The summer days were always 
spent in my parents' garden. Great beds of 
phlox, pansies, verbenas, portiilaca, stock, 
sweet William, four-o'olocks, candytuft, bal- 
sam, etc., etc., were my daily delight. My 
boyhood was spent in the garden. My father 
being a nurseryman and gardener, my young 
manhood found me there; indeed, there is no 
place I feel so completely at home as when 
surrounded with plants and flowers." 

In 1886 Mr. Salzer founded the John A. 
Salzer Seed Company, of which he was presi- 
dent. This is one of the leading enterprises 
of La Crosse, and its founder was well worthy 
of the success that attended his under- 
takings. He died January 22, 1892. 

He was a liberal, unostentatious benefac- 
tor. Many a needy family, where his quiet 
though substantial assistance was known, will 
miss him. In Ills chuccli, that is under the 
German Methodists of America, he is known 
as benevolent Father Salzer, and his gifts to 
the orphan asylums, the widows, the ao-ed 



people, the needy preachers, the educational 
cause, and for mission work among the Ger- 
mans, though quietly given, run into thou- 
sands of dollars. 

From the effect of the death of Mrs. 
Salzer, which occurred the 27th of June, 
1886, Mr. Salzer never fully rallied. Theirs 
had always been an exceptionally happy mar- 
ried life, and his death is but the fulfillment 
of his fondest wish, to be reunited with her 
whom he so tenderly loved. 

He leaves in addition to his children, 
George, Henry A., John P., Ben. F.. Mrs. 
Anna Rau, Bertha and Emma, all grown up 
and living here, except Ben. F., who is in 
the lumber business in Denver, Colorado, one 
a^ed brother and sister, the former living in 
Freeport, Illinois, the latter in Centralia, 
Washington. 



-^■nyxfi/b- 



-'l/l/in^^ 



EV. WILLIAM DAVY THOMAS, Ph. 

^ D., was born in the Principality of 
Wales, January 5, 1845, and was reared 
to maturity in the city of Glasgow, Scot- 
land. His parents, Davy and Elizabeth (Da- 
vies) Thomas, were also natives of Wales, and 
the families were Celts for many generations 
back. The father and mother both died in 
1856, the former in May, and the latter in 
September, so that in early years he was de- 
prived of that tender parental care which 
means so much to childhood. At the age of 
thirteen years he was apprenticed to Messrs. 
Shoalbied, merchants of London, whom he 
served two years. A deposit of two hun- 
dred pounds sterling were required for this 
instruction. At the end of his apprentice- 
ship, he entered the Glasgow University, 
where he studied three years, although an 
accident prevented his finishing the course. 
He came to America for his health, and in 



160 



mOGRA PHI CM A iiisruii r. 



1S66 became a student at Princeton College, 
from wliicli institution lie was <;raduate<l in 
r870, with the degrees of A. B. and A. M., 
in 1873, taking a fellowt^hip in mental and ' 
moral philosophy, valued at §1,000. He 
studied one year after his gradnation, under 
Dr. McCosh, and then entered the Theologi- 
cal Department of Princeton. He was gradu- 
ated from Union Theological Seminary, in 
1873, and matriculated at tlie University 
of Leipsic, where he remained one year; 
he then went to Berlin, and in 1875 he re- 
ceived the deirree of Ph. D. He returned to 
America in 1876, and became pastor of West- 
minster Presbyterian Churcli, Leavenworth, 
Kansas. After eighteen mouths spent in 
this work ho was obliged to resign on account 
of ill health. He was afterward called to 
Winona, Minnesota, and l>ad been there three 
years and a half when he accepted a call to 
the First Presbyterian Church at La Crosse, 
coming to this city in December, 1880, and 
serving tiiis churcli eight and a half years; 
during this time the present iine editice was 
erected. In May, 1889, he accepted a call to 
the Board of Missions of the Wisconsin 
Synod, and has been a most zealous servant 
in this cause. In 1890 he delivered 150 
regular sermons, and lectured to 100 audi- 
ences, traveling GG,000 miles. He is super- 
intenileiit of the Board of Home Missions, 
Synod of Wisconsin, with permanent head- 
quarters at La Crosse. He is a gentleman 
of rare mental attainments, gifted with elo- 
quence and strong pereuasive powers. His 
leisure hours are spent with the companions 
of his lifetime, books, of which be has sev- 
eral thousaiul carefully selected volumes. 

Mr. Thomas is the only son of a family of 
live children: Sarah married J. W. Thoiiias, 
and Mary married Walter Samuel, both resid- 
ing in Cardiif, Wales; Margarelta married J. 
E. Davis, and Charlotte is the wife of W. E. 



Jones; these two reside in Liverpool. Mr. 
Thomas is the only representative of his 
family in America. His father was a builder 
and contractor, and pissed his life in Wales. 

Thirteen years of the life of our subject 
have been spent in college. His library, 
which numbers 5,000 volumes, is valued at 
$13,000. Politically he adheres to the prin- 
ciples of the Republican party. He is a 
member of Frontier Lodge, No. 45, A. F. & 
A. M., of Smith Chapter, No. 13, R. A. M., 
and of La Crosse Commaiidry, No. 9. K. T. 

The First Presbyterian Church of La Crosse 
was organized August 23, 1866, by Rev. J. 
Irwin Smith, D. D., with twenty-one mem- 
bers. Ten years Dr. Smith was elected to 
the pastorate of this church, and in June, 
1880, Mr. Thomas succeeded him. Tiie pres- 
ent beautil'ul buildintr, the result of the zeal 
of Mr. Thomas, was dedicated to the worship 
of God November 25, 1883, the Rev. Dr. 
Herrick Johnson of Chicago ])reaching the 
sermon. The society has had a steady and 
prosperous growth, and numbers among its 
members over 100 families. 






fAMES B. MURRAY, of the firm of 
Miller & Murray, general grocers in La 
Crosse, was born at Brasher Falls, St. 
Lawrence county, New Vork, Septembei 3, 
1858, a son of John and Julia (Lynch) Mur- 
ray, natives of the city of Dunmanway, 
county Cork, Ireland. Ilis father came to 
America when a young man, locating in St. 
Lawrence county. New York, and died in 
1881. The widow still survives, residing 
with her youngest son, Dennis, on the old 
homestead in St. Lawrence county. 

James B., our subject, was reared to farm 
life, and completed his education at Lawrence- 
ville and Amsterdam Academies, graduating 



BIOOBAPSICAL HISTOUr. 



161 



at the latter June 26, 1876, in a class of 
thirteen. He then followed teaching and 
read law in the office, of L C. Lang, since 
then District Attorney of St. Lawrence 
county. It was in 1883 that Mr. Murray 
came to La Crosse. His first position was 
that of foreman for a year on the Chicago, 
Burlington & Northern railway, and after- 
ward was superintendent of construction for 
the firm of Willis & Rappa. In 1888 he 
left that position, and formed his present re- 
lation in business. He has always taken an 
active part in public matters. He is at pres- 
ent Alderman for the First Ward, and as a 
member of the City Council he is serving on 
the committees on Light, Fire, Police, Hail- 
roads, Sewers and Public Buildings, being 
Chairman of the Committees on Fire and 
Lighting. He has served as President of 
Division No. 1, A. O. H. ever since its or- 
ganization. 

He was married in New York, to Elizabeth 
A. Connolly, a native of St. Lawrence county, 
New York, and a daughter of John and 
Ellen (Desmond) Connolly, natives of county 
Cork, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Murray are 
members of the congregation of St. Mary's 
Church (Roman Catholic). 

fRANK BROWN, general blacksmith 
and carriage and wagon-maker, La 
Crosse, was born in Whitewater, Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin, December 27, 
1857, a son of Joseph and Dorcas (Chappel) 
Brown. His father, a cooper by occupation 
was a native of New York State, and his 
father was a native of Ireland, who early 
settled in New York State. Joseph Brown 
served as a soldier about three and a half 
years in the war of the rebellion, as a private 
in a Wisconsin regiment, enlisting at White- 



water. His wife was of Massachusetts an- 
cestry. 

Mr. F'rank Brown grew to manhood in 
Wisconsin ar.d Minnesota, and began to 
assume his own responsibilities when a mere 
lad, learning blacksniithing at Farmington, 
Warren county, Pennsylvania. He came to 
La Crosse county in 1879, and has ever since 
carried on his trade here continuously. Pre- 
vious to 1879 he was seven years at Middle 
Ridge, engaged at his trade, and also served 
two years as Postmaster, and as Constable 
and Township Treasurer, each one term. He 
returned to La Crosse in 1887, and for the 
first two years was Constable; he is now 
Alderman for the Twentieth Ward. 

He was married at Middle Ridge, No- 
vember 2, 1880, to Miss Maggie Brecht, a 
native of Germany, and they have one son, 
Herbert, who was born August 10, 1882. 



ON. ALEXANDER McMILLAN, who 

has for many years been a conspicuous 

tiarure in one of Wisconsin's greatest in- 
to o 

dustries, was born in the township of Finch, 
Stormont county, Province of Ontario, Can- 
ada, October 23, 1825, and is a son of 
Duncan B. and Mary (McMillan) McMillan . 
His parents were born inLochaber, Inverness- 
shire, Scotland. The father was a merchant 
in Glasgow for some years previous to his 
emigration to America. He left his native 
land in 1815, and settled in Canada, where 
he engaged in farming. Soon after his 
arrival in that country he was united in mar- 
riage with Mary McMillan, who, though a 
native of the same part of Scotland and of the 
same name, was not related to him. They 
had eleven children: Daniel, John, Christian, 
Mary, Alexander, Angus, D. B., Catherine, 
Margaret, Ewen H., Duncan D. and Allan. 



162 



BIOGRA I'HICAL BTSTOR ?. 



The father was an elder of the Presbyterian 
Church, and trained iiis children strictly ac- 
cordinjr to the doctrines of that iaith. 

Alexander passed his boyhood and youth 
in his native place, attending the common 
schools and doing the lighter work on his 
father's farm. Attaining his majority, he 
removed to the State of New York, where he 
spent about four years in various occupations. 
In the spring of 1850 he took passage on a 
steamboat at French Creek, New York,_bound 
for the West, and settled in Madison, Wis- 
consin, and was there employed as a clerk for 
three months. During a part of the time he 
also taught a .light school. 

At the end of that period he went to Port- 
age, Wisconsin, where he remained until 
1852, when he formed a partnership witii his 
brother, John, fur tiio purpose of conducting 
a business in the great lumber district. They 
established their headquarters at La Crosse, 
and their firm constituted the first Black 
River Logging Company, and took the first 
log raft that ever went down the Mississippi 
to St. Louis, in the spring of 1S53. The en- 
terprise grew to mammoth proportions, and 
in 1864 a younger brother, Duncan D., was 
admitted to the firm, the name then being 
changed to J., A. «& D. D. McMillan. A 
year later, on the death of the senior brother, 
it became A. & D. D. McMillan, and the 
business was so conducted fur many years. 
In 1864 the Black River Improvement Com- 
pany was organized, with one of this firm as 
president. 

Upon the organization of the La Crosse 
Gas Light Company, Mr. McMillan became 
its president, and after the formation of the 
Electric Light Company in 1885 the interest 
was sold to that corporation. In October, 
1878, he became by purchase sole owner of 
the Neshonoc mills at West Salem, Wiscon- 
sin, and under his management the products 



of these mills became widely known for its 
superior merit. In 1881 the mills were en- 
tirely remodeled under the personal super- 
vision of Mr. McMillan, and now possess one 
of the best water powers in the State. At 
West Salem he also owned the Neshonoc 
stock farm to which he devoted much time 
and attention, giving especial care to the 
breeding and raising of live-stock, and his 
stables showed some of the best standard- 
bred Hambletonians of recorded speed, and a 
tine herd of Alderney cattle. The stock farm 
and mill have recently passed into the hands 
of his son, Samuel D., who, in 1891, had the 
mill entirely rebuilt, and supplied with the 
latest and most approved machinery. 

Although not a politician in any sense, 
Mr. McMillan has frequently been honored 
with public office and positions of trust and 
responsibility. lie has served several years 
as a member of the City Council, for several 
years was County Sujiervisor, and for two 
years was chairman of the County Board. 
He was Mayor of La Crosse in 1871, and 
chairman of the Board of Trade in 1876. Iti 
1872 he was elected a member of the State 
Legislature on the Republican ticket, and in 
1873, the year of the great financial crisis, he 
was chosen president of the First National 
Bank of La Crosse. He is art ardent tem- 
perance advocate, and was president of the La 
Crosse Temperance League in 1873. 

In October, 1858, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Sarah L., a daughter of Her- 
rick and Mary E. (Sherwood) Parker. They 
had born to them four children: Mary, 
Angle, Samuel D. and Jesse. Of these only 
Samuel D. remains, the others having died 
in infancy or early childhood. Samuel D. was 
married to Miss May, daughter of John 
Clark, a merchant of West Salem ; they are 
the parents of three children: Clark, Parker 
and Harry. He was a partner and manager 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



103 



of the business house of McMillan & Son in 
La Crosse, which was discontinued in 1890. 
In 1883 our subject and his wife made a 
trip to Europe, visiting the old homestead in 
Scotland, Ireland, England and the Conti- 
nent, and making a voyage of the Mediter- 
ranean. All the principal European cities 
were touched, and thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. 
McMillan was much gratified that he was 
able to converse in the old traelic language 
which he had neither heard nor spoken, ex 
cept occasionally, since his childhood. He 
and his wife are mem*l)ers of the Congrega- 
tional Church, and he belongs to the Ma- 
sonic order. Mrs. McMillan is a lady of rare 
mental endowments and artistic attainments. 
She is an artist of no small merit, and while 
abroad she improved the excellent oppor- 
tunities afforded for study and observation. 
These worthy people have accumulated ample 
means for the gratification of cultivated 
tastes, and are surrounded with every comfort 
which modern invention can suggest. In 
addition to the property already mentioned, 
Mr. McMillan owns several business houses 
and dwellings, the McMillan Building on the 
corner of Main and Fourth streets being one 
of the finest in the city. He is a man of 
broad public spirit, and has always encour- 
aged by his means and personal influence 
those enterprises which have had for their 
object the best interests of the community. 



jEV. FATHER KILIAN G. BEYER, 
% chaplain of St. Rose Convent, is a na- 
tive of the State of Wisconsin, born 
near the city of Milwaukee, April 21, 1856. 
He received his earlier education at Pio Nono 
College, near Milwaukee, and subsequently 
entered St. Francis Seminary, at St. Francis, 
Wisconsin. After completing the prescribed 



course of study, he was ordained a priest of 
the Roman Catholic Church. This most im- 
portant event of his career occurred in June, 
1885, immediately after which he was as- 
signed to duty as pastor in charge of a con- 
gregation at Big River, Pierce county, Wis- 
consin. He remained there three years, and 
since 1888 he has been chaplain of St. Rose 
Convent. 

By virtue of this office, Father Beyer is 
Secretary of the Diocese School Board, as 
well as of the Orphans' Asylum, and gives 
religious instruction to those in training in 
the convent, and also to the children of the 
orphan schools. These scliools stand in the 
same relation to him that the parochial 
schools of the congregation sustain to their 
respective priests in charge, that is, principal. 
Father Beyer has been a faithful servant in 
the cause he has espoused, and those persons 
to whom he has ministered, either in the 
capacity of priest or instructor, hold him in 
the highest esteem and the kindest regard. 

THE ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL, 

under the jurisdiction of the Eoman Catholic 
Church, was erected by the Franciscan 
Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1883; in 
1887 an addition, known as the west wing, 
was erected, and in 1890 the chapel or east 
wing was erected. It is a mammoth struc- 
ture of brick, built by the Franciscan Sisters 
of Perpetual Adoration without other aid. 
It is of a modern architectural design, and 
arranged with all modern appliances for com- 
fort and convenience; it is heated by steam, 
lighted by electricity, and has ample sewer- 
age and water supply. There are six wards 
to accommodate about fifty patients; thirty- 
five private rooms for about fifty patients; in 
addition to this there are the dormitories for 
the Sisters in charge, capable of accommo- 
dating about one hundred. 



1C4 



BIOGRAPHICAL U I STOUT. 



For the care of patients afflicted with coii- 
tajiioiis diseases, a buildiiii; somewhat distant 
froin the main liospital lias been purchased, 
liaving its own morgue and otlier appliances, 
tluis entirely separating contagion from the 
the main hospitah A morgue with base- 
ment for post-mortem work has been erected 
adjacent to the main hospital. The main 
building is 120 feet in length and 24 feet 
wide, four stories high besides tlie basement; 
in the latter are the kitchen, dining-rooms, 
bakery, laundry, etc. Tlie west addition is 
40 .\ 80 feet, and the same height as the main 
Ijuilding. The east wing is used mainly for 
a chapel, though there are several rooms for 
hospital ])urposes. It is 40 \ 56 feet, four 
stories high. All the cooking, making and 
mending of clothes, etc., is done on the 
premises. Groceries, dry-goods and pro- 
visions are purchased at wholesale in La 
Crosse. 

Sister Rose has l)een at the head of the 
institution since it w'as opened for patients in 
December, 1883. The formal opening and 
dedication, whicli were public, occurred in 
January, 1884. About $1,500 have been re- 
ceived from citizens of La Crosse; this was 
to aid in furnishing the building. The hos- 
pital was dedicated by Right Rev. Bishop 
Flasch, now deceased. Sister Matilda has 
charge of the dispensary and of the books of 
the institution, and attends to the corre- 
spondence and tinancial affairs. She has as an 
assistant in the dispensary. Sister Theodora. 
Both are regularly licensed under the laws of 
the State of Wisconsin. 

During the past year over 400 patients re- 
ceived treatment, and for six years previous 
an annual average of over 300 have been 
treated. The present year, 1891, about 400 
have been enrolled to September. Six reg- 
ular nurses have been on duty all the time, 
besides others connected with different 



branches ef the institution, who render aid 
wlien needed. One male nurse is hired by 
the Sisters. Attending physicians are se- 
lected from among the city physicians as the 
patien:s themselves may desire. No inter- 
ference is made witli these selections. The 
United States provides a physician for the 
Marine Hospital, and the city, for the treat- 
ment for the patients treated at the ex- 
pense of the city. The Marine Hospital of 
the United States has one ward under charge 
of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Ador- 
ation. The expenses of the institution are 
provided for by those who receive treatment^ 
tliougli no one is turned away because unable 
to pay. Usually there are from twelve to fif- 
teen charity patients. There are two sisters 
employed in tiie laundry department, four in 
the kitchen, two in the dining-rooms — these 
jointly attending to the housekeeping. The 
entire building is kept scrupulously neat and 
clean, and perfect order reigns in every de- 
partment. 

ST. Michael's boys' oRpnAN asylum 

was opened in 1875, the Right Rev. Arch- 
bishop Michael Heiss officiating. The school 
was opened w^ith six boys, and the girls were 
also taught in the same school. Up to the 
present time (1891) 309 boys have been cared 
for in the institution. Eleven inmates, boys, 
have died since the opening of the school. 
Two have been sent to the State Industrial 
School because unmanageable. One of these 
boys was received at the orphanage by ex- 
press, being fastened in a box, on the top of 
which was the usual inscription, "This side 
up." Three Infants have been found at the 
door of the institution. Being found on 
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, though 
not in the same year, they were snrnamed 
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. In a 
few instances children have been brought by 



BIOORAPIIICjLL HIaTOBT. 



165 



one of the parents, who liave never been seen 
or heard from thereafter. One instance is 
cited where the father brought his little boy, 
nearly naked, hnngry and cold, left him in 
the asylum seven years, contributing nothing 
to his support, and stole him away in May, 
1891! 

This school is under the management of 
the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adora- 
tion, whose devotion to humanity and self- 
sacrificing interest deserves the highest 
commendation. The school is distinctively 
Catholic, admittance being restricted to chil- 
dren born of Catholic parents. The records 
of the school, which are carefully kept by 
Sister Petronilia, siiow many sad cases of 
neglect, abuse and desertion by parents and 
kindred. 

One sad story told by the Sister is the fol- 
lowing: A boy was given by his father to a 
negro, and the child wept bitterly, fearing to 
go with the black man. A Franciscan Fatlier 
came along, asked the negro the price of the 
child, and finally paid him $40 for the little 
sufferer. This child is now an inmate of the 
school, and has been since 1888. 

In the school there are three rooms and 
three teachers, beginning with a kindergarten 
of little hoys in dresses. The children are 
tanght the elementary branches of both Eng- 
lish and German, including drawing, book- 
keeping, civil government, calisthenics, Chris- 
tian doctrine, etc. The pupils are supported 
by collections taken up annually in the dio- 
cese and by the charitable assistance of the 
Sisters of St. Hose Convent, unless their 
keeping is provided for by their parents. 
Ten Sisters are employed in the building in 
the various departments, but do not receive 
any compensation for liieir services. The 
boys are taught to work, and are required to 
do such little chores as they can perforin. 

Sister Bridget has been with the school 



ever since it was established. Sister Bene- 
dicta is the present Superior. Sister Petro- 
nilia has taught in the school since 1884, and 
now has charge of the liigheBt class in the in- 
stitution. 

ST. Ann's orphan asylum, 

for girls, was erected in 1889, and September 
20, of the same year, the orphan girls were 
transferred from Sparta, their fromer home, 
to the present building in La Crosse, which 
is in charge of the Franciscan Sisters of 
Perpetual Adoration. The school opened 
with thirty-nine girls. Orphan children of 
Catholic parentage in the Diocese of La 
Crosse are admitted, though in cases of ex- 
treme necessity children of Protestant parent- 
age have been received. 

The building is the property of St. Rose 
de Viterbo's Convent of the Franciscan Sis- 
ters, and is located just opposite St. Francis 
Hospital, on Market street. Children are re- 
ceived at all ages up to twelve years. They 
are fed, clothed and cared for, receiving care- 
ful educational and religious training. At 
present seventy girls are in the institution, 
ranging in age from three to sixteen years. 
The average of inmates is now less than ten 
years. At the age of seventeen or eighteen 
girls are expected to go out and provide for 
themselves, though the asylum is always 
open to former occupants, and they are taught 
to regard the institution as their home, and 
are welcome to it when sick or out of em- 
ployment. In case a surviving parent is able 
to contribute to the support of a child left in 
the institution, he is expected to do so; but 
in case the pai'ent is unable to aid in her 
support, the institution provides for her 
entii'ely. Children left at the school may be 
reclaimed and taken away by parent or guard- 
ian at any time. In this regard the institu- 
tion is unlike the other schools of the same 



166 



BIOGBAPniCAL HISTORY. 



character, where a child must be surrendered 
unconditionally before it will be accepted. 

The buildins is furnished to accommodate 
125 children. On the premises they are 
taught those things which in later life will be 
most useful to those in their sphere — knitting, 
sewing, ironing, washing, cooking and general 
housekeeping being matters to which strict 
attention is given by competent instructors. 
Fancy work, drawing and vocal music are 
taught in connection with the otlier studies 
of the school. The course includes reading, 
writing, arithmetic, grammar, physiology. 
United States history, and church history 
with the catechism. They are taught to read 
German if desired. 

ST. ROSE DE VITERBO'S CONVENT, 

of tlie Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Ador- 
ation. The main building of this institution 
was erected in 1870, and in 1872 the north 
wing and chapel were added; in 1874 the 
south wing was built, and in 1876 the Chapel 
of Adoration was completed. The main 
structure is 160 feet in length with project- 
ing wings, making a building which is an 
ornament to the city and a credit to the en- 
terprise and self-sacrificing spirit of the Sis- 
ters having the matter in charge. 

In this convent the various branches of 
education as well as music and the arts are 
taught to those desiring to become conse- 
crated to the work of the Sisters. There are 
230 of the Franciscan Sisters belonging to 
this order. One hundred of these are em- 
ployed in La Crosse in the orphan schools, 
asylums and hospitals and city parochial 
schools. Thirty-six mission schools are sup- 
plied with teachers from the convent. In 
the building there is a class of fifteen young 
ladies, studying and fitting themselves for 
the work of teaching. Vocal and instru- 
mental music are taught by competent teach- 
ers, and many of the best protestant families 



in the city are patrons of this dejiartment. 
Various instruments are taught, besides the 
piano and organ. In the art department the 
finest wax and needle work are done. All of 
the clothing, bedding, etc., used in the insti-, 
tution are made and kept in repair in the 
building, even to repairing shoes. Firing of 
the diilerent furnaces and attending the heat- 
ing apparatus are done by the Sisters, besides 
the keeping of the extensive grounds and 
flower gardens. It is a most attractive spot 
and furnishes many shady nooks for study 
during the heated summer months. This 
convent is the general home for the Francis- 
can Sisters of Perpetual Adoration within 
the diocese of La Crosse, and during vacation 
or when sick they return to this home. 

Mother Ludovica is the present superior, a 
position she has held with credit to herself 
and honor to the institution since January, 
1882. She succeeded to this position on the 
death of Mother Antonia, who was the first 
superior, and to whose energy, tact and in- 
dustry the institution is greatly indebted. 
The convent is regularly incorporated under 
the laws of the State in the name of the 
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. 
The chapel of P. A., as the name implies, 
is where the scriptural injunction, to pray 
without ceasing, is faithfully complied with; 
two Sisters may be seen at devotion at any 
hour in tlie day or night; they remain at 
prayers one hour, when they are relieved by 
two others, they in turn being relieved after 
an hour's devotion, and so on, ad infinituin. 
This has continued for the last thirteen years, 
and at no period during that time has the 
constant devotion ceased for one moment. 
The chapel is one of the most beautiful it 
has been the privilege of the writer to visit. 
The altars and furnishings are elegant and 
artistic, while the room itself is simply 
architectural perfection. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBT. 



167 



Sister Clara has charge of the music de- 
partment; she teaches the piano, organ, pipe 
organ, violin, liarp, mandolin, zither, guitar, 
dulcitner, anto-liarp, also vocal music. She 
has been with the institution since 1871, and 
has tauglit the music for ten years past. 
Sister Seraphine has charge of the Normal 
School connected witli the convent. Here 
young ladies are fitted for teaching in the 
parochial schools and orphan asylums, under 
the jurisdiction of the church; she has occu- 
pied her present position for three years past, 
and has previously taught at different places 
under the auspices of the church for twenty 
years. Sister Bonaventure is assistant in the 
music department. 



'-5w^^ 



SAMPTON B. SMITH, insurance, real- 
estate and loan agent, Batavian Bank 
Building, La Crosse, was born in Cool- 
spring township, Mercer county, Pennsyl- 
vania, February 26, 1888, and is the son of 
John W. and Susan (Bean) Smith, natives of 
Pennsylvania; the parents were born in the 
year 1800; the mother died in March, 1850, 
and the father survived until 1858. John 
W. Smith was a farmer, merchant and lum- 
berman, and never removed from his native 
State. The family consisted of live sons and 
three daughters: J. Irwin Smith, D. D., John 
G., Samuel F., Mary A., widow of Nathaniel 
Osborne; Nancy A., Louisa L., wife of A. A. 
Thomas, and Hampton B., the subject of this 
biography; the remaining son died in youth. 
Hampton B. was educated in liis native 
county, the latter part of his school days 
being spent at the academy at Mercer, Penn- 
sylvania. At the age of nineteen years he 
began teaching school, and was employed in 
both public and private schools in Mercer 
and Alleghany counties. In 1859 he went 



to Ontonagon, Michigan, and clerked in a 
store there for two years; at the end of that 
time he formed a partnership in the mercan- 
tile business with his former employer's 
brother, which existed until 1868, when he 
bought his interest and managed the store 
alone for a time; he then took another part- 
ner, to whom he finally sold the entire busi- 
ness. In the fall of 1868 he went to Escanaba, 
Michigan, engaged in mercantile pursuits 
which he disposed of in 1871, coming in that 
year to La Crosse. Here he became general 
ageut for the Republic Life Insurance Com- 
pany, but this proving unsatisfactory he 
embarked in the milling business in partner- 
ship with John E. Davis, now of St. Paul, 
Minnesota. This relationship existed about 
a year and a half, when Mr. Smith purchased 
the entire business and conducted it about 
one year alone, selling out and engaging in 
his present business. Ever since his resi- 
dence in La Crosse he has given some atten- 
tion to fire insurance in connection with his 
other interests. He is now giving his time 
exclusively to the business, and has a finely 
furnished office in the Batavian Bank Build- 
ing. 

Mr. Smith was married at Marquette, 
Michigan, to Miss Oriana Edwards, a native 
of Ellsworth, Mahoning county, Ohio. They 
are the parents of three children: Joseph 
Edwards, born September 13, 1867, at On- 
tonagon, Michigan, received his education in 
the La Crosse public schools, at Galesville 
University, and Lake Forest University; 
Anna E., born in La Crosse, Januai-y 24, 
1872, received her literary and musical edu- 
cation at Morvyn House, Toronto, Ontario; 
William Ripley died at the age of thirteen 
months. 

The ancestors for many generations have 
been Presbyterians. Mr. Smith has been an 
elder of the church for many years. He is a 



108 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



member of the Nineteenth Century Club, 
a literary organization numbering thirty, of 
the KniglitB of Honor, of the Legion of 
Honor, of the Chosen Friends and the United 
Workmen. Politically he affiliates witli the 
Republican party, although his sympathies 
are strongly with the Prohibition party. He 
served six years as Justice of the Peace in 
La Crosse and he was a member of the City 
Board of Escanaba, Michigan, during his 
residence there. 



fAMES L LAMB is a member of one of 
tiie best known and most deservedly pop- 
ular establishments in La Crosse, the firm 
in Lamb & Bekel, who are wholesale dealers 
in fruits and produce. Their transactions 
are conducted upon a large scale and their 
connections are of the most substantial and 
gratifying character. Mr. Laml) was born 
in Madison county. New York, in 1854, in 
which State his parents, Silas and Rhoda L. 
(Tuttle) Lamb, were also born, but are now 
residents of Fayette county, Iowa. The 
fatiier has devoted most of his life to farm- 
ing and the raising, buying and selling of 
stock, and as he lias lived in his present 
county since 1858, he is well and favorably 
known. He became the father of three 
children: Elmer, residing in Waterloo, Iowa, 
in which city he is engaged in the grocery 
business; Lottie, wife of Henry Wilsey, of 
La Crosse, and James L, who received his 
initiatory training in Fayette, and afterwards 
entered the Upper Iowa University, where 
he completed his course with the class of 'Ti. 
He then turned his attention to civil eiiirin- 
eering, but three years later began merchan- 
dising in Fayette, which business received 
liis attention for one year. He spent about 
the same length of time in Sheldon, after 



which he embarked in the wholesale fruit 
business in Siou.x City, but at the end of two 
years, or in 1885, he came to La Crosse, since 
which time he has successfully followed his 
present calling. His is, by common consent, 
tlie most reliable and best known house of 
the kind in the city, none maintaining a 
higher reputation for integrity, and few, if 
any, enjc)y a larger measure of recognition. 
The members of the house are keen, intelli- 
gent business men, thoroughly conversant 
witli all the requirements of the trade and 
eminently popular in meeting all its demands. 
They deal in all kinds of green fruits and 
vegetables, and their business is constantly 
and rapidly increasing. Mr. Lamb was mar- 
ried in 1884 to Miss Georgia Hines, by 
whom he is the father of one child, Lloyd. 
Mr. Lamb takes little interest in politics and 
usually casts his vote for the man he con- 
siders most deserving, rather than in the in- 
terest of any party. He is a member of the 
K. of P., and he and his wife move in the 
highest social circles of La Crosse, in which 
city they are well known and have many 
friends. 

fOIIN FOX, proprietor of the Tivoli 
Hotel and pleasure garden, the niost 
popular resort of its kind in the city of 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born in Bavaria, 
Germany, on July 28, 1828. He is the eldest 
of nine sons and one daughter born to John 
M. and Harriet Fox. Of this family of 
children, George, Hans and our subject, came 
to America in 1853. George enlisted shortly 
after President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men, 
and although dangerously wounded three times 
would not take a discharge. He always said 
he would not give up until the last " Reb." 
was in the ditch. He was in the army of the 





//^TtXAJ 




BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



1G9 



Potomac in the " Iron Brigade," and was one 
of the bravest of the brave. He was killed 
in the battle of Gettysburg, when thirty- four 
years of age. Hans Fox was in America 
four years and then returned to Germany, 
via Great Britain, and while at Dover, Eng- 
land, was attacked by thieves, had his skull 
fractured, and was robbed of much money, 
his watch and chain, etc. 

John Fox, in early life studied two and a 
half years for the ministry of the Lutheran 
Church. He then abandoned that pursuit, 
and learned the blacksmith trade, at which he 
worked six years in the old country, and four 
and a half years in the United States, being 
one year and a half in Pittsburg, two years 
in Dubuque and one year in La Crosse. He 
then learned the trade of mason, because he 
could not get work as a blacksmith, following 
the same sixteen years. He built the Tivoli 
Hotel in 1882, and has been proprietor here 
since; and altliough he met with reverses in 
the way of fires, etc., he is nicely fixed now, 
and always has his house well patronized. 
He has held the oflice of Alderman four dif- 
ferent times, was Constable two years, held 
the oflice of Coroner four years, was Street 
Commissioner two years, and for one year was 
Poor Commissioner. He has been Assistant 
Chief of the fire department for five years, 
and for eight years was foreman of the Third 
W ard Fire Company. 

He was married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvaniai 
in 1S54, to Miss Anna Earbera, by whom he 
had fourteen children, those living being: 
William, married Olga Miller; Edda, clerk- 
ing; John, in Seattle, Washington; Charles, 
clerking in a hardware store in Chicago; 
Minnie, wife of Thomas Brook; Louisa, wife 
of Charles Sprague of Chicago, engaged in 
the real-estate business; and Bertha, wife of 
Mr. Casson; and Julia, a student in Chicago. 
The mother died March 7, 1888, at the age 



of fifty-seven years. Mr. Fox's second mar- 
riage occurred August 14, 1890, to Mrs. 
Anna Hussing, of La Crosse. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., and has been secretary 
of the L O. O. F. Mutual Life Insurance of 
Wisconsin, the past sixteen years. He has 
passed through all the chairs of that order, 
and has been a delegate twice to the Grand 
Lodge. He has also been a member of the 
Turner's Society since 1857, and a member 
of the Germania Society. In politics he is 
independent. During the war and until 
Horace Greeley ran for the office of Presi- 
dent, Mr. Fox was a Republican, but since 
then he has been Democratic and independ- 
ent. Mr. Fox is a very popular man, and 
when he ran for office he got votes from both 
sides. While he was mason and contractor 
he built some of the largest stone buildings 
in La Crosse, viz.: Gund's Brewery, City 
Engine House, Heasley's Block, Seharf & 
King's Block, Funk's Foundry, Heilman's 
Malt House, Mitchers Brewery and Ilau'o 
Block. In 1863, Mr. Fox was in the Provost 
Marshal's office, and was recruiting ofiicer at 
the same time, recruiting seventeen men. 
He is a well-known and highly respected 
pioneer citizen, strictly honest and possessing 
many good qualities. 



_K»-»-J»^W^. 



BNER GILE, a well-known and highly 
respected pioneer of La Crosse county, 
was born in the State of New York, 
January 3, 1820, and is a son of Nathan, and 
Lydia (Yates) Gile, natives of Vermont. The 
father followed agricultural pursuits all his 
life; his death occurred in New York, to 
which State he had removed in 1881, at the 
age of eighty-four years; his wife died two 
years later, aged eighty-two years. They were 
for many years consistent members of the 



170 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STORY. 



Baptist Church. They reared a family of ten 
children, of whom AbnerGile was the fourth- 
born. He*resided in New York nntil 1843, 
and during the latter years of his residence 
there was engat'ed in farming. He then 
removed to Waukegan, Lake county, Illinois, 
where he operated a sawmill, hnilt piers and 
docks in the lake, and purchased land which 
he cultivated until 1850. In that year he 
went to California, but returned twelve months 
later. lie resumed his agricultural pursuits 
nntil November, 1854, when he came to La 
Crosse, and embarked in the lumber trade, in 
which he has been actively engaged ever 
since. He owned at one time an interest in 
the La Crosse Lumber Company, but has dis- 
posed of the same. He was one of the pro- 
jectors and builders of the Linseed Oil Mill 
of La Crosse, a most serviceable industry to 
tiie city; it gives employment to twenty 
persons, and consumes raw material from 
Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota; its 
products are shipped to all parts of the civ- 
ilized world, and the present year the amount 
of seed ground will be 175,000 bushels. The 
daily expense of the mill is about §100, which 
sum is distributed almost exclusively among 
citizens of La Crosae. Mr. Gile is also a 
stockholder in the Abattoir of La Crosse, 
another important industry. He owns stock 
in the Batavian Bank, of which he is vice- 
president. He has a farm of 1,200 acres in 
Minnesota, and has other investments in 
various enterprises in the city and county. 
He is a man of superior business qualifica- 
tions, and every enterprise which has re- 
ceived his support has not fallen short of 
success. 

The residence of Mr. Gile deserves more 
than a passing notice, as it is one of the finest 
and most expensive in the city. The lot fronts 
on Main street 210 feet, and on West ave 
nue 280 feet, and contains the residence, barn 



and coachman's house. The house is eighty 
feet in length and forty in width, besides the 
porch and drive. It is two and a half stories 
above the basement. A room in the half 
story is large enough to accommodate fifty or 
sixty couples in a dance. Tiie house is built 
on the latest plans, with all the modern con- 
veniences. 

On the first story are six rooms besides 
the hall, and three alcoves. The sitting room 
is 22x32, the parlor, 16x20; Mr. Gile's 
private room, 18x18; wardrobe and bath 
room; kitchen, 16x14; breakfast room, 
12x14; dining-room, 18x24. In the sec- 
ond story are eight rooms. 

It is safe to say that Mr. Gile is well fixed 
and has a residence perhaps the most beauti- 
ful and complete in this portion of the great 
Northwest. The name of the residence, Pas- 
adena, has reference to a fancy town near Los 
Angeles, California, and is said to mean 
"Queen of the Valley." 

The barn is in keeping with the house. 
Both are built with pressed brick and heated 
by furnaces. The barn has room for the 
coachman's family, for ten or twelve horses, 
three cows, besides abundance of room for 
storing feed. 

In 1843 Mr. Gile was joined in marriage 
to Miss Mary E. Smith, a daughter of Orange 
and Mary (Ketchum) Smith, and to them 
have been born two cliildi-en; P^lsie D., wife 
of Robert A. Scott, and Wales Eugene, born 
December 14, 1863, who was killed when 
nine years of age by the accidental firing of a 
pistol in the hands of a boy friend. The 
mother died in September, 1877, aged fifty- 
three years. 

Politically Mr. Gile is identified with the 
Republican party, and has ever been a strong 
adherent to the principles of that organiza- 
I tion. As a pioneer settler and a loyal citizen, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



171 



he receives the highest respect of all who 
know him, and is in every way worthy of the 
regard in which he is held. 

jUGDSTUS STEINLEIN, Police Judge 
of La Crosse, was born in the city of 
Treves, on the Rhine, Prussia, Septem- 
ber 26, 1823, the sen of Francis Joseph and 
Margareth (Herrig) Steinlein. His father, a 
teaeiier, was employed by the Government all 
his life from his seventeenth year to his 
seventieth, when his son, the subject of this 
sketch, brought him to America in 1872, and 
lie spent tlie remainder of liis life with his 
son Augustus, and his daughter, Mrs. Anna 
Wortmann, dying in Brooklyn, New York, 
at the age of about eighty-one years. Of his 
family two sons and three daughters live in 
America, while one son and one daughter re- 
mail) in the old country, the son in Berlin 
and the daughter in Treves. 

Mr. Steinlein, whose name heads this 
sketch, completed his schooling in the gym- 
nasium of Treves, taught school two vears in 
his native country, and in 1844 came to 
America, landing at New York city with but 
50 cents in his purse. His first employment 
was in the printing house of Henry Ludwig 
& Co., Vesey street, New York, three and a 
half years. His acquirement of the English 
language was so rapid that he was appointed 
proof-reader in English and German. In 
1856 he came to La Crosse county, pur- 
chasing 120 acres of Government land, and 
following farming here si.x; years, but de- 
voting the winter seasons to the Nordstern., 
which he had helped to establish. In 1862 
he became a partner in the business, and was 
connected witii that paper two years, when 
he was elected Register of Deeds for the 
county, and held that office four years, and 



since that time he has been Justice of the 
Peace. From 1879 to 1886 he was a mem- 
ber of the Board of Education of La Crosse, 
and from 1870 to 1885 Poor Commissioner. 
In the last civic election he was chosen Po- 
lice Judge. During his official career he has 
married 2,300 couples! 

Mr. Steinlein has ever been a liberal con- 
tributor to the press of tlie city, and is ac- 
knowledged to be the "poet laureate" of his 
city and State. He has issued two beautiful 
editions of a collection of rare poetical gems, 
and is about issuing another volume. He is 
a member of the German ia Society, and an 
honorary member of the Third Ward Work- 
iiigmen'.< Society. 

He was married in New York city to Mrs. 
Louisa Doelger, a native of Germany, born at 
Frankfurt-on-the-Main, and they have one 
son and live daughters, namely: Louisa, wife 
of Joseph Yeck; Francis Joseph, a cigar 
manufacturer and Justice of the Peace; Au- 
gusta, widow of Frank J. Toeller, who died 
when City Attorney of La Crosse; Hannah, 
wife of Henry Linker; Paulina, now Mrs. 
Louis Till mans; and Emma, wife of Frank 
Bartel. 

fOSEPH ROTH, Treasurer of the city of 
La Crosse, was born in this city, Decem- 
ber 29, 1857, a son of Andrew and Mar- 
garet (Neth) Roth. His father was born 
July 31, 1824, at the village of Karbach, 
near Wiirzburg, Kingdom of Bavaria. He 
was a tailor by occupation, and after his mar- 
riage to Anna Bauer he came to America, in 
1852, settling first in Southern Indiana, at 
Lanesville, near New Albany. His wife died 
at that place, leaving no children. In May, 
1855, for his second wife he married, at 
Lanesville, Indiana, Miss Margaret Neth, and 



172 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HTSTOHY. 



by this union had twelve children, of whom 
five sons and tliree daughters survive. 

In December, 1855, he came to La Crosse, 
where he engaged in business as a merchant 
tailor, and afterward in general meroiian- 
dising. In 1864 he entered the cracker and 
baker}' business in partnership with Frank 
Gntgesell. In 1873 he sold out to his part- 
ner and engaged in the grocery trade until 
1878, when he retired from business. Janu- 
ary 14, 1884, lie died, and was buried under 
the honors of St. Boniface Benevolent Society, 
which he had assisted very materially in or- 
ganizing, and he was in full communion with 
St. Joseph's Church (Catholic). He had served 
his church as trustee, and was a worthy offi- 
cial of the society which honored his funeral. 

Mr. Koth, whose name heads this sketch, 
supplemented his common-school education 
with a commercial course at the La Crosse 
Business College. His first four years in 
business was as clerk in his father's store. 
The next six years he was in the employ of 
Thomas Ilogan, as clerk and bookkeeper in 
the commission fruit trade. Later he was 
with Mons Anderson in the wholesale drj'- 
goods trade, then with Matt Weix, wholesale 
dealer in cigars. Leaving this latter business 
in 1880, he formed a partnership with his 
younger brother, Frank, in the retail grocery 
trade, which he continued until May, 1890. 
In July, 1890, he became stock clerk for the 
Standard Oil Company, and it was while he 
was engaged in this latter position that he 
was elected City Treasurer. He is a mem- 
ber of St. Boniface Benevolent Society, 
having served it in official relations, and he 
and his wife are zealous members of St. 
Joseph's Church (Catholic). 

He was married in La Crosse, May 24, 
1881, to Miss Mary Wiskirclien, a native of 
Milwaukee and a daughter of Matthew and 
Mary (Wiist) Wiskirclien, from Prussia. 



Mr. and Mrs. Roth had three daughters who 
died ill infancy, and have three sons, namely: 
Joseph Matthew, Bernard Andrew and Arthur 
Henry. 



'^'-^^^^itT^' 



fOHN WARREN DAVIS, proprietor of 
a general transfer business in La Crosse, 
was born in Washington county, Maine, 
in the town of Wesley, June 27, 1837, a son 
of David and Pliebe (trrey) Davis. His 
father was a merchant in early life, and spent 
considerable time in the merchant marine of 
the United States, making one trip to the 
Sandwich Islands. He died on a farm in 
Vernon county, Wisconsin, in 1883. 

Mr. Davis, whose name heads this sketch, 
grew up in the town of Cooper, engaged in 
lumbering in the pineries. In April, 1801, 
he came to Wisconsin, settling in Vernon 



county and engaging in farming. 



During 



the war he enlisted, at Viroqua, in Company 
I, Forty-second Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and was employed in provost duty to 
the close of the war. In 1870 ho moved to 
La Crosse, where he has since been princi- 
pally engaged in contracting and i-i the trans- 
fer busiuoss. He has served four years in 
the City Council, and is now serving his first 
term as County Supervisor from the Nine- 
teenth Ward of La Crosse. 

At Viroqua, in 1803, he married Miss 
Georgia E. White, a native of AVorcester, 
Massachusetts, and a daughter of William 
S. S. and Eunice (Bigelow) White The 
parents came to Wisconsin about 1859, lo. 
eating in Vernon county. For six years Mr. 
White was Register of Deeds of that county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one son and 
three daughters, namely: -Nettie, wife of 
Charles Conrow, a locomotive engineer; 
William II. and May. Mr. Davis is a mem- 



BIOGRAPHICAL EI STOUT. 



173 



ber of the G. A. R., of John Flynn Post, 
No. 77, in which he has held official posi- 
tions. He is also a member of North La 
Crosse Lodge, No. 90, F. & A. M., and with 
his family attends the Presbyterian Church. 



-^^xri/l/l,- 



-^in/xn^^ 



fOHN GUND BREWING COMPANY, 
La Crosse. — La Crosse has reason to be 
prond of many of her early pioneers, who 
liave done so much to win her a favorable 
reputation in their respective lines, and Mr. 
John Giind, Sr., of the John Gund Brewing 
Company, is not to be accounted the least on 
the list. He was born in Baden, Germany, 
in 1830, and his father, George M. Gund, 
brought the family to America in 1848. They 
settled in Freeport, Illinois, where the father 
died of cholera Jnly 29, 1850, and the mo- 
ther followed him to the grave three days 
later, of the same fell disease. John Gund, 
Sr., learned the brewer's trade in his native 
country, and after coming to the United 
States worked for two years in Dubuque, 
Iowa. From there he went to Galena, Illi- 
nois, rented a brewery and conducted the same 
until 1854, when he came to La Crosse. He 
built the first brewery in this city, on Front 
and Division streets, resided on the same lot, 
and carried on the business in a small way, 
though quite extensively for those days. In 
1858, he, in company with G. Heilman, built 
the City Brewery and continued in partner- 
ship until the fall of 1872, when Mr. Gund 
sold out his interest to Mr. Heilman and 
commenced the erection of the Empire Brew- 
ery, which he still owns. In 1873 he made a 
trip to Europe and visited his old home. 

The John Gund Brewing Company was 
organized and incorporated May 1, 1880, by 
John Gund, Sr., and his two sons, George and 

13 



Henry. In 1890 George withdrew from the 
firm, and Henry returned to La Crosse and 
took the position formerly occupied by 
George. The officers now are: John Gund, 
Sr., President; Henry, Secretary and Treas- 
urer; and John, Jr., Superintendent. 

Mr. Gund has ample capital and credit to 
carry on his business, and the La Crosse beer 
has a reputation extending over a wide terri- 
tory. In view of the foregoing facts, it is 
with great confidence and pleasure that Mr. 
Gund's brewery is selected to represent the 
brewing industry of this section. 

By his first wife Mr. Gund became the 
father of five children: Louisa, wife of 
Charles Mitchel, of La Crosse; Emma, wife 
of William Lurning, of Milwaukee; George, 
Henry and John, Jr. The mother of these 
children died May 18, 1880, when not quite 
fifty years of age. The daughter, Emma, 
died in 1884, when about twenty-seven years 
of age. Mr. Gund's second marriage occurred 
in Europe in the year 1885. Mr. Gund is 
highly regarded in trade circles as an honor- 
able business man, who has gained the entire 
confidence of his numerous customers, and 
once to form business relations with him is 
to be a permanent customer. 

HENRY GUND, 

secretary and treasurer of the Gund Brewery 
Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin, is one 
whose authority on all matters connected 
with this business, together with his wide 
experience and popularity, eminently fit him 
for the important and responsible position 
thai he holds. He was born in La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, March 2, 1859, and is the son of 
John and Louisa Gund, both natives of Ger- 
many, the father born in Baden and the 
mother in Wlirtemburg. (See sketch of John 
Gund, Sr.) Henry Gund received a good 
practical education in the public schools of 
La Crosse, and began business for himself in 



174 



BIOORAPniCAL HISTORY. 



1880, as member in the John Gund Brewing 
Company. He went to Minneapolis in 1882, 
was former manager in that city and con- 
ducted a large agency. While a resident of 
that citv he was the head of a building and 
loan association, and was a prominent and 
representative citizen. He remained there 
from 1881 until 1890, and then returned to 
La Crosse and has been secretary and treas- 
urer of the brewing company since. He 
was married in 1885 to Miss Nora Johnson, 
daughter of Andrew Johnson, of Minneapo- 
lis, who is now retired. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Gund have been born three interesting chil- 
dren: Emma, Louisa, and an infant son. In 
politics Mr. Gund advocates the principles of 
the Democratic party, and socially is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic fraternity. He is a 
thorough business man and sustains a high 
reputation in commercial circles, and is re- 
spected l)y all who know or ever had dealings 
with him. 

.lOIIN OUND, JH., 

one of the prominent business men of 
La Crosse, and general superintendent of 
the Gund Brewing Company, is a native 
resident of La Crosse, born April 13, 1862. 
His parents, John and Louisa Gund, were 
both natives of Germany. (See sketch of 
John Gund, Sr.) John Gund, Jr., received 
his primary education in the public schools of 
La Crosse, and finished in one of the promi- 
nent colleges of New York, First Scientific 
Station in the Art of Brewing. He gradu- 
ated at the end of a year, as he had had some 
advantages of the kind before going. Brew- 
ing has always been his business, and in that 
he has been very successful, lie became a 
partner of the John Gund Brewing Company 
in 1882, and he is at present general super- 
intendent of ihe same. The output of this 
brewery is 50,000 barrels, per year, and they 
employ from sixty-five to seventy hands the 



year round, not including coopers, agents and 
teamsters. The buildings cover about five 
acres in all. This is one of the principal in- 
dustries of the city and the largest brewery 
In the Northwest, outside of Milwaukee. 
Their goods go all over Wisconsin, Iowa, 
Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Illinois. 
When twenty-five years of age John Gund, 
Jr., was elected Alderman for a term of four 
years, but resigned after serving three and a 
half years, on account of having moved out of 
the ward. He has been and is now director 
in the Inter-Stiite Fair. He was first director 
of the United States Brewmasters' Associa- 
tion for three years, but resigned owing to 
press of business. Mr. Gund selected Miss 
Carrie Bohm, of Winona, Minnesota, as his 
companion in life, and their nuptials were 
celebrated on the 8th of January, 1890. Her 
father was formerly connected with the Bohm 
manufacturing establishment of St. Paul, 
Minnesota, one of the largest in the North- 
west. In politics Mr. Gund is a staunch 
Democrat. 

RRIN L. SMITH, who is engaged in 
the insurance, loan and real-estate busi- 
ness, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born 
at Galena, Illinois, December 6, 1829. His 
parents removed to the State of Ohio when 
he was an infant six months old, and resided 
in Cinciimati until he was sixteen years old; 
thence they went to New Orleans, and three 
years later came north to St. Louis; 1851 
found them in La Crosse, Orrin L. being 
twenty-one years of age. He pre-empted a 
quarter section of land on the wild prairie 
where Winona Junction is now located. He 
received his education in Cincinnati in the 
public schools and in the college of which 
Dr. Aydelott was president. When they ar- 



BIOGRAPEWAL BISTORT. 



175 



rived in La Crosse in 1851 there were but 
six shanties here, and about 300 AVinnebago 
Indians were camped in tlie neighborhood. 
In 1852 Mr. Smith went to his farm, and re- 
mained one season. In 1856 lie sold the farm 
for $800, and witiiin the last live years one- 
half the land has been sold for $15,000 for 
railroad purposes! 

He was married April 29, 1851, to Miss 
Mary E. Simonton, of Ohio. At that time 
his family were livins; in St. Lonis, and be- 
fore going to La Crosse he took his wife to 
her home in Ohio. After coming here he 
entered the employ of Smith, Rublee & 
Simonton as bookkeeper and salesman, a 
position which he held until the spring of 
1854, when he became clerk on the steam- 
boat Doctor Franklin, which was sunk in the 
Mississippi river the same season. The next 
two seasons he was clerk of the Lady Frank- 
lin, and the rest of his river life was on the 
Royal Arch, Granite State, Greek Slave, and 
War Eagle, belonging to the Galena and 
Minnesota Packet Line, and the Fall City, 
which was owned by La Crosse capital. The 
last-named was sunk in Lake Pepin. 

In 1859 Mr. Smith left the river, and for 
ten years following handled fuel in La 
Crosse. In 1869 he was elected City Clerk, 
and held the office three years. He was clerk 
of the International Hotel for two years, and 
spent one year as clerk in the employ of the 
Black River Improvement Company. He 
was bookkeeper for the David Laws omnibus 
and transfer line until the spring of 1882, 
when he removed to Brookings, Dakota Ter- 
ritory; there he managed the Commercial 
Hotel one year, returning to La Crosse at the 
end of that time. He re-entered Mr. Laws' 
employ, and held the same position until the 
summer of 1886. In September of that year 
he removed to Sherwood, Franklin county, 
Tennessee, where he owned a hotel situated 



in the Cumberland mountains. In 1890 he 
disposed of this property and came back to 
La Crosse. Soon after he eno-agred in the 
real-estate, loan and insurance business, which 
he has conducted with marked success. 

Mrs. Smith is a native of Warren county, 
Ohio, born November, 1S32. Three children 
have been born to our subject and wife: For- 
est J. was born January 22, 1853, in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin; he is now bookkeeper and 
clerk in the employ of the Black River Im- 
provement Company, and secretary and treas- 
urer of the East Fork Improvement Com- 
pany and of the Lumberman's Exchange; 
Eva M. married Matt. T. Wimsey, of La 
Crosse, and Frank O. married Miss Minnie 
Lamb; he is a journalist by profession. 

Mr. Smith is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
and has filled all the official positions of the 
lodge, which he has frequently represented at 
the Grand Lodge and in the Grand Encamp- 
ment of Wisconsin; is a member of the A. O. 
U. W., and has passed all the chairs of this 
lodge. He is also secretary of the Pioneers 
and Old Settlers' Association in La Crosse 
county. Politically he has been a life-long 
Republican, and is a zealous supporter of the 
issues of that organization. 

TEPHEN MARTINDALE, loan and 
insurance agent, 326 Main street, La 
Crosse, was born at Tinmouth, Ver- 
mont, June 9, 1823, and is a son of Stephen 
and Diantha (Kent) Martindale, who were 
also natives of the " Green Mountain" State. 
The father died in Wallingford, Vermont, in 
1847; the mother removed with her daughter, 
Mrs. Lucinda M. Hill, to Beloit, Wisconsin, 
about 1854, and there she passed the remain- 
der of her days. There was a family of four 
daughters and two sons: Caroline D., wife of 



176 



BIOGRAPniCAL HIS TOR T. 



Daniel Roberts, died in 1885; Angeliiie T., 
married Ciiarles N. Mattoon, D. D., both 
dying in 1885; Lncinda M.. married I. Mun- 
son Hill; Huldah S. resides with Mrs. Hill; 
Stephen is the tifth in order of birth, and 
Cephas K., the youngest, a successful phy- 
sician, is deceased. 

Stephen Martindale received his education 
in the common schools of Vermont and at 
Burr Seminary, which he entered at the age 
of seventeen years: there he spent three 
years, and was also a student at Cayuga 
Academy, Aurora, New York, for one year; 
he next entered Middlebury College, Ver- 
mi.nt, where he pursued a classical course, 
and was graduated in 1847. Having chosen 
the profession of law for his life work, he 
entered the National Law School at Ballston, 
New York, and studied under the noted Pro- 
fessor James K. Fowler; he was graduated in 
1848, having done a portion of the work re- 
quired before entering this school. His 
father was also a graduate of Middlebury 
College, being a member of the class of 1808, 
and both his father aod paternal grandfather 
were soldiers in the war of 1812, the latter 
being a Colonel and the former a line officer. 
His grandfather also foueht in the llevolu- 
tion, and although a inere child lendered gal- 
lant service. 

Mr. Martindale began the practice cf law 
at Wallingford, Vermont, but soon after- 
ward decided to ren)ove to the West, and in 
1849 he located in Ilacine, Wisconsin. In 
1854 he came to La Crosse, where he has 
since resided. About twenty years ago he 
returned to his native State to look after his 
wife's estate, and remained there two years. 
He has spent several years of his life in the 
mercantile and lumber trades, but the last two 
decades have been devoted to the loan and 
insurance business. 

At the house of his maternal great-grand- 



father, the first declaration of independence 
given to the world was drafted, by virtue of 
which Vermont stood independent of the 
world for fourteen years. The Kent fatnily 
trace their genealogy to Chancellor Kent. 

Mr. Martindale was united in marriage 
October 11, 1855, to Miss Catharine J. How- 
ard, a native of Benson, Vermont, born in 
1825, and a daughter of Major Edward S. 
and Anna (Meeker) Howard. Of this union 
two sons and one daughter have been born: 
Anna H., Stephen, Jr., and Edward Seymour 
Howard. Mr. Martindale has never been an 
office seeker, and dates first presidential vote 
back to Flenry Clay; he has always been a 
stanch supporter of Republican principles 

Mr. Martindale has now in his possession 
deeds find records pertaining to the fainily 
estate, which date back 200 years, and the 
family dates its American origin to 1G85. 

— -^■•' | ' i " s • ! '•-<" — • 




FOX, hotel proprietor. La Crosse, 
Wisconsin. — A city has always 
[■^^j^ •» amono' its distinguishing features 
one which persons of all degrees thoroughly 
uuderstand and appreciate, namely, a homelike 
and elegantly appointed hotel. La Crosse 
has many establishments of this kind, a note- 
worthy one being the Cameron House, con- 
ducted by W. D. Fo.\ and D. P. Smith. Mr. 
Fox was born in Ontario county. New York, 
December 6, 1826, and is a son of George 
and Huldf^h (Sheldon) Fox, natives of Con- 
necticut and New York respectively. He 
received his education in the common schools, 
and at the age of twenty years went to Ohio, 
soon after removing to Wisconsin; there he 
was engaged in the milling business for ten 
years. Later he turned his attention to the 
hotel business, and has kept hostleries all 
along the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 



BIOGRAPSIVAL HISTORY. 



177 



St. Paul Railroad; first he was at Portage, 
where he remained twenty-tive years aud had 
an enviable repntatioii. 

In March, 1880, he came tu La Cros?e to 
take charice of the Cameron House. Here 
everything will be found necessary to tlie tit- 
ting up of a high-class hotel, and the cuisine 
bears deservedly a higii and wide-spread re- 
putation among the best classes of the travel- 
ing public. During the past decade Mr. Fox 
has also been connected with the lumber 
interests here, and has found them quite re- 
munerative. He has associated with him in 
the hotel business D. I'. Smith, possessing 
qualifications that especially fit him for the 
management of a hotel. 



'> 




JILLIAM NEADFELT, one of the 
most reliable agriculturists of Hamil- 
ton township, is the subject of the 
following brief biographical sketch. He is a 
native of Germany, born November 12, 1862, 
and is a son of Dietrich and Dora Neadfelt. 
The father emigrated with his family to 
America in 1869, and after his arrival in 
the United States located in La Crosse 
county, "Wisconsin. Dietrich Neadfelt died 
May 15, 1890, aged fifty-eight years; his 
widow is still living, at the age of sixty-three 
years. Seven children were born to them, 
four in the " Fatherland " and three in 
America. Upon coming to this country our 
subjected invested in 160 acres of land, and 
later made another purchase of 160 acres in 
the same township; this land he has brought 
to a high state of cultivation, and is improved 
with large and convenient buildings. Mr. 
Neadfelt has given especial attention to the 
raising of live-stock, and has some excellent 



grades on his place; he raises oats, corn, hay, 
wheat and barley, liarvesting bountiful crops; 
the farm is well watered, aud is one of the 
most desirable in the community. 

In 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Mena Imgarten, a daughter of German par- 
ents who still live in their native land. Of 
this union five children have been born: 
Henry, Fred, August, Eda and Mary. The 
parents are members of the Bostwick Valley 
Lutheran Chui-ch. Mr. Neadfelt is a worthy 
representative of his countrymen who came 
to America, and with no capital excepting 
that with which Nature has endowed him, 
accomplish the most gratifying results. By 
good management, energy and industry, he 
has accumulated a competence, and is sur- 
rounded with all the comforts invention and 
intelligence can produce. 

Henry Neadfelt, brother of our subject, 
resides with him, and renders him good ser- 
vice on the farm ; two sisters, Mary and Dora, 
are both married and live in this country; 
the former was wedded to Dietrich Radins- 
laben, and the lafrter to "William Byer. 



-^^lym/ir- 



jICHOLAS S. RICE (originally Reis), 
*'" of the firm of Wheeler & Rice, Novelty 
"Works, La Crosse, was born in Madison, 
this State, July 12, 1858, a son of Frederick 
and Christina (Neuraan) Reis. His father, a 
wine-grape grower, was born on the Mosel, 
Prussia, and came to America when a young 
man, locating at Madison, where he died, 
in 1858. His wife was born at Eiffel, near 
Cologne. 

Mr. Rice, our subject, left Madison at the 
age of fourteen years, lived one year and a 



178 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



half at Yankton, Dakota, and in the fall of 
1874 came to La Crosse. Having learned 
the glazier's trade, he followed it here twelve 
years, for Sej^elke, Kolliaus & Co., then 
joined the firm of Lovejoy Btos. & Co., with 
whom he was connected until December, 
1888, when J. E. Wheeler purchased the in- 
terest of the Lovejoy Bros., forming a part- 
nership with Mr. Rice, and they are now 
enjoying a good trade. Mr. Rice is now 
Alderman for the Fifteenth "Ward, serving 
his first term; and he is a member of the 
Society of Modern Woodmen and of the Con- 
cordia Society. 

He was married in La Crosse, to Anna 
Schubert, who was born at Auscha, Austria, 
a daughter of Wenzel and Theresa (Siege- 
mund) Schubert, who came to America in 
1873, settling in La Crosse. They have four 
sons and one daughter: Ernest, Henry, 
Walter, Anna and Emil. 



Hwr 



(HARLES ASA HUNT, Chief of the 
Fire Department of the city of La 
Crosse, was born at Carthage, Jefferson 
county. New York, May 23, 1859, a son of 
OrviUe E. and Esther F. (Crook) Hunt. His 
father, a native of Massachusetts, was a com- 
mercial traveler by occupation. The ancestry 
of this family have been New Englanders for 
generations past. Mr. Hunt's mother w-as a 
daughter of Horace Crook, of New York 
State. 

Mr. Hunt grew up to manhood at Lide- 
pendence, Iowa, wliither his father had moved 
and where he was an extensive carriage- 
maker for many years. In addition to his 
education at the public schools, young 
Charles pursued a course of commercial 
study, and then engaged in commercial life, 
at the age of sixteen years. At eighteen he 



entered upon business for himself, at Inde- 
pendence, and also carried it on at Cedar 
Rapids, Iowa. In 1885 he came to La Crosse, 
where he has since been a merchant. He 
has been a member of the lire department 
three years; is also a member of Official 
Lodge, No. 27, Knights of Pythias, holding 
now therein the office of Keeper of the 
Records and Seal; also a member of the So- 
ciety of Modern Woodmen of America and 
of the Ancient Order of Druids. 

He was married in Chicago, to Miss Lizzie 
E. Blanchard. a native of Philadelphia and a 
daughter of George W. Blanchard, a commis- 
sion merchant of that city. They have one 
son, by name Engene Dale. 



....,g. ;. , r . »; .,^ 

HARLES H. MARQUARDT, M. D., is 
a native of Germany, born in the village 
of Nemrin, province of Pomerania, 
January 6, 1855, son of Frederick and 
Augusta (Baumann) Marquardt. His father 
was a shepherd by occupation, that being the 
general occupation of the Marquardts — men 
of hardy constitutions and medium stature. 
They were of the Lutheran faith and tena- 
cious of their religious principles. In 1868 
Frederick Marquardt came to America and 
established his home at La Crosse, where he 
has been engaged as a laborer in lumber 
yards. He has reared three sous and three 
daughters. 

Charles H. grew to manhood in this city, 
obtained a fair schooling in Germany, and 
engaged as an apprentice in the drug busi- 
ness after arrival in La Crosse. In 1874 he 
went to Philadelphia and etitered the Phila- 
delphia College of Pharmacy, where he was 
graduated in 1876. He then went to Coun- 
cil Bluffs, Iowa, took charge of a drug store 
and began readine medicine under the tutor- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



179 



age of Dr. Henry Osborne. After remaining 
there three years he returned to Fliiladelphia, 
entered Jefferson Medical College, passed 
three years in study and graduated in 1882. 
That year he returned to La Crosse and be- 
gan the practice of medicine, in which he has 
since been successfully engaged. From 1884 
to 1890 he served as city physician; from 
1883 to 1889 as a member of the Pension 
Board; and for several terms as a member of 
tlie School Board. He is now examiner for 
the Germania Life Insurance Company, the 
Michigan Mutual Life Insurance Company, 
and associate examiner for the Equitable 
Life Insurance Company; is also examiner 
for the German branch of the Catholic 
Knights of Wisconsin. He is a member of 
the State Medical Society, and has served 
the La Crosse County Medical Society as its 
vice-president. 

Dr. Marquardt was married, in Hokah, 
Minnesota, February 26, 1889, to Miss 
Frances Burkart, a native of Houston county, 
Minnesota, by whom he has a daughter, 
Sophia. 



^UGO SCHICK, of the firm of Stoltze 
& Schick, architects, L Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Bidjow, Northern 
Austria, January 30, 1855, son of Joseph 
and Annie (Letshouer) Schick. Soon after 
the birth of Hugo his father, a merchant by 
occupation, removed to Vienna and there 
carried on his business till about 1880. On 
both sides of this family tree we find them 
descendants of an old-time ancestry in Aus- 
tria. The house in which Mr. Schick was 
born is claimed to have belonged to this 
family for over seven generations. As a gen- 
eral rule they were people who followed mer- 
cantile pursuits. 



The subject of our sketch was the sixth 
born in a family of four sons and three 
daugliters, of whom one daughter is deceased. 
He grew to manhood in his native land and 
there obtained a good education in the public 
schools, subsequently taking a thorough 
course of study in tlie Polytechnieal School 
and Academy of Arts of Vienna, completing 
his studies at about the age of twenty-two, 
and graduating in a regular course of archi- 
tecture. He spent three years in office work 
in Vienna, and in 1880 came to America; 
was two years in New York city, two years 
in Chicago, and two years at St. Paul, coming 
to La Crosse in 1886. Here he became as- 
sociated with Mr. Stoltze, and has since been 
engaged in a very successful business. 
Among their works here may be mentioned 
the Chicago, Burlington & Northern Rail- 
way depot, Tillman Bros'. Block, schools, 
churches, City Hall, etc., etc. 

Mr. Schick was married in Muscatirte, 
Iowa, to Miss Mary Kendig, of that city, 
daughter of John and Magdalena Kendig, 
natives of Pennsylvania and of German an- 
cestry. They have two daughters and one 
son: Nelly, Jennie and Frederick. The 
family worship at the Methodist Church. 

TTSTAV STOLTZE is a member of the 
firm of Stoltze & Schick, architects. La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, and is prominently 
connected with the business interests of this 
city. 

He was born in Goslar, province of Hano- 
ver, Germany, February 27, 1854, and grew 
to manhood in his native land, there receiving 
a college education. In 1872 he came to 
America and located in Boston. In 1878 he 
completed a thorough technical course of 
study in architecture there, after which for 



1^0 



BWGRAPHJCAL 11 1 STORY. 



two years lie applied liimself to th« practice 
of his profession and worked in tiieotiices of 
Ware & Van Brunt and Rotch & Tilden. 
In 1880 lie came West through an induce- 
ment from a Minneapolis tirm of architecture, 
and remained in tliat city until 1883. Then 
he spent two years in the employ of the 
Northern Pacific Refrigerator Company. Re- 
tiring from that position in 1885, he came to 
La Crosse and opened up a business which he 
has since successfully conducted, having had 
Mr. Hugo Schick as partner since 1888. 
Their designs includs all classes of building 
work. Among the many blocks erected l)y 
their firm may be mentioned the Ileileman 
Brewing Company's brewing building, the 
Odd Eellows Temple, the shops of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Northern Railway, 
chapel and hospital for the Franciscan Sis- 
ters, La Crosse City Hall, residences of 
Stephen Gantert, J. J. Fruit, E. C. Dailey, 
and many others. 

Mr. Stoltze was married in La Crosse to 
Miss Alma Wiggenhorn, daughter of Eugene 
Wiggenhorn. Mr. Stoltze is a member of the 
American Institute of Architects, and as a 
business man and a citizen he is respected 
by all who know him. 



ILMER J. TIEDEMANN, M. D., Ma- 
rine Surgeon of La Crosse, was born in 
Chicago, Illinois, August 10, 1861, a 
son of Anthony and Parthenia (Pierce) Tie- 
demann. His father was a native of Ger- 
many, born near Berlin, and was a merchant; 
and his grandfather, Jacob Tiedeinann, was a 
commander in the merchant marine of Ger- 
many. Many of the ancestors had marine 
occupations. Dietricli Tiedemann was widely 
and favorably known in the medical profession 
as an influential authority in anatomy and 



physiology. Ot this progenitor Elmer J. is 
a direct descendant. The ancestry generally 
had hardy constitutions and a large stature, 
and were long-lived. 

Dr. Tiedemann, our subject, grew to man- 
hood in Chicago, where he attended the pub- 
lic elementary and high schools. From the 
age of eighteen he taught school three years, 
and then, in his twenty-second year, he en- 
tered the old Ohio Medical College at Cin- 
cinnati, and a year afterward Rush Medical 
College at Cliicago, where in 1885 he grad- 
uated. He opened out in practice at West 
Concord, Minnesota, and was prospering 
well, when, on account of injuries received, 
he was compelled in June, 1889, to abandon 
his practice there. He came to La Crosse 
and began to establish a practice which would 
not call him out on trips of exposure. He 
is a member of the Minnesota and the Wis- 
consin State Medical Associations, and also 
of the local medical society. Is now marine 
hospital surgeon for La Crosse. He is a 
member of the A. O. U. W. and of the Ma- 
sonic order, and both himself and wife are 
members of the Congregational Church. 

He was married in Mauston, Wisconsin, 
October 3, 1888, to Miss Jennie Halton 
Davis, a native of Baraboo, this State, and a 
daughter of Richard Halton and Helen 
(Thompson) Davis. They have one son, Ian 
Davis Tiedemann. 

[OLOXEL NELS R. NELSON, Super- 
visor of the Seventh Ward, La Crosse, 
although a native of Denmark, is thor- 
oughly identified with the best interests of 
this city, and is justly entitled to honorable 
mention in the history of La Crosse county. 

He was born at Galthen, province of Jyl- 
land, Denmark, January 18, 1847, son of 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



181 



Rasmus Nelson by his marriage to Karan 
Johnson. His father was also a native of 
Galthen, and was a merchant of that place. 
His ancestors were for the most part agri- 
culturists, and for many generations had 
lived in tiiat province. They were people of 
good station in life, had strong constitutions 
and were noted for their longevity. Our 
subject grew to manhood in his native town, 
and obtained a good common-school educa- 
tion, supplementing it with an academic 
course at Aarhus, which he completed in his 
seventeenth year. The year following he en- 
listed in the Danish army, and served in it 
with the war against Prussia, as Second 
Lieutenant in its reserves. After the war he 
went to Aarhus and entered upon a three 
years' apprenticeship to the dry-goods trade, 
at the expiration of which time he came to 
America, landing in New York city, June 
12, 1868. He located in Oconomowoc, Wis- 
consin, where he made his home until 1873. 
The next two years he spent at Sparta, from 
which place he went to Viroqua. In the fall 
of 1876 he accepted a position with J. W. 
Toms & Co., La Crosse, as traveling sales- 
man, and continued with them until the fall 
of 1879. At that time he engaged with 
Mons Anderson & Son, also dry-goods mer- 
chants, and traveled for them until July 1, 
1881, when he severed his connection with 
the company. He next engaged with Straw, 
Ellsworth & Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 
the hat and cap trade, and remained in their 
employ until January 1, 1890, when he ac- 
cepted a position with the Goll & Frank Co., 
Milwaukee, in the wholesale dry- goods busi- 
ness, in which he is engaged at present. 

Colonel Nelson was married in Sparta, 
Wisconsin, to Miss Anna Pedcrson, and by 
her has had three sons and three daughters. 
Their oldest son, Robert, died and is buried 
in Oak Grove Cemetery. Those living are 



Paul, Klaudia, Kennet, and Agnes and Nora 
(twins). The Colonel is a member of the 
following fraternities: Norden Society, of 
which he has served as president on two dif- 
ferent occasions; the Norraanna Lodge, LO. 
O. F., having passed all the chairs of the 
order; and the A. F. & A. M., being a mem- 
ber of the Chapter. He is also a member of 
the Board of Trade of La Crosse. He and 
his wife worship at the Lutheran Church. 
In 1883 he was appointed by Governor Rusk 
as a member of his staff, and served until 
1889. Is now serving his second term as 
Supervisor of the Seventh Ward, La Crosse. 

— — 4->f^-^ — 



jll^-^ENRY ESPERSEN, although of Euro- 
pean birth, has thoroughly identified 
himself with America and her grand 
institutions, and for many years has been a 
prominent citizen of La Crosse, Wisconsin. 
Briefly stated, a review of his life is as 
follows: 

Henry Espersen was born in Denmark, on 
the island of Bornholm, the home of tlie old 
" Viking's," in the town of Roenne, Feb- 
ruary 11, 1830, son of Christian Espersen by 
his marriage to Margaret Pearsen. His 
father was a watchmaker by trade, and carried 
on his business in Roenne till his death, 
which occurred in 1850 or 1851. The Esper- 
sens were generally artisans, although we find 
branches of the family in the pursuit of other 
interests. Neils Espersen, an uncle of the 
subject of our sketch, was honored by the 
King of Denmark. For inventions and im- 
provements in time-pieces he was made a 
Knight of the order ol' Danneboro and pre- 
sented with the golden cross of honor of that 
knighthood. As a race, the Espersens were 
of medium size, heavy built, hardy constitu- 
tions and long-lived. The Pearsons were 



182 



BIOORAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



merchantmen, and were favorably known in 
tlie marine interests oi: the Kingdom of 
Denmark. 

The snbject of onr sketcli was reared in 
bis native land, and acquired a tliorough 
knowledge of the watchmaker and jeweler's 
business. He bad obtained a good education 
in the public schools, and had supplemented 
it with a training in the military schools of 
Elsinore, for the purpose of taking a com- 
mission in the Danish army; but, on account 
of the quota of officers being full, he tui-ned 
bis attention to his trade. After spending 
some time in Copenhagen he returned to his 
native island and continued there until after 
the death of his mother, when, in 1853, he 
came to America, lie spent three years in 
New York city, and in 1856 located in Mil- 
waukee, coming from there to La Crosse, in 
1858. He has been engaged chiefly in real 
estate interests, building and improving city 
property. 

Mr. Espersen was first married to Mrs. 
Cordelia (Bean) Burns, a native of Missouri, 
widow of Governor Burns. She died in 1867, 
leaving a son, Arthur Espersen, who is now a 
resident of Tacoma, Washington, engaged in 
the real estate business. He formed a second 
marriage with Miss Caroline Matilda Mead, 
a native of Brooklyn, New York, and a cousin 
of ex-Governor Hoffman ot New York city. 
By her he has two sons, Harry Larue and 
Frank Henry. 

When Mr. Espersen came to America he had 
but one dollar in his pocket, and his present 
prominent and influential position is the re- 
sult of his own earnest efforts. He has 
served as Justice of the Peace for La Crosse 
on diflPorent occasions; as Street Commissioner 
and Superintendent of the Poor, the first 
officer in that capacity th« city had; in 1875 
was commissioned by the President as a 
Deputy Surveyor and to make allotments for 



the Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin; in 1877 
was appointed by the President as Surveyor- 
General of Dakota, and held the office until 
July, 1881; served as Kegistrar of the United 
States Land Office here, during President 
Arthur's administration. During the war 
Mr. Espersen oflered his services in the field, 
and, they not being accepted, he took an ac- 
tive part in raising men and means in the 
furtherance of the Union cause. In 1874 he 
was appointed Assistant Sergeant at Arms of 
the Senate of Wisconsin, and served durino- 
the session. 

In the summer of 1870, upon the occasion 
of his second marriage, Mr. Espersen paid a 
visit to the home of his nativity, and traveled 
through Germany, Switzerland and Scandi- 
navia. 



"*" "4 ' 2 " t ' S" "" 

fOHN DENGLEK, cigar manufacturer 
and formerly Mayor of La Crosse, was 
born in Koenigswart, in the German 
part of the Kingdom of Bohemia, Austria, 
January 1, 1849. His father, Francis Dong- 
ler, was a boot and shoe merchant. His 
mother's maiden name was Barbara Dietl. 
Their ancestry were people of good physical 
constitution and long-lived, and were mechan- 
ics, generally blacksmitlis. In 1856 Francis 
Dengler came to America, landing at New 
York city, and the ne.xt year brought the 
family over. 

Mr. John Dengler grew to manhood in 
New York city. At the age of eleven years 
he entered a cigar manufactory, became an 
apprentice at the age of thirteen and a jour- 
neyman at fifteen. He was employed in New 
York city until his twenty-ninth year, during 
which time he served as foreman of different 
factories, always in an amicable relation, those 
under bis superintendency never being dis- 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



183 



posed to "strike." In 1878 he came West 
and spent some six months at St. Paul, and 
in 1879 located at La Crosse. Here he was 
superintendent of John Pamperin's cigar 
manufactory until 1884, since which time he 
has been engaged in the business on his own 
account. He began business for hitnself in 
a small way, for a time employing but two 
hands; but his trade has kept steadily grow- 
ing with tiie constantly increasing demand 
for his goods. His business has grown to 
such proportions that at this writing, in 1891, 
he gives employment to upwards of fifty em- 
ployees, and the products of his factory find 
a ready market in many of the principal 
towns and cities of Wisconsin, Minnesota 
and Iowa. 

Being thoronghly Americanized, Mr. Deng- 
ler takes a lively interest in all public ques- 
tions, both national and State. He is a sup- 
porter of the Republican party, and has done 
much efficient work in the interest of that 
organization, though he has never sought 
political distinction for himself, preferring 
to devote his time to the promotion of his 
business interests. In 1889 he was elected 
Mayor of the city of La Crosse, and faith- 
fully discharged the duties of his office. 

Mr. Dengler is essentially a self-made 
man, and his business success is due to his 
own industry, energy and strict integrity in 
all his commercial transactions. 

He is a member of a number of social or- 
ganizations. 



-|-^^^> 




5f ILBUR I. DUDLEY, one of the re- 
liable farmers and stock-raisers of La 
Crosse county, was born at Guilford, 
New Haven county, Connecticut, March 31, 
1849, and is a son of William L. and Phebe 
Dudley, old and respected residents of La 



Crosse county. He received his education in 
the common schools, at the La Crosse Valley 
Seminary, West Salem, and at a business 
college in Chicago, taking a three months' 
course at the latter place. He began the 
business of life as a farmer, and has since 
followed agriculture. In 1856 he came West 
with iiis parents, who were among the pio- 
neers of the county, and in his youth ex- 
perienced many of the privations and trials 
incident to lite on the frontier. He now re- 
sides two and a half miles southwest of West 
Salem on a valley farm of 300 acres; the 
land is in a high state of cultivation, and 
the improvements are of a most substantial 
character. The residence, which is built of 
brick, is a large and convenient dwelling, and 
has a charming site, overlooking the fertile 
farms which stretch in every direction. Mr. 
Dudley raises grain, hay and hogs; he plants 
from sixty to eighty acres to corn, a little 
more to oats, and fifty to sixty acres to hay. 
Although he raises large numbers of hogs, 
he also has high-grade cattle and horses. He 
is a pronounced type of the progressive farm- 
er, ar.d has been very successful in all his 
undertakings. 

He was married October 9, 1876, to Miss 
Marion A. Bailey, a daughter of George E. 
and Ellen A. Bailey, honored residents of 
Mansfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Bailey is an 
inventor of considerable notoriety, being a 
patentee of an oven sold extensively in this 
country, and patented in England. Mrs. 
Dudley is one of a family of six children, of 
whom she is the oldest; Carrie married 
Alexander McRea; Hattie is the wife of 
Clarence Boylston; George P. married Miss 
Mary Burkenhead; Frank H., who is in the 
bakery business with his father, and Sadie. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Dudley have been born 
five children: George W., Lillian L., Phebe 
E., Walter B. and Sherman L. The parents 



184 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



are members of the Congregational Church. 
Mrs. Dudley is a woman of intelligence and 
culture, and was a successful teacher for 
several years prior to her marriage. Our 
worthy subject is a Republican in his poli- 
tics, and is a stanch supporter of the temper- 
ance movement. 



»SAAC EMEERSON, blacksmith, and the 
fll present Alderman for the Seventh Ward, 
^ of La Crosse, was born in Bergen township, 
Vernon county, Wisconsin, July 24, 1859, a 
son of Andrew and Carrie (Holverson) Era- 
berson. His father was a native of Norway 
and came to America when a young man, 
locating first in Virginia and afterward mov- 
ing to this State, and died September 24, 
1890, leaving four sons and two daughters. 
The mother died in 1866. 

Isaac, as he grew to manhood, learned the 
blacksmith's trade. In 1880 he came to La 
Crosse. 

He was married ' here, to Miss Agnes 
Hughes, a native of St. Mary's, Ontario, 
Canada, and a daughter of Patrick and Cath- 
arine Hughes. Mr. and Mrs. Emberson have 
two sons and one daughter, namely: Mary 
Olive, Andrew Russell and James Murray. 
The third child, Jacob, is deceased. 



|IELS GUSTAV HILLESTAD, County 
Treasurer of La Crosse county, was 
born at Drammen, near Christiania, 
Norway, October 29, 1848, the son of Hans 
and Martha Hillestad, farmers. At the age 
of fifteen years he was apprenticed as a clerk 
in a general mercantile store at Tonsberg. 
In 1866 he came to America, settling here 
in La Crosse and engaging as a clerk until 



1882, and since as a partner with Christian 
Pederson, in clothing and furnishing goods, 
enjoying a successful trade. Being an active 
Worker in the political field, as a Democrat, 
he was ejected in 1890 to his present respons- 
ible position, already named, by a handsome 
majority, in a county which has generally 
been Republican. He is a member of the 
Norden Society, has been one of the efiicient 
officers of the Normanna Sangerkor, was one 
of the charter members and is at present the 
treasurer. He is also the treasurer of the 
I. O. O. F., Normanna Lodge, No. 260. 



►>»f- 




ILLIAM LOHMILLER, agent of 
the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- 
way Company at La Crosse, and 
manager of the La Crosse Fuel Company, 
was born in New York city, April 23, 1844, 
a son of John W. and Elizabeth (Hoerner) 
Lohmiller. His father was a native of Sar- 
bruck, France (now Alsace, Germany), was 
an architect and builder, and came to America 
in 1829, when a young man, locating in New 
York city, where he was married. His wife 
was born near Johannisberg, Bavaria, Ger- 
many. In 1856 .John W. Lohmiller came 
to Wisconsin, locating at Fort Atkinson, 
where he brought up five sons, all of whom 
are still living. 

William, whose name heads this sketch, 
learned the drug trade, following it in Madi- 
son and Fort Atkinson for about twelve 
years; was then agent for the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad Company at Sparta 
nearly fifteen years, and finally he came to 
La Crosse, in 1885. In 1887 he organized 
the La Crosse Fuel Company, of which he 
has since been the manager. He is a Thirty- 
second-degree Mason, being a member of 
Oriental Consistory and also of the Mystic 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



185 



Shrine. He is also a member of the Koyal 
Arcanum, A. O. U. W., and of the Interna- 
tional Association of Ticket Agents. He 
and family attend worship at the Congrega- 
tional Church. At present he is an Alder- 
man of the Fourteenth Ward of La Crosse, 
for term ending 1895. 

He was married in Chicago, in 1871, to 
Miss Charlotte Hickox, a native of Wisconsin 
and a daughter of Lyman Hickox, of Fort 
Atkinson, Wisconsin. Mr. Hickox settled 
in this state from Syracuse, New York, in 
1840. Mr. and Mrs. Lohmiller have three 
sons, viz.: Leavenworth William, a young 
man of bright promise and now a clerk in 
the freight office of the Cliicago & North- 
western Railway Company, and a partner in 
the stationery l)usiness of Fred Leach &Co. ; 
Royal Kasson and Calvin Arthur. 



~^'V5*-»^^-«-°^ 

fOHN ALOYS RENGGLY, M. D., City 
Physician of La Crosse, was born in the 
town of Schmerikon, in the canton of St. 
Gallen, Switzerland, December 27, 1827, son 
of Anton and Therese (Keller) Runggly. His 
father was a farmer by occupation. We find 
these people belonging probably more to 
Entlebneh in the canton of Lucerne. The 
subject of our sketch was reared in Zurich, 
Switzerland, and studied medicine there and 
at Vienna, Austria, completing his studies 
at the age of twenty-four years. He prac- 
ticed his profession at Zurich till 1866, when 
he came to America and direct to La Crosse. 
Here he lias since continued to reside, en- 
gaged in a medical practice. 

Dr. Renggly was married, in Zurich, Swit- 
zerland, to Miss Louise Arbenz. by whom he 
has one son, Alfred, a bookkeeper by profes- 
sion. During the years 1883, '84 and '85 
the Doctor held the office of city physician. 



whicli position he is now tilling. He has 
also served the city as Supervisor of its 
schools. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
and is medical examiner for the lodge to 
which he belongs. 



-^^xn/i/l/- 



-^iruio^^ 



fC. HERRINGTON, yard master for 
the Chicago, Burlington & Northern 
** Railroad at North La Crosse, was born 
in Clyde, New York, in 1853, and is a son of 
John and Julia (Strong) Herrington, natives 
of the Empire State. They removed to Chi- 
cago in 1866, and there passed the remainder 
of their days; tiie father died in 1871, at the 
age of fifty-nine years, and the mother sur- 
vived him fourteen years, passing away at the 
age of sixty-nine years. Young Herrington 
attended the common schools of Chicago 
until he was fourteen years of age, when he 
entered the employ of the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Quincy Railroad Company; he began 
work in the machine shop, where he was for 
eighteen months; then he was fireman on a 
locomotive for three years, at the end of 
which time he was promoted to the switching 
department; there he continued seven years, 
giving complete satisfaction to the company; 
he was next promoted to the position of yard 
master for this company at Chicago, where 
he was until 1886; he was then sent to La 
Crosse to take charge of the ('hicago, Bur- 
lington & Northern yards. He has always 
rendered the railway company the most effi- 
cient service, and his merits have not been 
without recognition. Although young in 
years he is old in the railway business, having 
devoted twenty-three years to the various 
positions he has been called upon to till. 

Mr. Herrington is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias of La Crosse, and holds the office 
of Keeper of the Seals and Records. 



186 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



In 1878 he was united in marriacre to Miss 
Susie Clark of Chicago, a daughter of Hugh 
and Elizabeth (Campbell) Clark; her father 
was a contractor in Chicago; both are now 
deceased; the father died in 18G7, aged forty- 
five years, and the mother in 1886, at the 
age of sixty nine years. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Herriiigton have been born live children: 
George, Frank, Norman, Bessie and Ethel; 
Frankie died at the age of two years and ten 
months, his death being a sore trial to the 
parents. 



-^-nym/l/- 



■^jin/1^^ 



|CHNELL BROS., brick manufacturers, 
La Crosse, one of the most noted and 
successful concei-ns in this part of the 
State, extensively engaged in the manufacture 
of brick, is that conducted by Schnell Bros., 
(Pliilipp and John), who have owned and 
operated the Schnell Bros, brick yards for 
the last five years. They turn out from 
1,200,000 to 1,500.000 bricks per year and 
sell the same in La Crosse. These brothers 
are doing a good business and are energetic 
and industrious citizens who are a credit to 
any community. They are well liked by 
their business associates. Their parents, 
Frederick and Marguerette Schnell, were na- 
tives of Germany and came to the United 
States in 1870. The father is still living, on 
an adjoining farm, but the mother received 
her final summons in 1889, at the age of 
sixty-three. 

Phillip Schnell was married in 1882, to 
Miss Lena Feyen, daughter of Nicholas and 
Katie Feyen, natives of Germany who came 
to La Crosse about 1858. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Schnell have been born three children: John, 
Charles and Philipp. Mr. Schnell has been 
called to serve his town in a number of posi- 
tions and has done so with credit to himself 



and to the satisfaction of his fellow townsmen. 
He and his brother John are independent in 
their political views, voting for the man 
rather than the party. Both are members of 
the Lutheran Church. John is unmarried. 

— .■«.i g ' 3n; « g 




L. DUDLEY, a citizen of La Crosse 
county, has borne iiis share of the 
"* burden that falls to the lot of the 
pioneer; he has aided in preparing the way 
for the march of civilization and progress, 
and it is to such men that the present gener- 
ation is indebted for the rare educational fa- 
cilities and the many opportunities afforded 
both in agricultural and commercial life. He 
was born in New Haven county, Connecticut, 
October j^6, 1816, and is a son of William 
and Deborah (Lee) Dudley, natives of Con- 
necticut. His father died in tiie State in 
which he was born, at the age of sixty-five 
years; the mother, a most noble and lovable 
woman, died in 1827, aged forty-four years. 
Both were exemplary Christians, and devout 
members of the Congregational Church. They 
reared a family of two sons and five daugh- 
ters, three of whom are living. 

W. L. Dudley was reared on his father's 
farm in Connecticut, and agriculture has 
been his principal occupation through life, 
and in this calling ho has been deservedly 
successful. In his youth he worked for a 
period of three years in a comb factory, and 
he was very highly spoken of by his employ- 
ers. His motto in life has been, " Keep thy 
word sacred and inviolate," and a life accord- 
ing to this precept has brought its reward. 

In 1856 he emigrated to Wisconsin from 
Connecticut, and settled in LaCrosse county; 
the following year his family made'the jour- 
ney, and as his health was greatly improved 
by the change, they decided to remain. He 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



187 



has been very wise in his investments, and 
now owns several hundred acres of land, a 
large portion of which is as fine as lies within 
the borders of the county; his improvements 
are of a substantial character, his residence 
is delightfully situated, and he is surrounded 
with all the comforts of the day. His farm 
is well adapted to the raising of grains and 
live-stock, and he is numbered atnong the 
most reliable farmers of the county. 

Mr. Dudley was united in the holy bonds 
of matrimony November 10, 1841, to Miss 
Phebe A. Ives, a daughter of Daniel and 
Elizabeth Ives, of New Haven county, Con- 
necticut. Her father died when she was a 
young girl, but her mother lived to be over 
eighty years old. Of this union two sons 
and two daughters were born. Caroline 
married John Aldrich, and they have had 
seven children ; Walter W. resides in Chicago, 
married Miss Elizabeth Beeclier, and they 
are the parents of one child, Grace; Wilbur 
I., a sketch of whom will be found on another 
page of this volume, and Jennie L., wife of 
Henry D. Griswold, who died leaving lour 
children; she was a worthy member of the 
Congregational Church and a woman of un- 
usual force of character. 



fRED HEMKER, one of the progressive 
and entei prising citizens of Hamilton 
township, is entitled to the following 
space in the record of the leading men of La 
Crosse county. He was born in Hanover, 
Germany, July 22, 1836, and is a son of 
Henry and Sophia (Elo) Hemker, natives of 
the German Empire. The father was a farmer 
by occupation, and followed his calling with 
rare intellitrence. In 1866 he emigrated to 
America, and after his arrival in the United 
States came to La Crosse county, where he 



lived with his children. Fred Hemker is the 
youngest of a family of six children. At the 
age of fourteen years he began to learn the 
trade of a brick and stone mason, and worked 
at this business fourteen years in his native 
land. In 1864 he determined to come to the 
LTnited States, and carrying out this determi- 
nation we find him a citizen of Hamilton 
township. Here he worked at his trade for 
three or four years, and after his marriage in 
1869 he settled on a farm of 220 acres, 
located in the La Crosse valley. This was 
wild land, entirely unimproved, but years of 
toil have converted it into one of the most 
beautiful and fertile tracts in the township. 
The principal crops are wheat, oats and corn. 
Mr. Hemker also does a thriving dairy busi- 
ness, keepirig from twelve to fourteen head 
of cows. He has some good hogs of the 
Poland-China stock, and a few fine head of 
horses. His buildings are of good style, 
roomy and convenient; the residence is partly 
of solid and partly of veneered brick, and is 
situated on an attractive spot, commanding 
a view of this fertile vallej'. The cellar is 
one of the finest in the State, being cut in 
the solid rock. There is a thrifty young 
-orchard, and all the surroundings are pleasing 
and homelike. 

Mr. Hemker has been a member of the 
Town Board for six years, and in this capacity 
has done his community most ethcient service. 
He is a man of good, sound judgment, is 
genial and courteons of manner, and a good 
representative of his fellow-countrymen. He 
is president of the Free-Thinkers' Society of 
Bostwick valley, and is one of its most ad- 
vanced members. 

He was married in 1869 to Miss Wilhel- 
mine Wege, a daughter of Henry and Sophia 
AVege, residents of Hamilton township. Mrs. 
Hemker is one of a family of five cliildren: 
Fred, Lizzie, Mary, Dora and herself. She is 



188 



BWGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



a woman of kind, gentle disposition, and 
liiglily esteemed by a wide circle of acquaint- 
ances. To our subject and wife have been 
born three children: Emma, Fred and Alfred. 
Fred is overseeing the farm, and has displayed 
great aptitude for agricultural pursuits. 



lAMUEL MATHESON, a generaj 
merchant at Bangor, was born in Nor. 
way, fourteen miles from Christiania, 
February 11, 1843, a son of Matheus Swan- 
sen, a native of Norway, who is now ninety 
years of age. Our subject was reared to farm 
life, and educated in the common schools of 
his native place. He came to the United 
States in 1866, and first stopped two years 
in Dane county, Wisconsin, after which he 
removed to Trempealeau county. Hespent 
the first seven years in this State in working 
on a farm during the summers and in the 
lumber woods in the winters. In the fall of 
"1873 he bejran clerking in the store of A. H. 
Kneland, in Galesville, Trempealeau county, 
and remained with him until 1876, when he 
and iiio cousin, John E. Johnson, engaged in 
the hardware business at Blair, theirs being 
the first hardware store in that place. Their 
building was destroyed by fire July 27, 1891. 
Mr. Matheson sold his interest in 1878, after 
which he owned and operated a farm two 
years, and then engaged in clerking in a 
wholesale hardware store two years at La 
Crosfe. In 1881 he went to Onalaska, Wis- 
consin, where he clerked one year, and in 
1882 came to Bangor and engaged in his 
present business. He carries a full line of 
general merchandise, having a capital stock 
of $5,500 and annual sales amounting to 
$15,000. 

Mr. Matheson was married December 19, 
1874, to Caroline Thompson, who was born 



October 16, 1848, a daughter of Thorsten 
Thompson, of Taylor, South Dakota. They 
have five children, four of whom still survive, 
namely: Laura, born August 22, 1875; Inga 
C, August 14, 1880; Mollie B., December 2, 
1883; and Thomas A.. August 1, 1886. The 
deceased, Fritchof, died at the age of five 
years. The mother died August 8, 1889. 
She was reared a Lutheran, Init at the time 
of her death was a consistent member of the 
Presbyterian Church. She was an affec- 
tionate wife and mother, and her loss is 
keenly felt by her neighbors and friends. She 
was a devoted Christian worker, and a valu- 
able member of society. Our subject also 
was reared a Lutheran, and still holds to the 
mother church. He is a member of the M. 
W. of A. 



HARLES W. MoKENZlE, a pioneer of 
the La Crosse valley, resides on section 
6, range 5 west, Bangor township. La 
Crosse county. He was born in Waltham, 
Addison county, Vermont, a son of Abraham 
McKenzie, a native of New Hampshire, but 
an early settler of this county, having located 
here in 1854. Our subject's mother, Sophia 
Brown, also a native of Vermont, was a 
daughter of the noted Phineas Brown, who 
came from Waltham, England, in an early 
day. lie was the first settler in Waltham, 
Massachusetts, and also named the place, and 
years afterward he removed to Vermont and 
established and named the Waltham of that 
State. Our subject's grandfather, Ale.xander 
McKenzie, a native of Scotland, was pressed 
aboard a British man-of-war and sent to 
America as a British soldier; but his uncle, 
John McKenzie, then second in command, 
refused to allow them to compel Alexander 
to sign the papers, and drew his sword to 




'^■V'V>"-..rx<w"u^(^' r 



-^^-^^i^^-Z-/^ii:e 



BIOGRAPBWAL HISTORY. 



189 



emphasize his assertion. The captain finally 
exempted him, putting him ashore at Boston, 
when seventeen years of age. He at once 
enlisted on board an American privateer? 
where he served three jears, and afterward 
two years on land, participating in the battle 
of Brandy wine and many others. He was a 
personal friend of President Monroe, and 
died an honored citizen of Waltham, Ver- 
mont. Onr subject's parents had nine chil- 
dren, four of whom are now living, namely: 
Sophia, now Mre. Burke; Sarah, who married 
Mr. Meader, and lives in La Crosse; and 
Belle, now Mrs. Carrigan, of Sparta, Wis- 
consin. 

Mr. McKenzie, our subject, was reared to 
farm life, and educated in the common 
schools of his native county, and also taught 
school one term in Vermont. He eam.e to 
Winnebago county, Wisconsin, in 1850, where 
he worked at the carpenter's trade tlie first 
summer, and the following winter taught 
school in Chester township, near Waupun, 
Dodge county, Wisconsin, and later taught 
two terms where Brandon now stands, in 
Fond du Lac county. In August, 1851, he 
settled on his jiresent tarni of 200 acres 
which he purchased from the State, and at 
once jiut up a log cabin and began to keep 
bach. The first night he had six Indians to 
stay with him, who were then numerous Init 
peaceable. He made rails and fenced land 
the first winter, and in the latter part of the 
same season he went to La Crosse and with 
his oxen hauled the timber for tlie first dock 
ever built in La Crosse. In the fall of 1851 
Mr. McKenzie freighted goods from Sheboy- 
gan to La Crosse, camping out at nights, 
which were made hideous by the howling of 
wolves, and the only weapons he possessed 
were an ax and a jack-knife. In April, 1852, 
he returned to Oshkosh, and worked in a saw- 
mill at that place until the spring of 1854 
11 



and was also engaged in teaching school 
during the winters. He brought his wife to 
this place in June, 1854. and, the roof being 
gone from his cabin, they lived in the wagons 
three weeks, using the old cabin for a stable. 
He hauled lumber from the Kickapoo valley, 
forty miles distant, and after reaching the 
mill the lumber was all engaged, and he 
begged permission to run the mill that night, 
and in that way secured enough lumber to 
load his wagons. He built a small frame 
house, which was the first one ever built in 
this vicinity. 

Mr. McKenzie was married in Waupiin, 
April 10, 1852, to Lydia B. Roberts, a native 
of Vermont, and daughter of Samuel Rob- 
erts, now deceased. They have three chil- 
dren: Ida, now Mrs. Dr. Newton, of Bangor; 
Emma, and Mary, now the wife of Dr. Samuel 
Jones, of Minneapolis. Mr. McKenzie was 
Town Treasurer one term, and also Superin- 
tendent of Schools two years. Socially he is 
a member of the A. O. V. W., and religi- 
ously of the Baptist Church. He attended 
the organization of the first Baptist Church 
in La Crosse valley, which occurred in Janu- 
ary, 1852, at the house of Deacon Samuel 
Smith, services being conducted Ijy Elder 
William Card, who formerly preached in 
Fond du Lac and other points. 

mEVI WITHEE, whose name has been 
'n/ff known and honored in La Crosse county 
^^' since 1853, is the descendant of sturdy 
New England ancestors. His parents were 
Zachariah and Polly (Longley) Withee, na- 
tives of Maine, the father being of Irish line- 
age, and the motiier of English extraction. 
Zachariah Withee was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and was a leading member of the agri- 
cultural community. He was a soldier in 



190 



BIOGRAPHIOAL UTtiTORY. 



the war of 1812, and for the service rendered 
his country received a land warrant. His 
wife was one of tlie liest of women, possess- 
ing that great breadth of character which 
enabled her to befriend the distressed and 
needy, and to give companionship to those of 
high estate. For over fifty years she and 
her iuisband were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church; lie died in 1876, at the age 
of eight}'- two years; she passed away in 1871, 
at the age of seventy-four. Levi Withee was 
born in Somerset county, Maine, October 26, 
1834, and is the fifth of a family of seven 
children, only three of whom survive. He 
received his education in his native State, and 
was reared to tlie occupation of a farmer. 
The tide of emigration was sweeping west- 
ward, and the opportunities seemed so mnch 
greater to the young and ambitious man that 
in 1853 Mr. Withee found himself in La 
Crosse, Wis/onsin, taking up the laliorions 
life of the pioneer. He secured employment 
with a lumber firm, and in 1859 was enabled 
to open a business on his own account, in 
Clark county, Wisconsin. Prosperity has 
attended his every action, and he has accu- 
mulated a handsome estate. He is one of 
the large stockholders of the Island Mill 
Lumber Company, of the Abattoir of La 
Crosse, of the Electric Light Plant, and of the 
Gas Light Company. He has for several 
years been a member of the firm of Bright & 
Withee, a logging company, and of tlie La 
Crosse Farming Company. He is a man of 
excellent business ability, of sound judgment 
and keen foresight, and unusual executive 
ability. 

Mr. Withee was married, June 3, 1868, to 
Miss Lovisa Smith, a daughter of Orano-e 
and Harriet (Ketchum) Smith, of La Crosse, 
Wisconsin. Her father was born in Franklin 
county, New York, October 11, 1800, and 
died near West Salem, Wisconsin, in 1884. 



He was a farmer and resided in Franklin 
county till 1835, when he emigrated to Cook 
county, Illinois. Later he went to Lake 
county, Illinois. In 1851 he came to La 
Crosse county, and entered a farm near 
Onalaska, which he sold in 1875, and re- 
moved to West Salem, Wisconsin, in 1876. 
He was County Commissioner for three years, 
and was Justice of the Peace at Onalaska for 
many years. He was honorable, prudent, and 
persevering in any cause he espoused, and left 
behind him an untarnished reputation. 

He was married to Harriet Ketchum, a 
native of Brooklyn county, Vermont. She 
died in Illinois, in February, 1851. His sec- 
ond marriage was to Laurina Holden, who 
was born in Vermont in 1814. Nine chil- 
dren were born of his first marriage, only 
three of whom are living: Henry, the oldest, 
lives at Grant's Pass, Oregon; Mrs. Sarah 
Smith and Mrs. Lovisa AVithee. Politically 
Mr. Smith affiliates with the Republican 
party, and takes an active interest in all enter- 
prises tending to advance the city, county and 
State. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Withee has been born 
one child, Abner, a pupil of the La Crosse 
public schools. The parents are members of 
the Universalist Church, of which Mr. Withee 
is a trustee. In his political opinions he 
adheres to the Republican party. 



lETER KIENHOLZ, Clerk of the Cir- 
cuit Court of La Crosse county, was 
■^ born in Brienz, canton of Berne, Swit- 
zerland, November 25, 1840, a son of Peter 
and Magdalena (Scliild) Ivienholz. His father, 
a carpenter by trade, emigrated to America 
in 1856, settling in Shelby township. La 
Crosse county, where he brought up a son 
and five daughters, and died August 1, 1884. 



BIOGRAPUIGAL HISTORY. 



191 



Mr. Kienholz, our subject, was reared to farm 
life, and has continued therein until the 
present, in Shelby township. He was mar- 
ried in this county, to Miss Mary Ilass, a 
native of Fomerania, Prussia, and a daughter 
of Frederick William and Henrietta (Hass) 
Hass. Mr. and Mrs. Kieidiolz have three 
sons and one daughter: John Peter, Louisa, 
William Peter and George Edwin. Mr. 
Kienholz is a member of the Jefferson Club, 
and he and his wife worship at the German 
Reformed Church. 



fE. WHEELER, president of the Ex- 
change State Bank, and proprietor of 
* the Novelty Wood Works of North La 
Crosse, has been identified with the interests 
of La Crofse county since 1879, and is de- 
serving of more than passing mention. He 
is a native of the Empire State, born in Buf- 
falo, October 10, 1850. His parents, John 
R. and Mary (Rockwell) Wheeler, came from 
the same State. The father emigrated to 
Wisconsin in 1858, and settled in Walworth 
county; he was connected with a bank there 
for three years, and then removed to Colum- 
bns. He made a trip to Colorado with his 
son, our subject, and made investments in 
sheep, cattle, in the gold and smelting works, 
and other enterprises. He came to La Crosse 
in poor health, and died here September 19, 
1881, upon the same day that President Gar- 
field passed away. His age was sixty-six 
years. His wife died in 1859, at the age of 
thirty-eight years. They were both consist- 
ent members of the Episcopal Church, and 
were people of rare culture and refinement. 
After Mr. Wheeler was forty-live years of 
age he mastered the Spanish, German and 
French languages. He began life with few 
advantages, save his own high purposes, and 



arose to a position commanding the honor 
and deepest respect of an advanced com- 
munity. Mrs. Wheeler was for many years 
a teacher in the higher grades in the schools 
of the South, and was one of the most suc- 
cessful of educators. 

J. E. Wheeler, son of the above, was edu- 
cated in Racine College, where he was a class- 
mate of Governor Merriam, of Minnesota. 
He was graduated with the honors of his 
class in 1870, and after this important event 
was engaged as teller in the bank belonging 
to his father in Columbus, Wisconsin. He 
remained there one year, and in 1871 went 
into the cattle trade in Kansas; in this 
venture he lost all he had on account of the 
prairie fires that raged that season and the 
severe winter which followed. The sheep 
business next engaged his attention in Colo- 
I'ado. There he was eminently successful, and 
in five years made as much as he had lost in 
the cattle trade. 

In 1879 he purchased a large interest in 
the First National Bank of Colorado Springs, 
but sold this in order to give his attention to 
the settlement of his father's estate; this 
business required his time for five years. In 
1888 he was elected president of the Ex- 
change State Bank, and in the fall of 1891 
was re-elected to the office. The capital 
stock of this bank is $25,000. The vice- 
president is N. B. Hoi way; cashier, H. P. 
Magill, and teller, E. B. Nelson. Mr. Wheeler 
is one of the directors of the La Crosse Wal- 
lace Carriage Works, and is the owner and 
proprietor of the Novelty Wood Works; this 
is an important industry to the city of La 
Crosse, manufacturing lumber, lath, shingles, 
sash, doors, blinds, fancy hard-woods, and ar- 
ticles in wood for patentees. 

Mr. Wheeler owns two farms, one in Colo- 
rado and one in Walworth county, Wiscon- 
sin; the former is a milk ranch, con- 



193 



DIOORAPniCAL UISTORY. 



taining 4,000 acres, and pasturing 125 cows. 
In 1874 be was joined in wedlocii to Miss 
Alice Edwards, a lady of culture and a daiigli- 
ter of J. L. Edwards, of Walworth county, 
Wisconsin. Three children have been born 
of this union: J. Kussell, Herbert E. and 
Marie Adelaide. The parents are members 
of the Episcopal Church, and occupy a lead- 
inir jjosition in social cii'cles. Mr. Wheeler 
is a man of the most correct business meth- 
ods, is courteous and affable of manner, and 
enjoys the esteem of all classes of citizens. 
He has a beautiful home, where he has sur- 
rounded his family with all the comforts that 
our present civilization sugcrests. 

fENZEL GRAMS, dealer in groceries, 
provisions, wines, liquors, etc., and 
Alderman for the Thirteenth Ward, 
La Crost-e, was born in Teschen on the Elbe, 
Austria, September 29, 1851, a son of August 
and Eleanora (John) Grams, who came to 
America in 1857, landing at ISew York 
city. Coming directly to La Crosse county, 
they settled on a farm in Greenfield town- 
ship, where the father died l^eptembcr 25, 
1865, and is buried in Mormon Coolie ceme- 
tery. Of their family four sons and one 
daughter are living: Frank, a farmer of 
Eureka, Dakota; Anna, the wife of Michael 
Knnk of La Crosse; and the three brothers, 
Wenzel, John and August, who constituted 
the firm of W. Grams & Bros., until 1886, 
when Wenzel bought the interest of his 
brothers, who later engaged in the manufact- 
ure of boilers at La Crosse. 

In November, 1867, Mrs. Grams married 
Frantz Heini-ich of Vernon county, Wiscon- 
sin, where they resided until 1875, when they 
removed to La Crosse. Mr. Beinrich died 




in September, 1879, and Mrs. Heinrich on 
September 21, 1880. 

Mr. Wenzel Grams, our subject, grew to 
manhood on a farm, leaving it September 10, 
1875, to enfrage in mercantile business at the 
present stand. In 1887 he was elected Alder- 
man for his ward, and re-elected in the spring 
of 1891. 

He was married February 22, 1879, at 
La Crosse, to Katharina Leisgang, a native of 
America and a daughter of Ji^hn and Mary 
Leisgang, natives, of Germany. They have 
one son and two daughters, namely: Camilla 
Katharina, born April 10, 1880,; Leonora 
Mary, Feliruary 7, 1882, and Alfred Wenzel, 
August 30, 1886. George August, the 
youngest child, is deceased. 

John Leisgang, the father of ISIrs. Grams, 
was born in Bavaria, April 29, 1831. He 
came to this country with his parents about 
1852, locating at Milwaukee. He was a 
shoemaker by ti-ade. 

On Dec ember 15, 1857, at Hustisford 
Wisconsin, he married Mary Kartas, who 
was born near Trior in Prussia, June 22, 
1835. She emigrated to America with her 
parents, arriving at Milwaukee October 6, 
1852. To Mr. and Mrs. Leisgang were born 
five sons and four daughters, but one died in 
infancy and one at the age of thirteen years. 
Those living are Katherina,wife of W. Grams; 
Mary; Maggie, the wife of II. Schultz; Liz- 
zie, who wedded George Egelburg, of Mil- 
waukee; John, Frank and Charley, who live 
at home with their mother in La Crosse. 
Mr. Leisgang died at his home in La Crosse, 
July 26, 1886. 



[cv O. TOLLEFSON, farmer, Barru Mills, 

Wisconsin. Although a compara- 

® lively young man Mr. Tollefson has 



BIOGBAPSIOAL HISTORY. 



193 



risen to a position in agricultural affairs in 
La Crosse county which many older in years 
and opportunities might envy, lie is the 
only son of six children born to Ole and 
Mary Halverson (Strand) Tollefson, natives 
of Norway. The parents emigrated to the 
United States in 1852 and went first to Kosh- 
koJong, Wisconsin, where they remained two 
years. In 1854 they removed to La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, where their only son, T. 
C)., and five daughters were born. The father 
and mother and three daughters are now re- 
siding in La Crosse. One daughter is living 
in Menomonie, Dunn county, Wisconsin, 
and another in Trempealeau county of this 
State. T. O. Tollet'son attained his growth 
ill liis native county and was married in 1880 
to Miss Lisette Wege, a native of Germany 
and the daughter of Henry and Sophia Wege, 
also natives of that country. Mr. Wege died 
in Germany in 1861, at the age of tifty years; 
and his widow, with five children — Lisette, 
Minnie, Fred, Mary and Dora — came to the 
United States, settling in La Crosse county. 
She is now residing with her daughter Min- 
nie. Mary is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Tollef- 
son's marriage resulted in the birth of three 
children: Arthur K., Orrin J. and one de- 
ceased, unnamed. They are worthy inerabers 
of the Lutheran Church of Bostwick Valley 
and liberal contributors to the same. Mr. 
Tollefson has held a number of local positions 
and has filled them in a creditable and satis- 
factory manner. He is the owner of a fine 
tarm of 230 acres, all valley land, and has it 
under a good state of cultivation. He has a 
large farm house, a stone-basement barn cap- 
able of stalling eight head of horses and forty 
head of cattle, and is one of the prominent 
stock-raisers of the townsliip, keeping a good 
grade of horses, cattle and liogs. His sur- 
roundings indicate thrifty, energetic and 
capable management. He is a public-spirited 



citizen and gives his hearty support to all 
worth}' enterprises for the advancement of 
the county. In politic* he aftiliates with the 
Republican party. 



D. GOODRICH, station agent for the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 
' way Company, at West Salem, was 
born in Rutland county, Vermont, March 8, 
1835, and is the son of Mason and Sarah C. 
(Dana) Goodrich, natives of the " Green 
Mountain " State. The father was a black- 
smith and machinist by trade, and followed 
this occupation until 1859, when he came to 
Wisconsin and engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits in Dane county; later he removed to 
Sun Prairie, and there purchased a shop and 
resumed his trade. He died in 1869, at the 
age of sixty- three years; his wife died in 
1856; they were consistent members of the 
Congregational Church. They reared a 
family of five children, four of whom are 
still living: Henry enlisted in 1862, in Com- 
pany K, Thirty-third Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, was soon afterward taken ill and 
died, at the age of twenty-two years; A. D., 
the subject of this notice, had been engaged 
in agricultural pursuits two years when he 
abandoned this work, and enlisted in the same 
company and regiment as his brother. He 
was in many of the most noted engagements 
of the war, and did valiant and faithful ser- 
vice in the cause he had espoused. He was 
on duty for three years, and in this time par- 
ticipated in sLxteeu battles: Cold Water, 
Mississippi; the siege of Vicksburg for thirty 
days; Jackson, Mississippi, for two days; 
Pleasant Hill Landing, Louisiana; Ft. De 
Russy, Louisiana; Yellow Bayou, Louisiana; 
Cane River, Louisiana; Marks ville, Louisiana; 
Tupelo, Mississippi; Old Town Creek, Louisi- 



104 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



ana; Nashville, Tennessee, two days; the siege 
of Mobile and Spaniah Fort, for fifteen days; 
Canjargo Cross Roads, Clautiervilie, Bayon 
fiofcf and Coushatte Chnte. He enlisted as 
a private, and was first promoted to the otMce 
of Orderly Sergeant, and later to the First 
Lieutenancy, a position he had filled eit^ht 
months before the close of the war. He was 
lionorably discharged August 14, 1865, but 
was mustered out of the service in July, hav- 
ing served three years to a day. He was never 
wounded or taken prisoner, and endured the 
exposure and privations fairly well. At 
Tn])elo, Mississippi, he received a sun-stroke, 
in July, 1804; this caused him considerable 
discomfort, and in consequence he now has a 
pension from the United States Government. 
After the cessation of hostilities lie returned 
to his home and took up farming, which he 
pursued until 1869. In that year he began 
working for the Chicago, Milwaukee &, St. 
Paul Railway Company, and for twenty-two 
years has been in their employ; he has been 
agent at De Forest, Windsor, Arlington, 

M and West Salem, making a record 

as an efficient, courteous and capable officer. 
As a citizen, his loyalty can never be ques- 
tioned, and he is a liberal supporter of home 
industries. 

Mr. Goodrich was united in marriage in 
1861, to Miss Lydia A. Walker, a daughter 
of Amos J. Walker, of Whiting, Vermont; 
one child was born of this union, Bessie, who 
is now the wife of Carroll Cook; Mr. and 
Mrs. Cook are the parents of one child. Mrs. 
Goodrich died in September, 1862, at the age 
of twenty-si.\ years. She and her husband 
had determined that she would bettergo to her 
parents in Vermont and remain there during 
his term of service in the army, but she was 
taken ill and died the day they had set for 
her starting on the journey. The daughter 
Bessie was then taken to her grandparents. 



and still resides in Vermont. Mr. Goodrich 
was married a second time in the fall of 1867, 
when he was united to Miss Josephine Van 
Wie, a daughter of John and Emeline Van 
Wie, of Windsor, Wisconsin. Five children 
have been born to them: Emma, Julia, who 
died at the age of ten years; Clarence, John 
and Edna. Clarence is engaged as night 
operator in his father's office. Mr. Goodrich 
is a member of the Masonic order and of the 
Union Veteran Legion of La Crosse. Politi- 
cally he affiliates with Republican Jiarty. 

W. WOOD, proprietor of one of the 
best hotels in this section of country, 
is a native of Jefferson county. New 
York, born at Watertown, September 24, 
1833. His parents were Lorenzo and Ann 
L. (Jenison) Wood, who were also natives of 
the "Empire State." The father died when 
our subject was a child of three years; the 
mother supported him and a sister, Harriet, 
until the death of the latter, in 1845; when 
L. W. was nine years of age he began to earn 
his own living, and from the time he had a 
home it was the shelter of his aged mother; 
she died at the age of sixty-eight years, 
a devout member of the Congregational 
Church, and aw'oman of rare force of character. 
In 1854 Mr. Wood removed to Wisconsin 
from New York, and embarked in the rail- 
road building which was then being begun 
by the Chicago, Milwaukee ct St. Paul Rail- 
way Company. When the road was com- 
pleted he was made a conductor and held 
that position for nine years. At the end of 
that period he resigned toengageiu the hard- 
ware business; he learned the trade of a 
tinner, but afterwards abandoned it to take 
up agriculture; he carried on farming until 
1890, and in that year built the hotel over 



BIOORAPEIGAL HISTOBT. 



195 



which he presides with great success. He 
keeps a lirst-class house in every respect; 
tliere are twenty sleeping rooms for guests, 
an office, parlor and dining rooms, all of 
which are well furnished. Mr. Wood sold 
his farm in 1890, and gives his undivided 
attention to the care and comfort, of the 
guests of the house. 

He was married in 1858, to Miss Clarissa 
D. Wyatt, a daughter of William and Clarissa 
(Dodge) Wyatt, of Erie county, Pennsylvania. 
Of this union three children have been born: 
Luther W. is the agent for the Chicago & 
Northwestern Railroad at Huron, Dakota, a 
position he has filled for twelve years; he 
married Miss Carrie Mower and they have 
three children: Burt, Gracie and Wyatt; 
Mary E. is the wife of George T. McElroy 
uf West Salem, and is the mother of two 
children: Clara and Blanche; Charles W. 
is the cashier in the office with his brother at 
Huron, Dakota. The parents of these child- 
ren are members of the Second Advent 
Church. Mr. Wood belongs to the Masonic 
fraternity, and in his political opinions ad- 
heres to the principles of the Prohibition 
party. He and his wife have proven their 
ability and qualificatione to fill the position 
of host and hostess in their popular hostelry; 
they have a constantly increasing patronage, 
a fact which shows the appreciation of the 
traveling public. 

William Wyatt, father of Mrs. Wood, was 
born at West Point, New York, and was a 
tanner by trade; he carried on this business 
in Pennsylvania and New York, and after- 
ward engaged in mercantile pursuits. Later 
in life he removed to Stevens' Point, and 
there acted as Notary Public and land agent. 
He was born March 26, 1802, and died 
March 8, 1864; his wife was born in the 
State of New York, January 15, 1812, and 



died April 29, 1837. They reared a family 
of four children: Mary E., John H., William 
E. and Mrs. L. W. Wood. 



fK. JOHNSON, the subject of the fol- 
lowing biographical sketch, occupies a 
* position in the commercial circles of 
La Crosse county which entitles him to more 
than a passing metition in this history. He 
is a native of Norway, born February 14, 
1856, and is a son of Johannes Mikkelson 
and Maliue (Tiioreson) KoUostueri, also Nor- 
wegians by birth. The mother is an honored 
resident of this county, living with her 
oldest daughter at Onalaska. The father 
died January 1, 1889, at the age of seventy- 
six years. J. K. Johnson is the ninth of a 
family of ten children, eight of whom are 
living. He received his education in the 
common schools and at Atwell's Business 
College, La Crosse, being a graduate there in 
1872. His first business undertaking was as 
a clerk in North La Crosse, where he was 
employed by the firm of Tarbox & Son. The 
following year he taught school at New 
Amsterdam, La Crosse county, and although 
this was an entirely new vocation, he suc- 
ceeded remarkably well. He did not follow 
the profession any length of time, but re- 
sumed clerking, accepting a position with G. 
H. Leet; at the end of six months, however, 
he agreed to teach one term of school at 
Holland, Wisconsin. When this was finished 
he returned to West Salem, and was em- 
ployed as a clerk in the general store of E. 
Johnson, who was postmaster of the place. 
In the spring of 1879 he purchased a half 
interest in the store in which he had been 
employed, the firm name being changed to 
E. Johnson & Co. This relationship existed 
until April, 1881, when E. Johnson sold his 



l'J6 



BIOORAPUICAL UISTORY. 



interest to L. Larson, and tlie firm name be- 
came Jolmson iV; Larson (see sketcli cf L. 
Larson.) Tliis is the leading general mer- 
cantile tirin of the place; they do a heavy 
business, and have a continnally increasing 
trade. The snccess of Mr. Johnson is not 
due to chance, but to the tact that he has 
made the most of his opportunities. Being 
endowed with superior business qualiiications, 
he has persevered in all his undertakings 
until his efforts have been crowned with 
8;;cces8. 

lie was appointed Postmaster by President 
Hayes, and tilled the ofHce four years with 
credit tt) himself and with entire satisfaction 
to the public. Before his appointment he 
had served as Deputy Postmaster for six or 
seven years, and was familiar with every de- 
tail of tlie business. 

Mr. Johnson was united in marriage, .Inly 
6, 1881, to Miss Nettie Larson, a daughter of 
Christian Larson, one of the oldest settlers 
of the La Crosse valley and a highly respected 
citizen. Four children have been born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: Charles J., Guy M., 
Harrison and Morton, the last two being 
twins; Morton died in 1888, aged live 
months. The parents are members of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church. In his politi- 
cal opinions our subject adheres to tlip prin- 
ciples of the Republican party. He is a man 
of that type which gives character to a com- 
munity, one whom any county may be proud 
to own as a citizen. 

■ " ^^|^'>^^^■»'-— — 



fC. HEWITT, proprietor of the largest 
livery, feed and sale stable of West 
* Salem, was born in Canada East, Aug- 
ust 7, 1840, and is a son of James and Ellen 
(Barton) Hewitt, natives of Canada, the for- 
mer being of English, and the latter of Scotch 



extraction. Tiie father was engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits in Canada, and in 1N5(> came 
to the United States and settled on a farm in 
La Crosse C'luuty, Wisconsin. He conducted 
this business with rare judgment, and accom- 
plished results that reflected great credit not 
only upon himself but also upon the pursuit 
of agriculture. He died in 1873, at the age 
of seventy years; his wife lived until 1889, 
aged eighty-two years; they were both con- 
sistent members of the Second Advent Church. 
Their family consisted ot eight children, seven 
of whom are living. J. C, the subject of 
this notice, remained under the parental roof 
until he was twentv-four years of age. He 
had learned the blacksmith's trade, which he 
followed a number of years previous to em- 
barking in the business of tilling the soil. 
He purchased a farm of 160 acres, and still 
owns 140 acres; this land lies in Burns 
township, is well improved, and excellently 
adapted to the raising of live-stock. Mr. 
Hewitt has some very fine Jersey cattle, and 
has been very successful in his efforts to ele- 
vate the standard of all classes of stock raised 
•in the community. 

In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Fidelia, a daughter of George and Lavica 
(Whitcomb) Levitt; four children were born 
of this union: Jennie B., wife of J. Smith; 
Minnie, wife of Edwin Lovell; George, who 
is assisting his father in his present business; 
and Charles J., a teacher in the public schools 
of tiie county. The mother of these children 
died February 13, 1881; she was a consistent 
member of the Second Advent Church, and 
was a devoted M'ife and mother. Mr. Hewitt 
was married a second time in 1882, to Mrs. 
Eliza Robinson; Jesse Robinson, her son by 
her first marriatre, has been a member of our 
subject's family since he was three years of 
age; he is now a student in the public schools 
and is a promising lad; his mother died De- 




■Sw/'i 



"V h^^OKtmrnKr 




^^^^-J^L^ /I'/^^h-l^^,^-;^ 



BIOORAPIIWAL HISTORY. 



ly? 



cember 25, 1883, at tlie age of tliirty-three 
years; she was a worthy ineniber of the Pres- 
byterian Chnrcl). The third marriage of Mr. 
Hewitt was to Mrs. Viola Wilbur, nee Bnn- 
day, July 3, 1884; she has one daughter, 
Gracie. the wife of W. Quiggle, of Mindoro, 
La Crosse county. 

Mr. Hewitt enlisted in 1861 as a member 
of Company B, Second Wisconsin Cavalry. 
In May, 1862, he was severely injured by a 
ki<-k from a horse, which necessitated his 
discharge. In the fall of 1862 he re-enlisted in 
Company I, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and participated in the engagement 
at Nashville and Spanish Fort, and some 
minor battles and skirmishes. He received 
his final discharge at Madison, Wisconsin. 
He is now drawing a pension from the Gov- 
ernment in recognition of his services. He 
is a member of tlie G. A. R. Post. Politi- 
cally he supports the principles of tlie Pro- 
hibition party, but before ho espoused this 
cause he voted the Republican ticket. He 
and his M'ife belong to the Second Advent 
Church at Burns, and he is a deacon of the 
society. He is a man of the highest princi- 
ples, of the most correct business methods, 
and is wortliy of the esteem in which he is 
held. 



' 1 >< 1 ' % *- 



fAMES VINCENT, one of tlie most re- 
spected citizens of La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, has been identified with the 
lumber interests of this section since 1854, 
and has largely aided in the development of 
this mammoth enterprise of the State. He 
was born at Half Moon, Saratoga county. 
New York, October 16, 1825, and is a ^n of 
Stephen Vincent, a native of the same place. 
His grandfather, Jeremiah Vincent, served 
seven years in the war of the Revolution, 
being Captain of a military company; he 



died at the age of ninety-six years; his sec- 
ond wife, Mary Vincent, the mother of 
Stephen Vincent, died some years later, at 
the age of ninety- four years. The subject of 
this biography is the second in a family of 
six children. In his youth he went out to 
service on a farm, receiving $8 per month; 
like many another lad of that day, he had few 
educational advantages, and at the age of six- 
teen years he went to learn the carpenter's 
trade; three years later he went to Lansing- 
bnrg. New York, to work as a journeyman. 

During the California gold-fever of 1849 
he started to the Pacific coast. Arriving 
in San Francisco in October, 1849, he was 
ofPered $11 and two rations per day to work 
at his trade for the Government, but this he 
declined. When he reached Stockton he was 
offered an ounce of gold, or $16, per day to 
work at carpentering, and this he accepted. 
At the end of one week he discovered that 
he could do much better by going into busi- 
ness for himself; so he went to work on his 
own account. It was at this time he had the 
pleasure of voting at the arst election in Cal- 
ifornia, the question at issue being the free- 
dom of tlie State; and it was about this 
time, also, that tlie Vigilance Committee was 
appointed. 

In the fall of 1850 Mr. Vincent left Stock- 
ton for the mines, and had been there but 
six weeks when he heard of the serious ill- 
ness of his wife, and that she wished him to 
return home; the same day he sold his claim, 
took his blanket with a box of gold-dust the 
next morning and started on foot over a 
lonely trail to the nearest ranch, a distance 
of forty miles; he reached this place the 
evening of the same day, foot-sore and weary. 
Upon his arrival at his home in New York 
he found his family much improved in 
health. 

Early in the '50s he started on his second 



198 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



trip with a friend, Sylvanns Sayles, for Cali- 
fornia; Mr. Sayles was a companion of his 
boyliood, and it was his proposition that tliey 
go to California and engage in contracting 
and bridge-building; they carried out this 
plan, and were very successful. After an 
absence of eighteen months they returned to 
Lansingbnrg, New York, greatly gratified 
with their trip. Mr. Vincent was elected 
Alderman soon after coming home, the term 
being three years, but he resigned the office 
in the spring of 1855, upon his removal to 
Wisconsin. In the fall of 1854 he came to 
La Crosse, and was so much impressed with 
the place and its possible future that he re- 
moved his family and his parents the follow- 
ing spring. Soon after his arrival he com- 
menced building his residence, and engaged 
in the lumber business. 

In 1858 he formed a partnership with Mr. 
George Edwards, and for some years did a 
large business in buying wheat and pork. 
In the fall of 1860, Mr. Vincent, with his 
usual business sagacity, observing the low 
price of lumber and the small quantity in 
stock throughout the country, suggested that 
they invest in this commodity. Mr. Edwards 
remarked, "Why, what are you going to do 
with lumber? Yon cannot give it away." 
Mr. Vincent replied, "That is just the reason 
we should buy now. There is no stock in 
the market, and prices must advance." They 
carried on the wheat and lumber business 
for two yeart^, when they gave up the grain 
trade, and instead added to their lumber 
business that of loggino;. In 1875 Mr. Vin- 
cent became sole proprietor, and in 1880 he 
took his son Eugene into partnership in the 
lumber-yard. This partnership continued 
until the death of the son, since which time 
Mr. Vincent has continued the business, 
under the firm name of James Vincent & 



Son, and is also interested in several of the 
leading enterprises of the city. 

He has been twice married. April 28, 
1846, at Lansingburg, New York, he 
wedded Miss Eliza M. Cole; she died Janu- 
ary 7, 1882. There were three children by 
this union: James Piatt, who died in 
November, 1865; Eugene, whose death 
occurred in November, 1884; and Cordell 
M., the wife of F. B. Seymour, of Green Bay, 
Wisconsin. At Chicago, Illinois, January 
31, 1884, Mr. Vincent was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Agnes McKillip, a daughter 
of Hugh McKillip, of La Crosse. They are 
the parents of one child, Agnes. 

By industry and strict economy he has 
been eminently successful in the acquisition 
of wealth, and at his pleasant home on Cass 
street is surrounded by all the comforts that 
make life worth living. 

~»- "| ' 2 i ' S ' l" -^ 



fW. IIANNEY. — In recording the an- 
nals of any comnumity there are always 
' a few characters that stand pre-eminent 
among the worthy pioneers, men possessed of 
many virtues that have had their influence in 
moulding and shaping the destinies of the 
coming generations. It is these men who 
readily find place in history, whose career 
it is a pleasure to review. Such a man is J. 
W. Kanney, an old and respected farmer of 
La Crosse county. He was born in Oneida 
county. New York, January 3, 1812, and is a 
son of Eli and Eveline (Parmley) Banney, 
natives of Massachusetts and New York re- 
spectively. The father was a farmer, and in 
1853 he removed to Des Moines county, Iowa, 
where he settled on a tract of land which he 
cultivated until the time of his death at the 
age of seventy-one years; his wife died in 
1835 at the age of thirty-four years. There 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



199 



were five cliildren of this marriage: J. "W., 
the subject of tliis brief biography; Nancy 
J., wife of H. G. Minor; Herman, who mar- 
ried Miss Smith; Levica, wife of Clinton 
Brand, and Julius, who married Miss Milks. 
Eli Ranney was married a second time to 
Miss L. Whitmore, and four children were 
born to them. 

J. W. Ranney began life upon his own re- 
sponsibility at the age of eighteen years. He 
taught school for four or five winters in the 
primitive schoolhonse of "ye olden times" 
and was quite successful. He worked at the 
carpenter's trade in the summer season, and 
also operated a sawmill. His marriage oc- 
curred in the State of New York to Miss 
Elizabeth Quackenbush, a daughter of John 
Quackenbush and one of a family of eleven 
children. Mr. Ranney was engaged in tlie 
milling business for several years after his 
marriage, and in 1854 emigrated to Wiscon- 
sin, settling on the farm where he now 
resides. He owns 200 acres of as tine land 
as lies within the borders of the State of 
Wisconsin, and is surrounded with all the 
improvements and modern appliances for 
carrying on husbandry in the most profitable 
manner. His barn is large and conveniently 
arranged, and the sheds for the protection of 
live-stock are of the same substantial charac- 
ter. Mr. Ranney is numbered among the 
most progressive and successful fanners of 
the county, and his opinion on all agricultural 
questions is given due weight. 

Politically he is identified with the Re- 
publican party. He has filled all the minor 
oiBces of the township, and the people of the 
county have testified to their confidence in 
his ability and judgment by electing him to 
the State Senate. He discharged his duties 
with that fidelity which has ever marked his 
every action, and reflected great credit not on 
himself alone but also upon his constituency. 



Mr. and Mrs. Ranney are the parents of 
six children: Clara M. died at the age of 
twenty-four years; Cassius M. is assisting 
his father on the farm; Edwin H. was killed 
while attempting to board a train February 
25, 1876, aged si.xteen years; Mary L. died 
at the age of twenty-one years; Minnie, twin 
sister to Mary L., died at the age of six 
months, and Jay W. The mother passed 
from this life in 1881, aged fifty-four years. 
She was a member of the Congregational 
Church, and was a devout Christian, a faithful 
wife and a loving mother. 

Abner Ranney, grandfather of our subject, 
lived to be one hundred years and six months 
old! He was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and died in Oneida county, New York. 

fB. SMITH. — No name is more promi- 
nent in agricultural circles in La 
® Crosse county than that of the gentle- 
man whose name appears at the head of this 
brief biographical sketch. He is a native of 
the State of New York, born in Oneida 
county, August 21, 1835. His parents, 
Robert and Margaret (Green) Smith, were 
also born in the •' Empire State," but emi- 
o-rated with their family to Wisconsin, and 
settled near Oconomowoc; there they lived 
until 1851, and then went to La Crosse 
county, where they were among the earliest 
settlers; they endured many privations and 
hardships, but being possessed of those ster- 
ling traits characteristic of the pioneer they 
overcame all obstacles, and aided in securing 
to the coming generations one of the finest 
farminff communities in the Union. The 
father followed agriculture all his life, and 
after coming to the county purchased 200 
acres of choice land, on which he lived until 
his death in 1888; his age was seventy-seven 



200 



BlOGliAPUICAL UISTORr. 



years; his wife died in 1879 while siie was 
visiting a daughter in Kansas. They liad a 
family of four children : F. B., the subject of 
this notice; Anna E., deceased; Nettie, de- 
ceased, and Lavern, who was murdered in 
California, being shot from his horse while 
riding over the Sierra Nevada mountains; 
the murderer was caught, and hung after a 
trial by jury. 

Mr. Smith grew up amid the wild scenes 
of the frontier, and was early inured to the 
hard labor of the farm. In 1860 he began 
cultivating the tract of land on which he now 
lives, which he had purchased from his father 
lie set about twenty acres to hops, and this 
proved a most profitable industry; from four 
acres he took in two years $13,000 worth of 
hops. He now owns 600 acres of land, nicely 
located in the La Crosse valley; the soil is fer- 
tile, and produces everything that grows in 
this latitude. He has erected a commodious 
house, large and convenient barns, and has 
furnished his place with all tlie modern ap- 
pliances of farming. The land is wel- 
watered by natural streams and is well sup 
plied artificially by means of a windmill 
and pipes. His largest crop for 1891 was 
oats, of which grain he threshed 5,000 bush- 
els; he has fifty-four acres in corn, and equally 
as much land in hay. He is known as a pro- 
gressive farmer, and his success is the result 
of wise management and industry. 

Politically Mr. Smith affiliates with the 
Kepublicau party. He was elected chairman 
of the Town Board, a position he has held 
for twelve years, and which he has sIiowti 
himself well fitted to occupy. He was elected 
a member of the building committee of the 
La Crosse Insane Asylum, and after the hos- 
pital was completed he was appointed a 
trustee for three years by the County Board; 
at the expiration of his term he was re-elected 
for another term of three years. He was 



chairman of the building committee of the 
La Crosse county jail, a structure which cost 
over 850,000. 

He also takes a great interest in hlooded 
stock, of which he has fome tine specimens 
on his farm; he has a trotting stallion which 
has a record of 2:25, which also took second 
money in a free-for-all race at Black River 
Falls; he has a herd numbering about si,\ty 
head of Shropshire slieep, and eighty head of 
hogs, of a superior grade. 

Mr. Smith was married in 1866 to Miss 
Celestia Best, a daughter of William Best of 
La Crosse county, and to them have been 
born six children: Millie, wife of Howard 
Cronk; Walter, Burt, Stella, Pearl, and 
Winnie. Mrs. Smith is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. The family stand liigh 
in the community, occupying an enviable 
position in social and financial circles. 

fA. L. BRADFIELD, M. D., specialist 
of the eye, ear, nose and throat, is 
" ranked among the leading practitioners 
of La Crosse, a position that has been ac- 
corded him through his own merit. He is a 
native of the State of Ohio, born in Colum- 
biana county, at East Fairfield, February 3, 
1861. His parents, G. W. and Saline (Beck) 
Bradfield, were natives of the same county; 
the father was a farmer by occupation, and in 
1863 he removed to Crawford county, Illi- 
nois, where he engaged in the raising of live- 
stock for six years; thence he went to Clay 
county, Illinois, where he resumed agricult- 
ural pursuits, which he continued to the 
time of his death in 1879; he was forty-four 
years old. He held various local offices where 
he resided, was well and favorably known and 
universally respected. He was a member of 
the Disciple Church from his youth, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



201 



lived the religion he profes.'^ed ; his wife is 
also a consistent member of the same chnrch. 
After the death of her husband she lived for 
four years on the farm, and then removed to 
Eureka, Illinois, where slie opened a milli- 
nery store. She was born February 3, 1835, 
and to herlmd hei' lamented husband were 
born eijrht children, seven of whom are 
living: Sophronia J. is the wife of Milton 
Slack, of Washington; Louella married A. E. 
McKnight, of Chicago, Illinois; the Doctor 
is the third in order of birth; Kate C. is the 
wife of Ira Gulp, a bookkeeper in the em- 
ploy of the Armour Packing Company; W. 
G. is principal of the public schools of 
Georgetown, Illinois; Ruth A. is assisting 
her mother in the millinery business; Hattie 
A. is still in school, and is now a student at 
Eureka College; the fifth child, a son, died 
in infancy. 

Dr. Bradfield remained oti the farm four 
years after his father's death, and then entered 
the Eureka College, where he remained two 
years; for the next two years he was a suc- 
cessful teacher in the public schools of Wood- 
ford county, Illinois; vacations and all other 
time which could be spared from school duties 
were devoted to study in his chosen profession. 
Having determined upon the medical pro 
fession as his life work, in the spring of 1884 
he began his study of the science under the 
direction of Dr. L. A. Feriy, of Eureka, Illi- 
nois. He remained with this physician two 
years and then entered the College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons, Chicago, from which he 
was graduated with the class of 1888. Im- 
mediately following this event he wont to 
Loyal, Wisconsin, where he opened an office 
and began practice; for two and a half years 
he remained in this place, and met with very 
gratifying success. Ambitious to e.xcel in his 
profession, lie returned to Chicago for the 
purpose of taking a special course in the 



study of the diseases and treatment of the 
eye, ear, nose and throat. After he had com- 
pleted this work he came to La Crosse, in 
1891, and opened his office at 323 Main 
street; he has done a very satisfactory busi- 
ness, having made a reputation as a skillful, 
conscientious physician, 

Dr. Bradfield was married November 1, 
1888, to Miss Frona A. Castner, a daughter 
of John and Lydia Castner. John Castner 
was a pioneer of the State of Wisconsin, 
although a native of Ohio; he has traded 
with the Indians on Black river, and can tell 
many a thrilling experience he has had with 
the red men. He is now a resident of Clark 
county, Wisconsin, and is engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. His wife's maiden name 
was Lydia Mack; she is a native of the Do- 
minion of Canada, and came to Wisconsin in 
her girlhood. They have had born to them 
nine children, two of whom died in infancy: 
Mary is the wife of Ernest Boyer, and the 
mother of three children, Pearl, Ruby and 
Delbert; George married Miss Lilian Nutting, 
and they have two children, Cora and John; 
Mrs. Bradfield is the third born; Albert and 
Alfred are twins, the former a farmer and the 
latter a teacher of wide experience and excel- 
lent reputation; Bina is the wife of William 
Dutclier and the mother of one child, Royce; 
Daniel is still at home. Mrs. Bradfield was 
educated in the public schools, and at the age 
of sixteen years began teaching; she was suc- 
cessful in her chosen field of labor, and in 
order to fit herself better for the work she 
had undertaken she entered the River Falls 
Normal School, from which she was graduated 
in 1886. She taught in tlie La Crosse pub- 
lic schools for one year, fully sustaining her 
reputation as one of the best educators in the 
county. The year the Doctor was in college 
in Chicago she spent in an art school, study- 
ing painting and crayon work; she also has 



202 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



a consi(leral)le talent for music, ami has made 
advanced progress in its study. Tlie Doctor 
and his wife are both worthy members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Cinirch, and are among 
tile tnost highly esteemed members of social 
circles in La Crosse. 



•C- '"S - | '— 




ILLIAM K. SPARLING, an old and 

highly respected citizen of La Crosse 
county, has been a resident of the 
State of Wisconsin since 1846. He was born 
in Tioo-a county, New York, in 1825, and is 
a son of Peter and Lydia (Rose) Sparling, 
natives of New Jersey; they were reared on 
the banks of the Delaware river, were mar- 
ried in their native State, and came to New 
York shortly after this event. The father 
was a farmer by occupation, and pursued this 
calliiicf with rare intelligence. Ele died in 
Tioga county, New York, in 1849, at the age 
of sixty-five years; his wife died in 1837; 
tiiey had born to them a family of eight chil- 
drcii, six of whom are now living. At the 
age of sixteen years William R. Sparling 
entered upon the responsibilities of life. He 
learned the tradeof a blacksmith in New York 
State, and then came west to Columbia 
county, Wisconsin, in 1846; for ten years he 
followed this calling quite successfully, and 
then came to La Crosse county, locating four 
miles from the present site of West Salem ; 
there ho conducted a farm and blacksmith's 
shop until 1866, when he removed to West 
Salem, settling in the house he now occupies. 
He owns 100 acres of land, which he has 
rented; the principal products are grain and 
fruit, and to the cultivation of the latter he 
has given especial attention. The improve- 
ments of this farm are of a most substantial 
character, the brick residence being erected 
at a cost of $3,000; water is carried by a sys- 



tem of pipes to all the buildings. Three 
acres of another tract of nine acres are set to 
tobacco; this industry is not a large one, but 
is conducted to prove the possibility of rais- 
ing tobacco with profit in this latitude. 

Mr. Sparling was married September 24, 
1851, to Miss Cornelia Young, of Fall R.ver, 
Wisconsin, a daughter of Thomas Young, of 
Saratoga, New York. Four children iiave 
been born of this union: Will.e died at the 
age of five years, and Bertie, when six months 
old; Fayette K. married Edith Roby, and 
they have one child, Neal; they reside on a 
farm in Bangor township; Adella, wife of 
Frank H. Nye, lives on a farm in Hamilton 
township, and has two children, Mark and 
Pattie I'elle. Mrs. Sparkling departed this 
life April 16, 1891, at the age of sixtv-four 
years. She was for many years a member of 
the Baptist Church and was a devout Chris- 
tian; she was a fond and faithful wife, and an 
indulgent mother. 

During all the years of his residence in 
La Crosse county, Mr. Sparling has been al- 
lied with those movements which have tended 
to develop the best resources of both the 
county and State, and he is numbered among 
the first citizens of West Salem. 



|EV. FATHER J. E. PRUCHA, pastor 

of St. Wenceslans' Bohemian Catliolic 
Church, Winnebago street. La ('rosse, 
Wisconsin, is the su])ject of the following 
biographical sketch. He was born in New 
York City December 22, 1865, and in his 
youth was a student at the Jesuit Sixteenth 
Street College; later he took a classical course 
at St. Vincent's Benedictine Abbey, Latrobe, 
Peimsylvauia. His philosophical and theo- 
logical training was received at St. Francis' 
Seminary, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After he 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



203 



had finished the course of the latter institu- 
tion, he was sent by Bisliop Flasch to his 
present pastorate. Here he has cliarge of a 
large congregation of Bohemians, whom he 
addresses in their native tongue. Something 
over 150 families are communicants of the 
church. Tiie present building, capable of 
accommodating 350 people, is found inade- 
quate, so that a new and larger edifice is in 
contemplation. A parochial school is con- 
ducted under the general superintendence of 
Father Frucha; the building, containing 
three rooms, stands adjacent to the church; 
three teachers, one lay teacher and two Fran- 
ciscan Sisters are employed in giving instruc- 
tion to the children; the Bohemian language 
is taught half an honr each day, and in the 
highest grade Bohemian grammar is taught 
twice a week; the rudimentary studies are 
taught in the English language. 

A pleasant home, a good library and refined 
surroundings relieve the isolation from the 
world. Father Prucha is a young man of 
fine literary attainments, and is deeply de- 
voted to the duties of his calling. 

The church was erected in 1873 by Rev. 
Leo Snchy, at the present time a residei;t of 
Milwaukee; the structure cost a little more 
than $9,000; the lots were donated by Brother 
Bernard. The first religious services were 
held in a small chapel, which is a part of the 
present sanctuary. The following clergymen 
have been in charye of this congregation since 
the present edifice was erected: P'ather Leo 
Suchy came in 1873; Father G. W. Weid- 
lich, in 1875; Father Fideles Bannwarth, in 
1876, who died suddenly November 3, 1877; 
Father Alois Heller was next in charge, re- 
tnaining four months; Father Augustine 
Lang came in the same year; he died in New 
Tork in 1885; Father Alois J. Blaschke 
cam(! in 1881, and Father Prncha August 3, 
1888. 



The societies of the church are: St. Wen- 
ceslaus, which has a membership of about 
eighty, and a capital of $2,000; Unit'ormed 
Bohemian Knights of St. George, member- 
ship, fifty; St. John's Society, the society of 
the old men of the congregation, numbers 
twenty members; and the Young Men's 
Society, with thirty-five members. The ladies 
of the church have four societies, and there 
is a dramatic society open to both sexes. 
Under Father Prucha's ministrations the in- 
terest of the congregation has been greatly 
extended, and the spii'itual condition elevated. 
The various societies are made up of enthusi- 
astic workers, and the ontlook is most favor- 
able. 



fOHN WACKER is an American citizen 
by adoption, his native land being Switz- 
erland. He was born October 14, 1833, 
and is a son of George and P)arbara (Schlat- 
ter) Wacker, who spent their lives in their 
own country. The father was a miller by 
trade, and, as was the custom in that time, 
also kept a tavern. He was a quiet, unpre- 
tentious man, always attending closely to his 
own affairs. He was burn in 1792, and died 
at the age of fifty four years; his wife died at 
the age of sixty-four years. Of the family 
there are five living in America and three 
still reside in the old country. It was in 
1851 that John Wacker emigrated to the 
United States, settling in Alma, Wisconsin, 
at that time called ''the Twelve Mile Bluff." 
In 1852, with Mathias Hummer, he made a 
claim of a piece of land on which Buffalo 
City now stands; the following year they 
surrendered the claim, but if they had held it 
a few months longer they would have realized 
from it $1,500. It was purchased by a Cin- 
cinnati company. Victor Probst, John C. 
Wacker and Josepli Berni were the most 



204 



BIOORAPIIICAL niSTORY. 



prominent settlers tliere at that time. Mr. 
Wacker remained in tlie neiglihorliood of 
"Twelve Mile Blntf" for two year.s and tlien 
spent a year among relatives; later he was 
employed at Mount Vernon and Galena. It 
was about this time that he determined to 
harn the blacksmith's trade, but unfortu- 
nately he was taken with a severe illness and 
was thus compelled to abandon the plan. He 
then secured such light employment as he 
could. From 1856 to 1861 he owned and 
ran the restaurant and bar of a Mississippi 
steamer; and in 1861 he engaged in his 
present business, which he has carried on 
since that time. 

Mr. Wacker is one of tlie oldest settlers of 
the county, and prominent as a pioneer. He 
was Alderman of the city for six years, and 
rendered most efficient service in this capac- 
ity'. He has ever been a liberal supporter of 
those enterprises tending to advance the in- 
terests of the city, and has been true to the 
confidence reposed in him by her citizens. 

He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary 
Beekel, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth 
(Frank) Beekel, an old citizen of La Crosse, 
who died at the age of seventy-two years; his 
wife was about fifty years of age when she 
died. Mrs. Wacker is the oldest of a family 
of nine childi-en, eight of whom are living. 
Upon emigrating to this country from Ger- 
manyin 1845 her parents settled near Dayton, 
Ohio; the father made a trip to Wisconsin, 
and tinally removed his family to La Oosse 
county, settling in Shelby township. He was 
a man of sterling traits of character and ex- 
cellent business qualifications. For twenty- 
five years he was Postmaster of Shelby, and 
was numbered among her leading citizens. 
Mr. and Mr?. Wacker are the parents of five 
children: Louisa C, born May 29, 1870; 
Olga, born January 20, 1872; John W., born 
September 28, 1873; Cora E., born June 23. 



1875, and Arthur F., born September 4, 1889. 
Mr. Wacker is a member of the L O. O. F., 
Inning passed all the chairs of that order. 
He takes an intei'est in the political questions 
of the day, and votes with the Democratic 
party. 



N. BORRESEN, Vice-President of the 
State Bank of La Oosse, Wisconsin, 
^^^ is a recognized authority on banking 
and finance, is a shrewd and practical man of 
business, and is a vigorous exponent of sound 
commercial principles. All the facilities 
consistent with sound and conservative bank- 
ing are extended to customers, and this hank 
is a factor fully appreciated in sustaining the 
high reputation La Crosse has acquired as a 
business center. Mr. Borresen was born in 
Lille-hammer, Norway, January 21, 1847, to 
B. H. and Elizabeth Borresen, the former of 
whom died in 1876, when sixty-nine years of 
age, and the latter still living in Christiania, 
Norway, at the age of seventy-nine years. E. 
N. Borresen is one of their twelve children, 
and the youngest of four brothers who came 
to America, which land he reached in 1868. 
Carl came in 1870, Peter in 1872, and Henry 
from Paris, in 1887. They all now reside in 
La Crosse. Mr. Borresen was first a clerk in 
a clothing store of T. D. Servis, in La Crosse, 
and bis next move was to join the Batavian 
Bank as bookkeeper, which position he re- 
tained for nine years. In 1879 J. M. Holley 
and Mr. Borresen engaged in the banking 
business for themselves, under the firm name 
of Holley & Borresen, and the previous ex- 
perience they had gained now stood them in 
good stead, for Mr. Holley had been teller in 
the Bataviiin Bank for nine years. In 1883 
they organized the State Bank of La Crosse, 
and Mr. Borresen has held the position of 



BfOGRAi'HIOAL HISTORT. 



205 



vice-president ever since. The capital of this 
concern is $50,000, with $25,000 snrplns and 
undivided profits. Tiie president is D. D. 
McMillan, and J. M. IloUey is cashier. 
These gentlemen are widely and favorably 
known capitalists, possess the soundest 
judgment, and have had a wide range of 
practical experience. They are thoroughly 
conservative in their methods, and the 
success of their bank is as substantial as 
it is well merited. Mi'. Borresen deserves 
much credit for the success which has at- 
tended liis efforts, for upon coming to this 
country he had but little means and was un- 
acquainted with the English language. His 
own pluck and perseverance have carried him 
safely over many difiicultie#, and he is now 
sailing on a prosperous sea with the wind and 
tide in his favor. 

In 1871 he was married to Miss Nettie 
Ranberg, daughter of E. Kanberg, and in 
time a family of three children gathered 
about their hearthstone: Hildali, Fred and 
Willie. Mr. and Mrs. Borresen are members 
of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. 



If^ON. NIRAN H. WITHEE, deceased.— 
The life record of him whose name ap- 
pears above has been one of more than 
usual interest, and his career was of such 
benefit and wielded such a wide influence 
over the people, not only of La Crosse but 
also the surrounding counties, that a sketch 
of his career will convey some idea of his 
usefulness in the different walks of life. He 
was born in Norridgewock, Maine, June 21, 
1827, to Zachariah and Polly (Longly) Withee, 
who were also born in the " Pine Tree State," 
the father of Irish and the mother of Encrlish 
extraction. Zachariah Withee was born in 
Norridgewock, Maine, March 21, 1794, and 

15 



was a leading agriculturist of the section in 
which he resided, a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and for services rendered the Government in 
that capacity he received a land warrant. His 
wife was one of the noblest of women and 
possessed that breadth of character which en- 
abled her to befriend the distressed and needy 
as well as to feel perfectly at ease in the pres- 
ence of learned and highly cultured people. 
For over fifty years she and her husband 
were members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and in that faith they were called 
from life. He died in La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
June 6, 1875. His wife, also born in Nor- 
ridgewock, September 28, 1791, died in La 
Crosse, May 2-1, 1871. 

Mr. Niran H. Withee, one of the seven 
children of the above, was given the rudi- 
ments of an academic education. 

When the tide of emigration swept west- 
ward, Mr. Withee embraced the opportunity 
then afforded of being one of the pioneers 
of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and in 1852 
settled in this region, with the commercial 
interests of which he thoroughly identified 
himself, and eventually became one of the 
most successful business men and extensive 
land-owners of the count}'. Soon after his 
arrival he embarked in the lumber business, 
and his operations in that line became so ex- 
tensive that in 1870 he removeed to Clark 
county. From 1857, however, he was closely 
identified with the logging interests of the 
Black river counti-y in La Crosse county, and 
he was a prominent figure in all the progres- 
sive business movements in the Black river 
valley in the lumber and flooding-dam com- 
panies, and was scarcely ever without heavy 
official responsibility of some kind. He did 
much to shape the policy and manage the 
affairs of Clark county, and was its Treas- 
urer from 1875 until his brother Hiram 
succeeded him in 1882. He represented that 



ao6 



BIOORAl'IIICAL HISTORY. 



county in the General Assembly of the State 
two terms, where his ahility as an able 
leader was felt and acknowledged ; his great 
integrity and uprightness of character won 
for him the honor of his contemporaries, 
and his clear, analytical and well-poised 
mind and quick perception brought him 
into immediate recognition. His activity 
and keen business foresiglit led him into 
many important enterprises which liave been 
of permanent benefit to the community, and 
his generous impulses won him numerous 
friends, whom he rarely lost. 

At Hemlock he owned a large grist and 
saw mill. He was connected with the loading 
lumber firms of the city and was the moving 
spirit in the Island Mill Company of La 
Crosse. Soon after his removal to Clark 
county he was elected a member of the Board 
of Supervisors, during which time the best in- 
terests of an appreciative constituency were 
well looked after. His manly character and 
true worth inspired confidence, and a faith- 
ful performance' of duty secured its con- 
tinuance. He was modest in his estimate of 
himself, never forced himself upon public 
attention, and only filled public positions at 
the earnest solicitation of his numerous 
friends. He was diligent in business, amassed 
a large fortiine, and gave freely to all benev- 
olent enterprises. 

He was married to Mrs. Louisa (Wood) 
Stratton, widow of Avery Stratton, of New 
York, and danghterof Colonel Artemas Wood, 
of New Berlin, Chenango county. New York, 
the latter being a Colonel in the State Militia. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Withee the following 
children were born: Niran Haskell, William 
Wood; Theodore Owen, and two who died in 
infancy. Mr. Withee was a Republican in 
politics. In social life he was highly 
esteemed for his cordial and agreeable man- 
ners, and in the domestic circle he was a 



model husband and father, loved his family 
with extreme devotion, and made their hap- 
piness and comfort his chief aim and object 
in life. He never violated a friendship nor 
forgot a kind action done him, and although 
charitable" in his deeds he was one of those 
who would that "the left hand should not 
know what the right hand doeth." He de- 
parted this life July 2, 1887, at the age of 
sixty years and eleven days. 



-^^x/rnjb- 



-■z:r^- 



l/ln^^ 



IjEV. RICHARD SIEGLER is the reg- 
^ ularly ordained minister of the Evan- 
;elical Lutheran Church, of Barre 
township, and for the past eight years he has 
been laboring in the vineyard of his Master. 
He was born in Wollin, East Prussia, but at 
the age of two years was brought by his par- 
ents to America. His father, Charles Siegler, 
came to this country in 1864, and settled in 
Watertown, Wisconsin, where he made his 
home until his death, which occurred in 1873, 
at the age of fifty-live years. The wife of 
the latter, Wilhelmina Benke, died in 1886, 
at the age of sixty two years, having borne 
her husband seven children, si.\ of whom are 
still living: Albert, the eldest, is a minister 
of the gospel, stationed at Two Rivers, Wis- 
consin, where he has been for the past four 
years. Rev. Richard Siegler received his 
classical education in the Northwestern Uni- 
versity at Watertown, Wisconsin, completing 
the regular course of seven years, and graduat- 
ing with the class of 1881. He then entered 
theTiieolocrical Seminary at Milwaukee, where 
he completed his theological studies in 1883, 
occupying a pulpit a portion of the time 
while attending this institution. October 28, 
of the same year he was ordained for the 
ministry at Ellington, Outagamie county, 
Wisconsin. After having tilled the pulpit in 



BfOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



207 



that place successfully for two and a half 
years, he was called to his present pastorate 
of St. John's Lutheran Church, where he has 
been since 1886. His work here covers a 
period of six years, and his long continuance 
in the work for the same church evinces the 
high esteem and the valuable services ren- 
dered by him during that time. His congre- 
gation at first embraced ninety families, but 
it now numbers more than 150, showing a 
splendid increase of over ten per cent, 
annually. Since entering upon his duties a 
new church has been erected, which in archi- 
tecture, furnishings and surroundings, would 
be a credit to any city. The cost of the 
church, including pipe organ, was $10,000. 
The building is pleasantly located on a natural 
building site about the center of Bost 
wick valley. The school connected with this 
church, costing $1,300, was built in 1890, and 
has a seating capacity of about 100, and has 
increased in about the same proportion as 
the church. Rev. Siegler is a member of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wiscon- 
sin. He possesses a good library of stand- 
ard theological and classical works. He has 
proven the right man in the right place and 
his efforts have been rewarded in the love and 
respect, not only of his own immediate con- 
gregation but also of all who know him. 

fOHN M. FINN", a retired contractor and 
one of the old and substantial citizens of 
La Crosse, was born in county Sligo, Ire- 
land, in 1838, a son of Patrick, a native of 
the county of Mayo, and Elizabeth (Roland) 
Finn, a native of the county of Sligo, in the 
Emerald Isle; there they lived and died, the 
mother in 1841, and the father in 1848. 
They had a family of seven children, three of 
whom are now living: Mary, the widow of 



Peter Collins, is now living in La Crosse with 
her two sons, James and John; Patrick, the 
older brother, is living in Monroe count}', 
Wisconsin, and John M. is the subject of 
this notice. He attended school in his native 
country until the death of his father, when 
he went to England; there he was thrown 
upon his own responsibilities, but valuing a 
good education he went to school as much as 
possible until he was eighteen years of age. 
By that time he had saved enough money to 
pay his passage to America, so he bade fare- 
well to the British Isles and crossed the sea 
to the United States. When he reached New 
York, however, his funds were exhausted: so 
he sought employment at once. He secured 
a position in a store and worked there for 
one year, when he pushed his way further 
westward, reaching Janesville, AVisconsin, in 
1856. He was hired by the railroad com- 
pany then running a line through this point, 
and soon he began taking small contracts on 
other roads, enlarging the contracts as his 
means increased. This he followed until 
1870, when he went to work on the Pitts- 
burgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad. The 
contracts taken on this road were vei-y profit- 
able, but he was defrauded by a dishonest 
partner. In 1873 he removed to La Crosse, 
and there he has since made his home. He 
has taken occasional contracts of railroad and 
other work. Afterwards for three years he 
was engaged in the tea trade, having the 
agency of an Eastern houSe — importers from 
China and Japan. 

Mr. Finn was united in marriage, in 1862, 
in La Crosse, to Miss Ellen Barry, a daugh- 
ter of Edmond and Johanna (Barry) Barry, 
natives of Ireland, but for many years resi- 
dents of Monroe county, Wisconsin. Her 
father died in 1886, and her mother in 1889. 
Mr. and Mrs. Finn are the parents of thirteen 
children, four of whom are deceased: Patrick 



208 



BIOGRAPniCAL HfsrOR )'. 



married Miss Mary Clare; Jolin married 
Miss Sarah Matthews, of Dalcota; Helen is 
the wife of Henry Lowell; James, Hannah, 
Mary, Catherine and Agnes. Tiie family are 
all devout meniliers of the lioman Catholic 
Church. 

- ^ • 2"t - g' — ~ 



J. LEMON, passenger conductor on 
tiie (Miicago, Burlington «& Northern 
* liaili-oad, was horn in the State of 
Pennsylvania, a son of Kohert and Mary E. 
(Gilliam) Lemon, the father also a native of 
Pennsylvania, and the mother of Virginia. 
Tiie parents removed to St. Louis, Missouri, 
when T. J. was an infant. The father was a 
steamboat carpenter, and followed thiscf.lling 
twenty-tive years on the boats running up the 
Mississippi, Missouri and Arkansas rivers. 
lie was in the river transportation depart- 
ment during the war, from 1S61 to 1865. 
He died January 3, 1885, at the age of si.\ty- 
eight years; the mother pas.'^ed away Febru- 
ary 26, 1879, aged lifty-seven years, Both 
were devout members of the Congregational 
(!hurcli. Our subject received his education 
in the public schools of St. Louis, graduating 
from the high school. Then, following his 
father's inclinations and tastes, he passed ten 
years on the steamboats, the first two years, 
as a clerk, and eight years as a pilot. In 
1871 he left the river for the railroad, 
securing a position with tiie Missouri Pacific, 
and was conductor for nine years. He next 
went to the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and 
was in the employ of this company as con- 
ductor for eight years. He ran a way freight 
on the Fort Scott & Gulf road about six 
months, and in 1886 went to work for the 
Chicago, Burlington & Northern Company 
in the capacity of conductor, a position which 
he still holds. He has been most faithful 



and conscientious in the discharge of his 
duties, and has won the entire confidence of 
the railroad officials with whom l.ie has been 
connected. 

Mr. Lemon was married October 9, 1865, 
to Miss Irene E. Jacobs, a daughter of Cap- 
tain J. M. and Mary D. Jacobs, of St. Louis. 
Of this union six children have been liorn: 
Mary I)., the wife of T. M. Wamsby, of De 
Soto, Missouri, and a conductor on the St. 
Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway; 
they have three children; Nellie G. married 
Charles A. Burger, engineer on the Chicago 
& Alton Railroad; Reginald T. resides in 
Colorado on a ranch; Harry Brent is a 
student at Waylaud University, Beaver Dam, 
Wisconsin; Edgar is at home, a pirpil in the 
La Crosse schools. The parents were be- 
reaved by the death of their oldest son, who 
passed from this life in 1867, at the age of 
one year. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lemon are devout members 
of the Baptist Church Mr. Lemon is one of 
the directors of the Y. M. C. A., and is an 
active member of the same, accomplishing 
much good among the railroad men. Politi- 
cally he adheres to the principles of the 
Democratic party. 

l||f||ILLIAM E. JONES resides in one of 
" 1/ \/| tl'C most lieautiful and productive 
T^:J^\ sections in the State of Wisconsin, 
the La Crosse valley, and is numbered among 
the advanced agriculturists of the community. 
He is a native of Wales, born May 20, 1838, 
and is a son of Evan and Mary Jones, who 
were also of Welsh birth. The father is a 
fanner by occupation; in 18-11 he emigrated 
from Wales and settled on a farm in Canada, 
where he lived for eight years. He then 
came to Wisconsin and located on a farm near 



BIOGRAPHIUAL IIlSTOItr. 



209 



Bangor, in La Crosse county. lie has a tract 
of 300 acres, which has been brought to a high 
state of cultivation, and in accomplishing 
this he experienced all the privations and 
hardships of the frontier. He is now eighty- 
seven years old. His wife died in Wales in 
1842. They had a family of five children: 
William E.,the subject of this notice; David, 
who died at the age of forty years; John, a 
resident of Bangor, Wisconsin; Morgan, who 
lives in Dakota, and one child that died in 
Wales. 

William E. Jones remained under the pa- 
rental roof until he was twenty-five years of 
age, and then started out in life for himself; 
he engaged in agricultural pursuits, but did 
not locate on the farm which is now his home 
until 1862; he owns 160 acres of choice land, 
his residence being one mile east of West 
Salem; it is pleasantly situated, commanding 
a tine view of the valley, and presenting an 
attractive appearance from the railroad and 
the public highway. The barns and sheds 
are substantially built, and the entire place 
wears an air of thrift and prosperity. 

In 1861 Mr. Jones was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary Francis, a daughter of Daniel 
and Hannah Francis. They have two chil- 
dren living, Hannah and Hattie; the former 
is staying at home, and the latter ib one of 
the teachers of the county, and has made an 
enviable reputation in the profession. The 
father and mother are members of the Con- 
gregational Church. In his political opinions 
Mr. Jones adheres to the principles of the 
Republican party. 

Daniel and Hannah Francis had born to- 
them ten children, seven of whom are living: 
Evan, Mrs. Jones, James, Rachel, now Mrs. 
McEldowney, Daniel, David, and Ruth, the 
wife of Harry Raymond. Daniel Francis, 
the father, died February 22, 1888, aged 
eighty-one years. He belonged to the Bap- 



tist Church, and for many years was a deacon. 
His wife is still living, and is an honored 
resident of West 8alem; she has attained the 
advanced age of eighty- two years. 

HARLES WEINGARTEN,oneof the 
promising young business men of La 
Crosse county, resides in West Salem, 
where he is engaged in the jewelry trade. 
He was born in this county January 27, 1868, 
and is a son of Christopher and Dora (llem- 
ker) Weingarten, natives of Germany. The 
father was a farmer by occupation and was a 
man of rare intelligence; he came to America 
shortly after the close of the civil war and 
settled on a farm in this county; he rented 
land for a time and then purchased a tract of 
120 acres in Hamilton township, which he 
improved and sold. He had learned the 
butcher's trade in Hanover, and after coming 
to the United States he and his two elder 
sons carried on the business to some extent. 
His death occurred in August, 1889, at the 
age of sixty-one years; his wife died in May, 
1879, aged fifty years. They reared a family 
of eight children: Fred married Miss Cora 
Whitney; Dora is the wife of Dudrick Es- 
miller and the mother of one daughter, 
Lillie; Herman married Miss Mary Sandman, 
and they have one child; Charles is the sub- 
ject of this notice; Emma died at the age of 
nineteen years; Ida is the wife of J. H. My- 
ers; Louis and Lillie are the younger mem- 
bers. In his political opinions the father was 
a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Weingarten be- 
long to that most worthy class of Germans 
who have emigrated to this country, leaving 
home and friends and native land for the 
sake of giving their children those opportu- 
nities in the world which the Old World does 
not afford. They have overcome many ob- 



210 



DWGHAI'UICAL UISTORY. 



Stack's and riclily deserve the confidence and 
esteem in which they were held. Tiiey were 
botii members of the Lutheran Ciiurch. 

Charles, son of the above, received his 
education in the common schools of Hamilton 
township and high school of West Salem. 
In March, 1891, he purchased the stock of 
jewelry of George U. Viets, whom he also 
succeeded as express agent at West Salem. 
He is a young man of j^ood business qualifi- 
cations, and his outlook is auspicious. In 
the capacity of express agent lie has given 
excellent satisfaction, and with diligence and 
perseverance he is sure to win snccess. 

^ARVEY r>. LAFLIN, M. D., is a lead- 
ing member of the medical profession 
in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, where 
he has resided since 1873. He was born in 
Chautauqua county, New York, July 27, 
1834, and is a son of Eliakim and Almira 
(Grover) LaHin; the father was born in Dux- 
bury, Massachusetts, in 1800, and the mother 
in Springfield, Pennsylvania, in 1805; soon 
after their marriage they located in New 
York, where they had born to them three 
sons and two daughtei's: Lark E., foreman of 
the cotton factory at Milan, Illinois, and Mrs. 
Cordelia Melvin, widow of Joseph Melvin, 
with our subject, are the only surviving 
members. 

Dr. Laflin received his education in the 
State of New York, and at Rock Island, Illi- 
nois. When he began his professional study. 
he entered Bennett Medical College, from 
which he was graduated in 1873; this school 
is located in Chicago, and is one of the lead- 
ing Eclectic institutions of the country. Im- 
mediately after his graduation he removed to 
La Crosse and engaged in practice; he has 



met with more than ordinary success, and has 
more than realized his expectations. 

February 6, 1859, the Doctor was married 
to Miss Jennie B. Baldwin at Yorktown, 
Illinois. Mrs. Laflin was born at Bennington, 
Vermont, July 31, 1838, and is a daughter of 
Jacob and Teres Baldwin, also natives of the 
Green Mountain State. No children have 
been born to Dr. Laflin and wife, but they 
had one adopted daughter, Nellie; she mar- 
ried J. A. Raymond, and died at the age of 
thirty years. 

Our worthy subject is a member of the 
Eclectic State Medical Society and of the 
National Medical Society; he has served as 
Rresident of tiie State Medical Society two 
or three terms, and has been Vice-President 
and Corresponding S6cretary of the National 
Society. lie is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, belonging to Frontier Lodge, No. 
45, A. F. & A. M.; to Smith Chapter, No. 
13, R. A. M., and to La Crosse Commandry, 
No. 9, K. T. ; he is also a member of the 
A. (). U. W., and of the Knights of Honor; 
he belongs to the La Crosse Board of Trade, 
and is devoted to the interests of home enter- 
prises. He and Mrs. Laflin are consistent 
members of the Universalist Church. 






fOSlAH L. PETTliNGILL, engaged in 
the real-estate, loans, abstract and insur- 
ance business. La Crosse, Wisconsin, was 
born in Chenango county. New York, No- 
vember 10, 1840, and is a son of Alonzo and 
Lucy (Davis) Pettingill, who were also na- 
tives of Chenango county. They emigrated 
to Wisconsin in 1850 and located at Lewis 
Valley, La Crosse county, where the mother 
died in 1878; the father now resides with his 
son in La Crosse, in his eighty-ninth year; 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



2U 



previous to his comincp to Wisconsin, he and 
his family had resided two years at Flushing, 
Flint eoutity, Michigan. He and his wife 
had a family of four sons and two daughters: 
Luther, deceased; Jay, John A., Joshua, de- 
ceased; Martha I., wife of John L. Mathew- 
son; and Eliza, deceased, wife of Fitz J. 
Arnold. 

Josiali L. attended the public schools 
of New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin. 
November 19, 1861, he was united in 
marriage to Miss E. Antoinette Kenrick, a 
native of the State of New York. Mrs. Pet- 
tingill came with her parents to Wisconsin 
at the age of live years; her father, John 
Kenrick, was born in London, England, and 
her mother was a native of Glens Falls, New 
York. J'ol lowing his marriage, Mr. Pettin- 
gill engaged in farming near Lewis Valley, 
which he continued until 1872. In the fall 
of 1871, he was elected to the office of County 
Clerk of La Crosse county, and removed to 
the county seat previous to taking charge of 
the office January 1, 1872. He was re-elected 
to the office until he had filled the position 
for a period of eleven years. Prior to his 
election to the county office, he had served as 
Clerk of Farmington township for six years. 
He was elected chairman of the Township 
Board, by virtue of which office he became a 
member of the County Board of Supervisors. 
Subsequently he was elected chairman of the 
County Board, and continued a member of 
this body until his election to the office of 
County Clerk. At the end of his eleven 
years' service as County Clerk, he opened his 
present business, which he has conducted 
successfnlly since 1883. He does a general 
real-estate, loan, abstract, and insurance busi- 
ness; he owns a full set of abstract books of 
the county, which he keeps down to date; in 
insurance he represents the most responsible 
companies of the country. 



Mr. Pettiujill affiliates with the Republi- 
can party, although in 1885, he had the dis 
tinction of being chosen City Assessor of La 
Crosse by a Democratic council. He has 
been chairman of the Republican County 
Committee, and was returned to the Board 
of Supervisors since leaving the clerk's office, 
serving two years as its chairman. He is a 
member of the La Crosse Board of Trade. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pettingill are the parents of 
five children : Charles A., who holds a respon- 
sible position in St. Paul; Claud K., who 
graduated from the La Crosse high school at 
the age of eighteen years, is now in the same 
office with his brother; Maude A., and Grace 
E., who are students of the ])ublic school, and 
Johnnie, who died at the age of eighteen 
months. 

— ~^" | * s >' ;-|" "^ — 



^ENRY E. WEST, secretary of the La 
Crosse City Railway, was born in 
Waterbury, Washington county, Ver- 
mont, March 17, 1840, and is a son of Jona- 
than P. and Louisa (Bacon) West, who were 
also natives of the Green Mountain State. 
The father was a farmer by occupation, and 
was a man whom every one honored and re- 
spected. He died in Lamoille county, Ver- 
mont, in February, 1872; the mother still 
survives and resides in La Crosse. There 
were two sons and three daughters in the 
family: Justin P., Henry E., the subject of 
this notice; Helen, deceased, the wife of 
George S. Gates; Emma, widow of Richard 
Trenwith; Anna, the wife of H. L. Holmes, 
a banker and stock-raiser of North Dakota. 
Henry E. grew to manhood in his native 
State, and received his education in the com- 
mon schools and the academy at Morrisville. 
October 28, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, 
Second Regiment Berdan's Sharpshooters, 



213 



BIOGRAPniCAL U I STORY . 



and went to Waehiiigton city, where he re- 
mained until Marcli 22, 1802, when he was 
discliarged on account of disability. He re- 
turned to his home and worked on the farm 
for a time, and again offered his services to 
the Government, hut was rejected. In 1863 
he went to Chicago and was employed as 
conductor on the street railway of that city, 
which position he held until he secured a 
place witii a jewelry firm as bookkeeper. At 
the end of twelve months he returned to Ver- 
mont, where he remained three years. His 
experience in the great city of Illinois had 
not been altogether unpleasant, and the 
memory of it remained with him, so that he 
tiiiallj went back and entered the office of the 
Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana 
Kailway. This line was consolidated with 
the Lake Shore &. Erie, and the office was re- 
moved to Cleveland, Ohio; Mr. West also 
went to that city and held a position in the 
general office until October, 1873, when he 
accepted a position with the Southern Min- 
nesota Railrcad, and removed to Wells, Min- 
nesota. This road was absorbed by the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Hailroad in 1879, 
when he went to I\Iilwaukee and was in the 
Auditor's office al)out one year; he then re- 
signed his position and came to La Crosse. 
Here he was tirst employed as bookkeeper in 
the office of W. W. Cargill & Ero., grain 
dealers, and held the position seven years. 
At the end of that time he resigned on ac- 
count of ill health, and returned to Wells, 
Minnesota, where he jiurchased a hardware 
store. His physician ol)jected to this occu- 
pation for him, so he sold out and returned 
with his family to La Crosse. The two years 
following he was not actively engaged in any 
business, and in February, 1890, he was in- 
stalled as secretary of the La Crosse Street 
Railway, a position he now holds. 

Mr. West was married December 24, 1877, 



to Miss Ettie McMillan, a daughter of Jolui 
McMillan, deceased, who was a jjioneer lum- 
berman of the city of La Crosse. To Mr. 
and Mrs. West has been born one child, 
Mary Louise, whose birthday was January 8, 
1885. Mr. West is a memi)er of the Knights 
of Honor and of the M. W. of A. 

Politically he affiliates with the Republican 
part^' and is an ardent supporter of the issues 
of tiiat body. His position as secretary of 
the street railway is one of great responsihil- 
icy, and he has proven by a long career that 
he is worthy of the contidence reposed in 
him. Mrs. West is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church. 



fOSEPH BOSCHERT, Registrar of Deeds, 
La Crosse couiity, Wisconsin, was born 
in Greenfield township, this county, Jan- 
uary 9, 1858, and is the eldest of three chil- 
dren of Gregory and Anna (Tausche) Bo- 
schert. His parents located in Greenfield 
township in 1855, being among the earliest 
settlers in La Crosse county. The father was 
elected Supervisor of the township in 1857, 
and served in that office for many years. As 
the result of industry and frugality he had a 
line estate. Of his three children, Helen and 
Andrew are unmarried and reside at home 
with their parents. Joseph spent his youth 
in those occupations which usually fall to a 
farmer's son, and during the winter season 
he attended school. In 1877 he began teach- 
ing, and followed this profession for six 
months of the year until 1884, when he came 
to La Crosse. He served as clerk of Green- 
field township in 1881-'82-'83. He invested 
in real estate in La Crosse, and in the fall of 
1884 he erected a business building at the 
corner of Fifth and Jay streets; there he em- 
barked in the mercantile trade, having formed 



BlOORAPniOAL HISTORY. 



313 



a partnership with E. J. Tansche, the firm 
being Eoschert & Tausche. This relationsliip 
existed until November, 1885, when Mr. 
Boschert withdrew, having been appointed 
Deputy Coliector of Internal Revenue, First 
Division of the Sixth District of Wisconsin. 
In July, 1887. the Second and Sixth Revenue 
Districts were consolidated, and Mr. Boschert 
was appointed Deputy Collector; this division 
comprises nine counties, including La Crosse 
county. Bj a change of administration, June 
30, 1889, Mr. Holmes succeeded Mr. Bo- 
schert. 

August 7, 1889, our subject bought out 
his former partner and re-embarked in the 
mercantile trade at his old stand, continuing 
there until January 1, 1891, when he sold 
out with a view to taking charge of his 
present office, to whicli he had been elected 
in the fall of 1890. This is a responsible 
and profitable position, the term being two 
years, and the work requiring two clerks be- 
sides the principal. 

Mr. Boschert owns considerable valuable 
real estate in La Crosse, including several 
lots, a residence and three business buildings. 
September 8, 1885, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary McConville, a native of 
La Crosse county, born in the town of Barre, 
February 14, 1860. Her father was a iiative 
of Ireland, and her mother was born in Ohio. 
The mother died in Septerader, 1889, and the 
father is a resident of La Crosse. They 
reared the following named children: Rose, 
Hugh A., Hannah C, Dennis J., Curran, 
John and Mary; Margaret and Emmett are 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Boschert are the 
parents of three children: Rose M., born 
June 28, 1886; Annie L., i)orn February 27. 
1888; and John J., born December 24, 1889. 
Mr. Boschert is a member of the La Crosse 
Board of Trade, and belongs to the Jefferson 
Club. Fie and his wife are both members of I 



St. Mary's Catholic Church, and he belongs 
to St. Boniface Benevolent Society. Pre- 
vious to her marriage Mrs. Boschert was a 
teacher in the public schools of La Crosse 
county. She first taught in the district 
school, and was afterwards appointed a 
teacher in the city schools. 



►4»-»l-« 



EORGE EDWARDS.— In recording the 
history of any country, the growth and 
development of a community may 
always be traced to a few sturdy souls who 
gave not grudgingly, but with their whole 
hearts, the best oft'orts of their lives to carry- 
ing civilization to the frontier, and establish- 
ing those occupations which distinguish the 
progressive man from the untutored savage. 
It is to these men the highest honor is due, 
and it is their names that lead in the bio- 
graphical portion of the country's annals. 
Such a man was George Edwards, a retired 
lumberman of La Crosse, residing on the 
corner of Sixth and Vine streets. He was 
born at Windsor, Broome county. New York, 
December 1. 1818, and is a son of Joseph 
and Abigail (Buel) Edwards, natives of the 
State of New York. The father was born 
April 16, 1791, and died in July, 1853; he 
was reared in Broome county, New York, on 
the Susquehanna river. A family of six sons 
were born to them, four of whom were born 
in Broome county: the two youngest were 
born in Chenango county, to wdiich place the 
family moved about the year 1822. Their 
names are: Simon B., Francis F., Edward F., 
Daniel C, deceased; Loren J., deceased, and 
George, the subject of this biographical 
sketch, who was the third-born. The mother 
was born in 1789, and died in 1868. The 
parents were both consistcTit members of the 
Baptist Church for many years. Ebenezer 



214 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Edwards, tlie paternal grandfather, was a 
lumberman on the Delaware river. 

At the age of nineteen years George 
Edwards went to Lodi Plains, Michigan, 
where he spent one summer working by the 
montii. In the fall of 1838 he tied his ward- 
robe up in a red bandana handkerchief and 
made a tour of the Great Lakes, his object 
being to investigate the resources of the 
frontier country, he arrived in Wisconsin 
just before the land sales, found tiie people 
poor and the crops a failure. In spite of all 
the discouragements he located at Troy, 
Walworth county, and hired to Augustus 
Smith to split rails at $12 per month. The 
profit of ills services was in proportion to the 
bill of fare furnished by his employer, rather 
meager. In the spring of 1839 he purchased 
100 acres of land, and determined to double 
it within three years. He saved his earnings, 
bought the land, and built a shanty, and also 
bought a yoke of oxen. He was then ready to 
cultivate his own land, but soon after he was 
taken with inflammatory rlieumatism; he was 
alone in his shanty at the tinie, but fortun- 
ately was soon discovered and taken to the 
home of his brother, who resided in East 
Troy. He was ill through the entire sum- 
mer, and came near passing to the silent 
beyond. It was during this illness that he 
sold his land for $1,000. After his recovery 
he opened a grocery store in East Troy, Wis- 
consin. While engaged in this business he 
returned to New York, and August 25, 1847, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Electa 
Edwards, a daughter of William and Lodama 
(Smith) Edwards, honored residents of 
Broome county, New York. He carried on 
the grocery trade until his health failed, 
when he spent a winter in Texas; in the 
spring he returned to East Troy, and in 1853 
he came to La Crosse county and purchased 
320 acres of land near West Salem; in 1854 



he came to the city of La Crosse, made some 
purchases of town lots, and moved his family 
to the place in 1855. He formed a partner- 
ship with B. P. Hart in the hardware busi- 
ness, and they conducted a successful trade 
until 1859, when the store and stock went 
up in flames. This enterprising firm was 
not long in recoverinjj from the conflagration, 
and carried on business three years after the 
lire. 

It was at this time that Mr. Edwards era- 
barked in the lumber and wheat business, in 
which enterprises he has been more than 
ordinarily successful. He is a man of ex- 
cellent business ability, keen foresight and 
sound judgment. He has for many years 
taken a leading place in the commercial cir- 
cles of La Crosse county, and no man stands 
higher in the estimation of the people. He 
was Mayor of La Crosse for one term, but 
declined re-election, as his private business 
required his undivided attention. He was 
also Alderman for several terms, and in his 
official capacity used every effort to advance 
the interests of the city. 

Mr. Edwards has been a wide traveler, 
having visited every State and Territory in 
the Union, Cuba, the Bermudas, and old 
Mexico. He now has in contemplation a 
six-months trip to the Gulf of Mexico. He 
and his wife have had born to them four 
children: Georgia F., wife of William W. 
Tayloj-, and the mother of two children; 
George E. and Bessie A.; Emma L., wife of 
W. Ernest Polleys; she was the mother of 
one child, Irene E.; her death occurred June 
11, 1891; she was a woman of great benevo- 
lence, tender-hearted, and the friend of the 
unfortunate everywhere; Minnie A., the wife 
of Joseph M. Parsons; the youngest child, 
Gracie M., died of diphtheria at the age of 
ten years. The mother of these children 
died March 20, 1876; she was born April 6, 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



215 



1822, and was one of a family of nine chil- 
dren, only one of whom survives. She was a 
woman of many rare traits, .and greatly ad- 
mired by a wide circle of friends. Mr. 
Edwards is a member of the 1. O. O. F., and 
has passed all the chairs of the order. 

Ijj^IIILLir McGONNELL, one of the 
leading agriculturists of La Crosse 
county, was born in Wayne county, In- 
diana, September 20, 1838, and is a son of 
David and Catherine (Hineman) McConnell, 
natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a 
wheelwright by trade, but devoted the latter 
years of his life to farming. He removed 
with his family from Indiana to Ashtabula 
county, Ohio, in 1839, and thence to Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin, in 1843. In 1852 
they came to Farmington, La Crosse county, 
where they experienced many of the priva- 
tions of frontier life. Mr. McConnell entered 
land, and purchased some that had already 
been improved. He died in 1860, at the age 
of sixty-six years; his wife died in 1871, at 
the age of seventy-seven years. Both were 
worthy members of the Presbyterian Church. 
They had a family of ten children, five of 
whom are living. Phillip McConnell began 
business for himself by teaching school when 
the system was yet in a primitive slate. He 
followed this calling for three years, and then 
embarked in the mercantile and milling 
business, at the same time conducting the 
cultivation of a farm. He afterwards dis- 
posed of his commercial interests, and for 
many years gave his entire attention to agri- 
culture. He made some investments in grain, 
and lumber and live-stock, but withdrew his 
money from these enterprises and went back 
to farming. He is numbered among the 
largest and most successful agriculturists, and 



the stock he has put on the market has been 
of the best grade. He owns two large farms 
at the present time, located one-half mile 
east of the West Salem railroad station. His 
residence is pleasantly situated on a natural 
building site, overlooking the wide and fertile 
valley and affording a beautiful view of the 
hills beyond; the building is frame and is 
large and conveniently arranged; the barns 
and sheds for the live-stock are substantial, 
and the whole place has an air of thrift and 
prosperity. Mr. McConnell is proi^ressive in 
his viev?s, and lends a generous support to 
those enterprises which tend to the up-build- 
ing of the community. He has been Treasurer 
of the town, discharging his duties with rare 
fidelity. Politically he is identified with the 
Republican party. 

His marriage, which occurred January 1, 
1862, was to Miss Margaret E. Van Ness, a 
daughter of John Van Ness, a well-known 
citizen of West Salem. To Mr. and Mrs. 
McConnell have been born four children: 
John E , an attorney of La Crosse; Myrtie 
M., one of the teachers of the county who is 
now attending the Normal School at Osh- 
kosh, Wisconsin; Carl P., a member of the 
senior class of the West Salem High School, 
and Wesley G. The father and mother are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 



LEXANDER JOHNSON is numbered 
among the intelligent, enterprising, and 
^ successful men of West Salem. He is 
a native of the Dominion of Canada, born 
June 25, 1859, and is a son of Johannes 
Mikkelson and Maline Thoreson, natives of 
Norway. The father was a farmer by occu- 
pation, and followed that calling after coming 
to this country. He emigrated to America 
with his family in 1859, and settled nea' 



216 



BIOORAPUIGAL HISTORY. 



Fanniiigton, La Crosse county; at the end of 
two years he sold out and removed to Hol- 
land, Wisconsin. He was horn April 4, 1813, 
and died Deceinher 30, 1888. His wife was 
horn January 3, 1816, and died November 
26, 1891. They had eleven children, eight 
of whom are living; there were six sons and 
five daughters. 

Alexander Johnson was educated in the 
common schools of Wisconsin, and also took 
a course in the La Crosse Business College. 
At the age of twenty-two years he embarked 
in business on his own account, opening a 
drug store in West Salem, and does a thriving 
business. 

In 1889 he was appointed Postmaster of 
West Salem, and has given good satisfaction 
in his official position. He is an ardent Re- 
pul)lican, and always gives a zealous support 
to the movements of that body. 

Mr. Johnson was married, June 5, 1883, to 
Miss Anna K. Gudmundson, a native of Nor- 
way, and a daughter of Hans and Bolette 
Gudmundson, highly respected residents of 
La Crosse valley. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson 
have been born four children: James H., 
Melvin B., Abbie J., and Alexander A. The 
parents are members of the Norwegian Lu- 
theran Chutch, and occupy an enviable po- 
sition among the prosperous citizens of La 
Crosse county. 

||Sjfef ILLIAM A. IMHOFF is one of the 
'l\/:\ji; enterprising citizens of La Crosse, 
1—^j^ and is the proprietor of a prosperous 
business. He was born at Higaland, Iowa 
county, Wisconsin, April 22, I860, and is a 
son of Anton and Christine (Borichter) Im- 
hofF, natives of Germany. Both the father 
and mother were born in Hanover, and the 
former was a carpenter by trade. His early 



youtli was spent in his own country, but be- 
lieving the opportunities greater in America, 
he crossed the Atlantic and took up his resi- 
dence in the United States. He located at 
Highland, Iowa, and during the latter part 
of his life followed farming. The mother of 
our subject came to America in her girlhood. 
They reared a family of two sons and live 
daughters, William A. Imhoff being the 
sixth-born ciiild. He passed his youth in 
Highland, and at the age of nineteen years 
began to learn the harness-maker's trade at 
Muscoda, Wisconsin. He completed his ap- 
prenticeship there, and in 1880 came to La 
Crosse, where he has since conducted a suc- 
cessful business. He manufactures all kinds 
of harness and saddles, and has established 
a substantial trade. 

Mr. Imhoff was married to Miss Theresa 
Schilling, a daughter of Rudolf and Johanna 
Schilling, natives of Germany. They have 
had born to them one son and two daughters: 
Idel, Emma, and William A., Jr. The par- 
ents are members of St. Joseph's Roman 
Catholic Church. Mr. Imhoff belongs to St. 
Boniface's Society, to the Casino, and to the 
La Crosse Diocesan Life Insurance Com- 
pany. He has built and improved some city 
property, owns a pleasant residence on State 
street and a good business block on Tliird 
street. He is a stockholder of the Inter-State 
Fair Association, and takes an active interest 
in those enterprises which are of public 
benefit. He is a citizen in every way worthy 
of the country he has adopted. 



•°* "^^ * S"! ' iJ 

ICHAEL KRATCHIVIL, manufac- 
turing confectioner. La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, is a native of Germany, born 
March 17, 1854, a son of Frank and Theresa 
(Kohlae) Kratchivil. His parents bade fare- 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



217 



well to the "Fatherland" in 1854, crossed 
the sea and took up their residence in a 
strange country among a strange jjeople. 
They settled in Washington township, Mil- 
waukee county, Wisconsin, about twelve 
miles from the city of Milwaukee. Michael 
was an infant when he was brought to this 
country, and here received his education. 
He learned his trade in Milwaukee and Chi- 
cago, and afterwards worked as a journeyman 
in many of the large cities in this coiintrj'. 

In 1881 he came to La Crosse and estab- 
lished himself in the candy-manufacturing 
business in a small way. The excellence of 
his goods soon created a good demand, and 
by faithfully sustaining the high standard he 
has built up a trade throughout Wisconsin 
and Minnesota. He has two traveling sales- 
men all the year, and gives employment to 
thirteen skilled workmen. 

Mr. Kratchivil was married in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, to Miss Annie Hale, who died, 
leaving two children, Katie and Elle. Mr. 
Kratchivil was married a second time, at La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, to Miss Emily Joslin, a 
native of this city. They have no children. 
The first wife of our subject was a full com- 
municant of the Roman Catholic Church. 



"^'^■>^J*S*""'°' 



fcpMIL BERG, superintendent of the de- 
livery department of the La Crosse 
Postoffice, and leader of the Normanna 
Sangerkor and Frohsinn, was born at Trond- 
jem, Norway, December 12, 1843, a son of 
Ebbe Berg, by his marriage to Christine 
(Lund) Berg. His father was an ofKcer in 
the commissary department of the artillery 
of Norway, and is a descendant of agricult- 
ural ancestry. The general characteristics of 
the Bergs were large stature, hardy constitn- 
tion and long life. On the mother's side 



the ancestry were Swedes, although she was 
born in Norway. They had seven sons and 
two daughters. 

Mr. Emil Berg received his education in 
the public schools of Trondjem, and in early 
life showed a strong predilection for music. 
He however learned the furrier's trade in liis 
native town. At the age of twenty-three 
years he came to America, locating in Chi- 
cago, where he followed his trade-one season, 
for which there was not sufficient demand. 
Then he engaged in upholstery, in the mean- 
time devoting his attention to mnsic. His 
fine tenor voice and his love for tiie old Norse 
songs made him favorably known in the mu- 
sical circles of tiiat city, and in the fall of 
1866 he organized the singing society named 
Nora, the first Norwegian singing society or- 
ganized in that city. During the fall of 
1868 it was merged into the Freja, Mr. Berg 
being elected leader of both societies. 

In the spring of 1869 he came to La Crosse, 
where he has since resided with the exception 
of four years in Decorah, Iowa, where he 
went to assume the leadership of the "Luren," 
a singing society. June 1, 1869, soon after 
his arrival in La Crosse, he was elected leader 
of the "Normanna," which position he held 
until 1880, excepting the four years men- 
tioned. In that year this society divided, 
half going with the Norden society and half 
working independently. Mr. Berg was elected 
leader upon being admitted to the Norden 
society, and held the position for several 
years, and as an appreciation of his labors 
was elected an honorary' member of the Nor- 
den society. For several years he was also 
leader of the Sextten Harmonien, and at one 
time leader of the quartet Gauken, and for 
two years leader of the La Crosse Valley 
Singing Society at West Salem, this State. 
During the summer of 1889 the Norske 
Sangerkor was organized with Mr. Berg as 



218 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



leader, which society in the fall of 1890 
joined the Normanna Sangerkor, and Mr. 
Berg was again elected to the leadership, 
which position he still holds. Since March 
1, 1890, he has also conducted the German 
singing society, Frohsinn. Mr. Berg is un- 
doubtedly the oldest Scandinavian leader of 
song in the Northwest, if not in America; 
and it is to be hoped that he may live a 
great many years yet to labor in the field he 
is so aJniirably fitted to fill. 

In the early part of the year 1870 the 
Normarna society had an active membership 
of thirty or moi-e, and at that time was the 
only singing society known beyond their im- 
mediate neighborhood. May 17, 1872, the 
Normanna assisted Ole Bull in his concert at 
Madison, given for the purpose of creating a 
fund for the establishment of a Scandinavian 
library at the State University there. 

lu 1874 Mr. Hoppe was elected leader of 
the Nonnaiina, and served for a year. From 
1875 to 1878 the society lay dormant, but in 
the last named year it obtained a new lease 
of lite and re-elected Mr. Berg leader. In 
1880 E. B. Rynning was elected leader, and 
served several years. In the fall of 1890 the 
Norske San^rerkor and the Normanna united 
and elected Mr. Berg leader. The society is 
at present in a fionrishiiig condition, having 
thirty-two active members and fifty-five hon- 
orary. 

Mr. Berg has been a member of the 1. O. 
O. F. for the past twenty-two years, having 
passed all the chairs, and is also a member of 
the encampment; and he has served the order 
in many of its ofiices. Being District Deputy 
Grand Master, he represented the lodges here 
at the Grand Lodge on different occasions. 
August 1, 1870, he was appointed delivery 
clerk at La Crosse Postotfice, and served 
through all the grades of office here np to his 
present position. Although he has a number 



of times been offered municipal office, he 
would never accept them. 

Mr. Berg was married in La Crosse, to 
Ella Ranber, a native of Norway and a 
daughter of Andrew Kanber by his marriage 
to Miss Sophie Naess, who came to America 
in 1853, settling in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. 
Berg have one son and two daughters, 
namely: Ebbe, a mercantile clerk of bright 
promise; Ragna and Nora. 



LBERT V. FETTER, contracting 
plumber, steam and gas fitter, occupies 
a prominent place in commercial circles 
in La Crosse county, and is entitled to the 
following space in the history of her leading 
men. lie was born near Fountain City, 
Buffalo county, Wisconsin, April 22, 1866, 
and is a son of Ferdinand and Dorothea 
(Eder) Fetter, natives of Germany. The 
father was a lawyer by profession, and emi- 
grated from Prussia to America when a 
young man, locating at Fountain City, Wis- 
consin, where for many years he was favor- 
ably known as a member of the legal pro- 
fession. In the latter years of his life he 
became a resident of Alma, Wisconsin, and 
was County Judge of Buffalo county at the 
time of his death, which occurred October 
16, 1876. He was a man of unquestioned 
integrity, and discharged the duties of his 
office with a fidelity that won him the highest 
esteem of the people. Of his family, fonr 
sons and two daughters survive: Norman is 
the associate editor of West's Law Publish- 
ing House, St. Paul, a lawyer by profession; 
Albert V., the subject of this notice; Harvey 
J. is a civil engineer by profession, and is 
now chief engineer of the Duluth Terminal 
Railway Company; John P. is also a civil 
engineer, employed by the Northern Pacific 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



219 



Railroad Company; Hannah and Ella M. are 
the two daughters. 

Albert V. spent his early youth in Alma, 
Wisconsin, and at the age of fourteen years 
started out to meet the responsibilities of 
life. He first engaged as a clerk, and was 
thus occupied for several years. He then 
became interested in steamboats, but he 
abando7ied this enterprise in 1888 to estab- 
lish the business in which he is now engaged. 
In this undertaking he has been more than 
usually prosperous, and has won an enviable 
reputation as a progressive and substantial 
citizen. He is a charter member of the La 
Crosse Builders' Exchange, and belongs to 
the La Crosse Board of Trade. In 1891 
Mr. Fetter joined E. T. Mueller in business 
for the purpose of manufacturing a patent 
tool to be used in the plumbing business. 

Our worthy subject was married in La 
Claire, Iowa, to Miss Mae Orwig Hil bourne, 
a native of that place and a daughter of John 
and Kate Hilbourne, natives of the State 
of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Hilbourne's maiden 
name was Schreiner. 

.. .g - M; . ^ 



fllOMAS W. CUMMINGS, funeral di- 
rector and undertaker. La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, is a native of the State of 
Illinois, born at Galena, November 15, 1854. 
His parents, Andrew and Catherine (Murphy) 
Cummings, were natives of Ireland, but in 
1849 they bade farewell to the beautiful 
"Emerald Isle" and sailed away to America. 
The father was a grocer by trade, and carried 
on a thriving business in Dubuque, Iowa, 
from 1856 until the time of his death, which 
occurred in June, 18(i5. He and his wife 
reared a family of four sons and four daugh- 
ters: Mary married Richard O'Brien, a 
merchant of Independence, Iowa; Simon is 



a resident of La Crosse; Bridget is the wife 
of George Higgins, an engineer of St. Louis, 
Missouri; Maggie is the wife of John Lark- 
ins; T. W. ; Annie, wife of Peter Pauls; 
Walter J. died at Bismarck, Dakota, leaving 
a wife and one son; John C. died in Dubuque, 
leaving a wife and two daughters; they had 
buried four children in infancy; Thomas W. 
is the subject of this biographical sketch. 

He obtained a good education in Dubuque, 
and early in life began clerking in a grocery 
store; subsequently he was employed in a 
saloon and billiard hall, and in 1886 he came 
to La Crosse, where he carried on the saloon 
business until 1889. He then embarked in 
the embalming and undertaking business, and 
has met with fair success. 

Mr. Cummings was married in Dubuque, 
Iowa, to Miss Phebe Reah, a native of Iowa 
and a daughter of David and Sarah J. (Blake) 
Reah. Of this union two sons and two 
daughters have been born: Bertha, Andrew 
D., Stella and Ambrose. The parents are 
members of the Roman Catholic Church, 
while Mr. Cummings belongs to the Catholic 
Knights of Wisconsin and to the Ancient 
Order of Hibernians. 



fLORENS SCHILDMANN, of the firm 
of Weide & Schildmann, saloon-keepers, 
La Crosse, was born October 31, 1855, 
in Westphalia, Germany, in the town of 
Bielefeldt. His father, William, who had 
married Elsabeth Eberfeldt, was a carpenter 
by occupation and came to America in 1856, 
witli his family, locating at Quincy, Illinois. 
Four years afterward he moved to Sank City, 
Wisconsin, and three years after that, in 
1862, to La Crosse, where he has since made 
his home. He reared two sons and three 
daughters. 



220 



Bl Oa RAPHIGAL HISTOR Y. 



Mr. Schildinann, whose name introduces 
this sl\etcli, grew to manhood in La Crosse, 
obtained a fair education in the common 
school, and has since been engaged in keep- 
ing a saloon. He has served four years as 
Alderman of the Eighth Ward; has been 
chairman of the Committee on the Poor, and 
member of the Committees on License and 
Health. He is a member of the Society of 
the Sons of Hermann, of the Deutscher 
Verein and also of tiie Third Ward Aid 
Society. 

He married Miss Margaretha Dalineli, a 
native of Germany and a daughter ot Freder- 
ick and Margaretha Dahnell. They have two 
sons and three daugliters, namely: Emma, 
Louisa, Walter, William and Florence Minnie. 



fHOMAS HANSEN, a contractor and 
builder of La Crosse, is one of the char- 
ter members of the Builders' Exchange 
of tli;it city, and has been prominently ident- 
ified with her building interests since 1869, 
when he emigrated to America. He was 
born in Norway, near Lillihamer, March 1, 
1844, and is the son of Hans and Carrie 
(Jensen) Thomsen. His father was a farmer 
and merchant; his death occurred in 1859. 
Thomas Hansen learned the carpenters' 
trade in his native country, and in 1869, as 
before stated, crossed the sea to America, 
believing that the opportunities aiforded in 
the new world were greater than those of the 
old. After landing he came direct to La 
Crosse, and here established himself in the 
contracting and building business. He is 
also a millwright, and for several years he 
followed this occupation throughout Minne- 
sota, Dakota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. His 
efforts have been rewarded with a fair measure 
of success, and his relations with his iiewlj' 



adopted mother country have been of a very 
pleasant cliaracter. 

Mr. Hansen was married in Norway to 
Miss Elisabeth Erickson, and of this union 
eight children have been born: Henry, the 
oldest, a promising young man, died at the 
age of nineteen years; those living are: Louisa 
and Hilda, five children havincr died in child- 
hood. 

tOUIS N. NELSON is one of the most 
skilled painters and decorators of Li 
Crosse, where he has resided since 1888. 
He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, Novem- 
ber 24, 1862, and is a son of Thomas A. 
and Lena (Grendley) Nelson, natives of 
Norway. The parents were born in Skien, 
about 12U miles from Christiania, and emi- 
grated to America in 1853 or 1854. Other 
members of the Nelson and Grendley families 
also crossed the sea, and the greater number 
settled near Milwaukee, although branches of 
the Grendley family are scattered over Wis- 
consin and Michigan. 

Louis N. Nelson grew to manhood in Madi- 
son, Wisconsin, where he learned his trade 
from his father, who was a prominent painter 
and decorator in that city. In 1888 he came 
to La Crosse, as befoi'c stated; after arriving 
in this city he formed a partnei'ship with O. 
J. Oyen; this relationship existed until 1890, 
when it was dissolved by mutual consent. 
Since that time Mr. Nelson has conducted 
the business alone, and has met with marked 
success. Thoroughly well fitted for his line 
of work and possessed of those sterling traits 
of character which win and hold confidence, 
he has made for himself an enviable reputa- 
tion among the business men of La Crosse. 
He is a member of the Builders' Exchange 
of La Crosse, and is deeply interested in the 
success of the ortcanization. 




V. "-^'^^r GK^ynan^KY 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



221 



He was married in Madison, Wisconsin, to 
Miss Margaret Agnes Connell, a daughter of 
Thomas and Margaret Connell, and of this 
union one son has been born, Louis T. 



-'■^^rin/b- 



■lany-'^^ 



I^HjONS ANDERSON.— America is in- 
debted to all the nations of the earth 




S^^ for her inhabitants, and no country 
lias contributed a more upright, honorable 
class of citizens than has Norway, the birth- 
place of Mons Anderson, one of the most 
highly respected residents of La Crosse, Wis- 
consin. He was born at Valders, June 8, 
1830, a son of Anders and Mary (Knudson) 
Anderson, both of whom were natives of Nor- 
way. His father was a farmer by occupation, 
and died when our subject was but a lad. 

During his boyhood he was educated in the 
common schools, and at the age of sixteen 
(being the oldest in the family) lie bade fare- 
well to his friends and the pine-clad hills of 
his native land, and sailed across the sea to 
America, locating after his arrival in Mil- 
waukee. He was fortunate in securing em- 
ployment with Hon. Daniel Wells, a member 
of Congress from Milwaukee, and then pro- 
prietor of the City Hotel. He remained in 
Mr. Wells' employ for three years, two of 
which he was a student in Prof. Balk's 
school. He spent one year as a salesman in 
the grocery store of Herbert Reed, giving 
entire satisfaction to his employer and win- 
ning many friends among the customers. 

Observing the necessity of capital to 
achieve success in the older Eastern cities, he 
determined to push farther West, and, at- 
tracted by the commercial prospects of La 
Crosse, he came to this city when it was a 
small village, in 1851. He first engaged as 
clerk in the store of S. T. Smith, which was 
located on Front street, and in 1853 became a 

18 



partner in the establishment. He later formed 
a partnership with W. W. Ustick, which 
continued one j'ear. He was then alone for 
some years, his next partner being S. E. 
Olesou, with whom he was associated for 
two years. 

Then Mr. Anderson successfully continued 
the business alone for several years, while his 
two sons were l)eing fitted for the responsi- 
bility of the increasing trade. 

In 1885 Mr. Anderson took both of his 
sons into the company, the firm then being 
known as Mons Anderson & Sons. His 
oldest son, Alfred H., acquired a large interest 
in what was then Washington Territory, and 
it soon became apparent that it required his 
personal attention, so he withdrew from the 
linn, and moved there to take charge of his 
own interests. It was then thought advis- 
able, as being the popular system, to organize 
into a stock company, to be known as The 
Mons Anderson Company, which was done 
in January, 1891. Samuel W. then became 
the mainstay of his father in the management. 

His fine block on the corner of Main and 
Second streets has been built from time to 
time as the business demanded, being always 
ahead of the town. It has been a common 
remark that he has the largest establishment 
of its kind in America in proportion to the 
population. He has been in active business 
forty years, and is to-day the oldest business 
man by many years, on the Mississippi river, 
above Galena. 

The question would naturally arise in the 
reader's mind, "Why did not Mr. Anderson 
move to a larger place many years ago where 
his enterprise and push could be appreci- 
ated?" His answer would be, that he would 
rather be a leader in the city of La Crosse 
than a follower in some larger city. 

At the present time, Mr. Anderson em- 
ploys traveling men by the dozen, and employs, 



lUOORAFUWAL HISTORY. 



in his factory and store by the hundreds. 
His goods find a ready market in Western 
Wisconsin and in Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, 
Nebraska, and tlie Dakotas, and tiie annual 
output exceeds a million dollars. 

Tlie writer was sliown through tlie various 
departments of tlie manufactory and ware- 
liouses, and was surprised at finding such a 
mammoth establishment in a city the size of 
La Crosse. From ofBces to engine room, 
every department evinces neatness and order 
and the strict business methods that prevail 
therein. 

It is one of Mr. Anderson's characteristics, 
tiiat he always wants his customers and visi- 
tors to be happily disappointed and find it 
more extensive than represented or expected. 
One feature wortliy of retnark, is that Mr. 
Anderson started out in an early day to have 
strictly one price, and everyone treated alike, 
and to have goods represented as they were. 
This is the key to his success. At one time 
he did a wholesale dry-goods, retail dry-goods 
and 7iiillinery, and retail clotliing business. 
Ilis retail dry-goods and millinery traffic was 
the second largest in the State. 

As the country developed and the city 
grew, his wholesale operations steadily in- 
creased, making it necessary tliat some of the 
minor interests should be dispensed with. In 
1885 he closed out liis retail estal)lishinetits, 
and since that time has been duing a whole- 
sale dry-goods and manufacturing business. 
Mr. Anderson attributes his success in a 
measure to the fact that wlien lie gets trust- 
wortiiy employees he manages to retain them 
in his service. Among those who have served 
him long and faithfully, are Mr. J. T. Van 
Valkenburg; the old veteran "Uncle John" 
Halvorson; his trusted bookkeeper, Mr. Louis 
Streeter, who is secretary and treasurer of the 
present firm; Mr. Fred Hauifgaarn, manager 



of the manufacturing department, and many 
others. 

Mr. Anderson has not only witnessed the 
growth of La Crosse from a mere hamlet to 
the beautiful city it now is, but has actively 
participated in all tliat pertained to its ma- 
tured advancement. He has built up a 
business wiiich is an honor to himself and a 
credit to the city. As the city has grown, 
and competitors have entered the field, he 
has maintained his superior position in com- 
mercial circles by the excellence of his goods 
aTid his uniformly courteous and honorable 
dealing. He is a man positive in his con- 
victions, and of marked characteristics and 
unusual ability. While his life has been one 
of busy usefulness, its cares have set lightly 
upon him, for he retains his youthful vigor 
and activity in a marked degree. Courteous 
alike to customers, employees or strangers, 
he is the highest type of the genuine Ameri- 
can business man and gentleman, whom to 
know is a pleasure. 

In his pursuit of wealth he has i,ot been 
unmindful of the comfort of his employees, 
nor has he been wanting in public spirit. He 
is a liberal contributer to those enterprises 
which are calculated to benefit the city, either 
morally or intellectually. System and good 
judgment a"-e noteworthy features of all his 
operations, and his integrity rendered his 
credit '-gilt-edged," not only at home but 
abroad. He has accumulated a handsome 
competence, and enjoys the highest regard of 
the social and commercial world in which he 



moves. 



-^^^^^==<> 




I L L I A M W I E L E, of the firm of 
Wiele & Schildmann, proprietors of 
^^.^ a saloon in La Crosse, was born in 
Penskowo, in the province of Posen, Ger- 
many, March 21, 1859, a son of William and 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



Amanda (Hein) Wiele. His father was a 
farmer, and liis paternal grandfather a dis- 
tiller by trade, but mostly engaged in farm- 
ing. On the maternal side his forefatliers 
were generally millers. 

Mr. Wiele completed his apprenticeship in 
the grocery trade and catne to America in 
1878, locating in Alleghany county, Penn- 
sylvania, near Pittsburg, where he was a 
farmer for a short time. Ne.\t lie was for a 
siiort time at Albert Lea, Minnesota, keeping 
a saloon, and finally, in 1881, came to La 
Crosse. Here, for four years he was employed 
at Heileinan's brewery; next he was clerk 
for a year for Mr. Wehansen in the cigar 
trade; then was mail carrier about a year; 
and then for a year was clerk for Joiin Schil- 
ling, a clothing merchant; and since 1886 he 
has been conducting a good saloon. In 1891 
he was elected Supervisor for the Third "Ward. 
He is a member of the Germania Society, 
has served as its president; has been secretary 
of the Liederkranz; has passed all the chairs 
in the society of the Sons of Herman; and 
is one of the stockholders in the Inter State 
Fair Association. He is a public-spirited 
and enterprising citizen. 






IHARLES A. BARTZ is one of the 
many successful contractors and build- 
ers of La Crosse, and is also one of the 
many honored citizens for whom America is 
indebted to Germany. His birth-place is 
Polnow, about thirty miles from Berlin, and 
the date of his birth is October 3, 1855. 
His parents, John and Phillipena (Schwartz) 
Bartz, emigrated to the United States and 
settled in La Crosse. . The father was the 
owner of a considerable amount of property; 
his death occurred here in 1877, and his wife 
passed from this life in 1889. 



Charles received his education in the com- 
mon schools, and in ins youth chose the busi- 
ness of contracting and buildinp; for his 
occupation in life. In 1881 he became iden- 
tified with the building interests of La Crosse, 
and has won his share of the patronage of 
the city and surrounding country. Among 
the many buildings he has erected may be 
mentioned the residences of Stephen Gautert, 
Samuel Anderson, J. J. Fruit, and Alderman 
jSTeumeister. He is a member of the Build- 
ers' Exchange, was an early advocate of its 
establishment, and assisted very aiaterially in 
its oganization. He is a member of the 
Modern Woodmen and of the Progressive 
National Union. He is deeply interested in 
the prosperity of his fellow-craftsmen and 
may be relied upon to protect and sustain 
their interests. 



^5=^ 



^==S' 



ARL LUDWIG BORRESON, of tlie 
iUlvi ^"""^ ^^ Borreson Bros., general grocers, 
La Crosse, was born in the city of Lil- 
lehammer, in Eastern Norway, January 30, 
1842, a son of Borre Hansen Borreson, by 
his marriage to Elizabeth l^undgren, who was 
of Swedish descent though born in Norway. 
The forefathers of the Borreson line were 
generally engaged in the professions, especial- 
ly that of teaching. The father of our sub- 
ject, however, was an architect, and also 
served the public as Justice of the Peace and 
Mayor of the city. He ended his useful and 
active life in his native city, Lillehammer, in 
1878, at about the age of seventy years. 

At the age of twelve years Mr. Carl L. 
Borreson, our subject, began in mercantile 
business, serving an apprenticeship. In the 
spring of 1870 he left his native country, 
spent eight months in Germany and traveled 
ill England, and in the fall of 1870 came to 



224 



nroGitAP/iivA L Hisroii r. 



America, and direct to La Crosse. Here he 
began as clerk and l)ook-keeper for Charles 
B. Soldberg, a wholesale grocer, and continned 
in that position ten years. He then became 
liead manager of the retail department of 
this firm fur two years, having an interest in 
the business, and tlien, in the spring of 1883. 
formed willi William Joosten a partnership 
in the grocery business, wholesale and retail. 
Ill the spring of 1886 he sold his interest 
there to liis partners, and the next fall joined 
his brother Henry, in his present business, 
already mentioned. 

He was married in La Crosse to Miss Han- 
nah Matilda Wederwang, a native of Thoten, 
Eastern Norway , and adaughterof Matthias W. 
and Mary Wenderwang. The mother of Mrs. 
Borreson came to America with her daughter 
in 1865, settling in La Crosse, where she still 
resides. Mrs. Borreson died in 1875, leav- 
ing two daughters: Lillie Mary Elisabeth 
and Hannah Matilda Borgia. She was an 
earnest b liever in the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Borreson's second marriage, wliich 
occurred December 26, 1877, was to Miss 
Josephine Hermine Bolette Haugan, who was 
born at Drammen, Norway, May 6, 183'J. 
She was a schoolteachei' in her native country, 
and also taught in Chicago after coining to 
America in 1865. Her father was a manu- 
facturer of wagons at Drammen for some 
years, and then moved to Christiania, the 
capital of Norway, where he was engaged in 
the same business; and while there he served 
the city as Alderman for a number of years. 
He came to America in 1860, and in 1870 
located at La Crosse, where he died three 
years later. 

By his second marriage Mr. Borreson has 
one son and one daughter; Borge Haugan, 
born July 7, 1879, and Bertha Christine 
Ambrosia, born October 9, 1880. Mr. and 



Mrs. Borreson are worthy members of the 
Lutheran Church. 

In tliis religious body Mr. Borreson has 
been very zealous and efficient, holding va- 
rious official positions. He was a member of 
the board of the church which located the 
Lutheran College of the Norwegian Synod 
of America at Decorah, Iowa, in the summer 
of 1889. In tlie summer of 1890 he was 
chairman of the building committee which 
6uf)erintended the erection of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Church of this synod at North La 
Crosse. He has served bis ciiurch here as 
trustee for about fifteen years, as secretary 
about nine years and as treasurer three years. 
He lias been a member of the Scandinavian 
Society for six years, and was its president at 
the time of its dissolution and merging into 
the Norden Society. He is at present Super- 
vij^or of the Ninth Ward. 

Of his family, his two ehlest daughters are 
young ladies of bright promise, exhibiting 
the best traits of tiie Borreson line, in the 
profession of teaching. The eldest daughter 
is a student making rapid progress at the 
Milwaukee Normal School, and the other is 
now in her graduating year in the high school, 
and will also complete a thorough course of 
training for the teachers' profession. 

fOSEI'H ANp ERANK SCHWALBE, 
builders and contractors. La Crosse, Wis- 
consin. — Josejih Schwalbe was born in 
Austria, near Prague, at the village of Aucha, 
June 19, 1S29, and is the son of a contractor 
and builder, whose ancestors for many gener- 
ations had followed the same calling. He 
received a good education in Prague and 
completed a thorough course of training in 
the architectural schools of that city. Upon 
attaining his twenty-first year, he embarked 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



235 



in the business of contracting and building, 
wliieh he conducted until 1S69, when he came 
to America and located in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri. There he remained thirteen months, 
but at the end of that time, came to La 
Crosse, where he has since made his home. 
He has been prominently identified with the 
building interests of the place, and has very 
materially aided the growth and development 
of this industry. 

He was married in his native village to 



Miss Lizzie 



Of this union ten 



children were born, three sons and four daugh- 
ters, in Germany, and two sons and one 
daughter in this country; three sons and 
three daughters survive: Mary is the wife of 
Joseph Schubert, of LaCrosee; Joseph is a 
real-estate agent in West Superior, Wisconsin; 
Frank; Lizzie is the wife of Lorens Schent, 
of La Crosse; Line, and William, a book- 
keeper by occupation. 

Frank Schwalbe, the junior member of the 
firm, was born at Aucha, Austria, October 8, 
1863, and is a son of Joseph Schwalbe. He 
received his education in La Crosse, and early 
in life took up the business of his father. In 
1888 the present partnership was formed. 
He was married in this city to Miss Charlotta 
Kohlhaus, a daughter of Jacob Kohlhaus. Of 
this union two sous have been born; Frank 
and Arthur. He is a member of the La 
Crosse Board of Trade and of the Germania 
Society, being an honored official of the latter. 

Mr. Schwalbe and his son Frank are both 
members of the Builders' Exchange, and are 
among the leading members of their craft. 
Among the many buildings whicli they have 
erected may be mentioned the Weileman 
Brewing Company's plant, Zeister's Brewery, 
tlie largest portion of the Gund Brewing 
Company's plant, most of the C. J. Michel, 
Brewing Company's plant, the Eagle Brew- 
ery, the Vogel Brewery, the West Wisconsn 



Machine Shops, the Tivoli (a summer garden), 
Peter Lehman's Garden, Doerre's Block, City 
Hall of La Crosse, Mr. Wheeler's residence 
on Tenth and Cass streets, etc. 

•°^' "^ * ?"S ' ^" '"*>' — 



SRANCIS XAVIER DE LOREA, whose 
business career in La Crosse has been a 
most satisfactory one, has been a resi- 
dent of the county since 1873, and has won 
an enviable position among his fellow-build- 
ers. He was born in the city of Montreal, 
July 4, 1837, and is a son of Battiste and 
Susan (Roussant) De Lorea. His father was 
a farmer by occupation, but agriculture pre- 
sented few attractions to young Francis 
Xavier, and he took up the carpenter's trade, 
which he learned very thoroughly in his na- 
tive city. In 1861 he came to the United 
States, and until 1873 worked as a journey- 
man in the various cities of tlie Union. Since 
locating in La Crosse he has come to be rec- 
ognized as one of the most intelligent con- 
tractors and has won his share of patronage. 
He erected the Sixth Ward schoolhouse, the 
McMillan building, the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, the La Crosse Abattoir, the business 
block of the Norwegian Workingmen's Soci- 
ety, the Lienlokken building, and many of 
the finest residences. During the past seven 
years he has given considerable attention to 
contracting and building in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, meeting with very encouraging 
results. 

Mr. De Lorea was married in La Crosse to 
Miss Emma E. Rawlinson. He and bis wife 
are regular communicants of the Episcopal 
Church, and are members of the congregation 
of Christ Church. He is a worthy Sir Knight 
of tlie Masonic order, and belongs to the 
Kniirhts of Honor. Mrs. De Lorea is a 



226 



JilOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Worthy Matron of tlie Eastern Star, and is an 
active otticial of that society. 

Onr subject is a member of tlie directory 
of tiie Hnilders' Exchange and was one of the 
prominent factors in tlie perfection of that 
organization. 



SENEY WILLIAM RAETZMANN, 
editor and proprietor of Der La Crosse 
VuU'sfreund, was born at Barum, Han- 
over, Germany, September 9, 1847. In 
October, 186G, lie emigrated to America, 
going directly to Reedsl)urg, Wisconsin; 
there he found employment in a general 
store as clerk, and also gave some time to the 
study of the English language, attending the 
public school for this purpose. He studied 
law in 1867-'(i8 with Mr. Joseph Mackey, 
one of the leading attorneys of Sauk county, 
and in 186'J became a student in the North- 
western University at Watertown, Wiscon- 
sin. In 1870 he again turned his attention 
to mercantile pursuits, and six years later he 
entered upon his career as a journalist, in 
which he has met with the most gratifying 
success. In December of that year he estab- 
lished at Reedsbnrg, Wisconsin, the Demo- 
cratic weekly newspaper called Der Sauk 
County IJerold, of which he has been the 
editor and publisher for fifteen years. He 
was Notary Public during this time, and held 
the agency for several steamship lines and ti\e 
different lire- insurance companies. He served 
as Justice of the Peace for two terms, being 
twice re-elected, but declining to accept the 
honor the third time it was conferred, as his 
private business required his undivided atten- 
tion. 

In January, 1891, Mr. Raetzmann removed 
to La Crosse with his family, and has resided 
in this city since that time. He also bought 



his printing material and established the new 
German Democratic paper, Der La Crosss 
Volksfreuiid, and a Sunday supplement 
called I 111 Fam'dienkreise. The Sauk County 
JLerold, fiiier having been published here for 
nearly ten months during 1891, was merged 
into the Yolksfreund, and is published in 
connection with that ] aper every Saturday 
under the name of the ILerold and Volks- 
freund. Der La Crosse Volksfreund is one 
of the leading German publications of the 
Northwest; is a bright, newsy sheet, ably 
edited and well conducted. 

Mr. Raetzmann was united in marriage 
April 30, 1874, to Miss Emilie Licht, who 
was born September 30, 1855, the eldest 
daughter of Henry Licht of Westtield. Mr. 
and Mrs. Raetzmann are the parents of seven 
children, six of whom are living: Ewald 
Ludolf Friedrich, born March 20, 1875; 
Amandus Hugo Lothar, born August 8, 1876, 
died March 12, 1887; Meta Louise Frieda, 
born December 25, 1878; Wilhehn Hermann, 
June 9, 1881; Ella Catharine Pauline, 
August 27, 1883; Paul Otto Werner, Jan- 
uary 11, 1886; Alfred Louis Julius, April 
14, 1888. 



A. SLOANE, stamp clerk in the La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, postofKce, was ori- 
* ginally from Ilayesville, Ashland 
county, Ohio, his birth occurring March 28, 
1846, and his parents, William and Elizabeth 
Ann (Williams) Sloane were natives of that 
State also. The father was at one time a 
miller, but subsequently Itecaiue baggage 
master on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chi- 
cago Railroad, holding that position from 
•1865 until 1873, when his death occurred. 
He was just forty-five years of age. During 
the civil war he served as a private in Com- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STORY. 



227 



pajiy 11, One Hundred and Second Ohio In- 
fantry, and was on gnard and garrison duty. 
He was discharged on account of sickness 
after the tirst year. He was for many years 
a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and in politics he was an Abolition 
Republican. His wife is still living, is sixty- 
three years of age, and resides at Crestline, 
Ohio. There were four children born to this 
union, E. A. Sloane being the eldest. The 
others are: John, on the railroad at Peoria, 
llliijois; William, a blacksmith at Gallion, 
Ohio, and Rudolph B. E. A. Sloane was 
reared in town, learned the printer's trade at 
twelve years of age, and followed that until 
he enlisted, July, 1862, in Company D, One 
Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry. His first battle was at Athens, Ala- 
bama, where he and many others were over- 
powered and captured after hard lighting. 
He was taken to Cahaba prison, Alabama, 
and there his treatment was horrible. He 
was captui'ed in September, 1864, and in 
March, 1865, the river overflowed, the prison 
was flooded, and the prisoners were obliged to 
stand in water up to their waists for one week. 
He weighed 130 pounds when he entered, and 
on coming out, in March, weighed but sixty 
pounds. General VV^ashburn, who had charge 
of the Confederate prisoners at Vicksburg 
sent word to prison at Cahaba, that if the 
prisoners at that point were not liberated im- 
mediately, he would hang everyone of their 
officers in his charge. They were soon 
after liberated. The prisoners were then sent 
to Vicksburg, and our subject was in the 
hospital for some time. He then becauie 
terribly homesick, had been out three years, 
and had seen the very roughest side of war- 
fare, and as a consequence lie slipped away 
from the hospital and ensconced himself on 
the Sultana, hoping to avoid the hospital sur- 
geons, so that he could make his way to his 



Northern " Home, sweet home." He was de- 
tected, however, and brought hack to the 
hospital by order of the surgeons, and thus. 
unwittingly on the part of those professional 
men, was presumably saved from the terrible 
calamity that overtook the Sultana, and sent 
1,900 brave soldiers to a watery grave with- 
out a moment's warning. Mr. Sloane was 
discharged May 2, 1865, and it was a year 
bei'ure he recovered from his experience. 
After this he was on the railroad, and was 
conductor for twenty-one years. On the 
fourth of July, 1889, he met with a serious 
accident. He was tiring anvils, when the 
ring which connected them burst, and a flin- 
der struck his leg, necessitating its amputa- 
tion September 17, of the same year. Since 
April 14, 1890, he has been stamp clerk in 
the postofMce at La Crosse, Wisconsin, and 
has filled that position in a very acceptable 
manner up to date. 

Mr. Sloane was married on May 20, 1868, 
to Miss Clara Bowen, daughter of Captain 
Bowen of Port Huron, Michigan. They 
have two daughters living: Cora, wife of 
Fred Lampman, residing in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota; and Grace, wife ot M. M. Conley, 
of Minneapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Conley have 
two children: Pearl and Wayne. 

Mr. Sloane is a men)ber of the G. A. R., 
of the order of Railroad Conductors, is a 
member of the Knights of Pythias and the 
Modern Woodmen. He is a Republican in 
politics, though somewhat independent. 

HENJAMIN E. EDWARDS, a promi- 
nent and influential citizen of La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, identified with many of the 
important business enterprises on foot in this 
city, is one whose biography will be found 
of interest to many. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STORY. 



Benjamin E. Edwards was horn in Wal- 
wortii county, Wisconsin, November 12, 1845, 
sou of Theodore B. and Adeline F. (Mc- 
Craeken) Edwards. Grandfather Julius Ed- 
wards came to Wisconsin at an early day, and 
Theodore B. Edwards came from North- 
ampton, Massachusetts, to this State in 1839, 
making settlement in La Crosse, in 1852. 
The latter was an active citizen and a public- 
spirited man. lie was engaged in the real- 
estate business and did uiucli toward building 
up and improving city property. In 1870 he 
went to California and established his home 
in Santa Clara county. 

The subject of our sketch was reared in La 
Crosse, and obtained a fair education in the 
ptruiic schools of this city, subsequently en- 
tering the preparatory school at Beloit. In 
the summer of 18G4 he enlisted in Company 
G, Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
and went to the front. He, however, saw no 
great amount of hard tightin<i;. From 1867 
to 1873, he was engaged in the dry-goods 
business, and from 1878 to 1887 gave his 
ittention to lumber interests. Upon the 
organization of the City Street Railway Com- 
pany, in 1882, he took an active part and 
continued with it till its consolidation with 
the La Crosse Street Railway Company, form- 
ing the present extensive plant known as the 
La Crosse City Railway Company. Since 
the consolidation of the companies, Mr. Ed- 
wards has served as president. Upon the 
ortianization of the La C/rosse Knitting 
Works, in 1886, he gave the enterpi-ise his 
ardent support, and took an active ofKcial 
membership in its directory, serving as vice- 
president. In 1889 he joined Mr. W. H. 
Davis in the purchase of the Wheel & Seeder 
Company's plant, at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, 
and in 1890 they organized the Wheel & 
Seeder Manufacturing Company, and built 
their extensive factory on Clinton street, 



North La Crosse, and removed the plant from 
Fond du Lac here. In 1890, he joined cor- 
dially in the support and organization of the 
Inter-State Fair Association, conti'ibuted lib- 
erally to it, and i)a8 served as its president 
since that time. IJe is also engaged to some 
extent in the real-estate business. 

Mr. Edwards was married in La Crosse, in 
1867, to Miss Ella C. Osborne. (See sketch 
of the Osborne family.) They have one son 
and three daughters, viz.: Eugene O., Grace, 
a student of Wellesley College, Massachu- 
setts; Ilelen L., who is now in the prepara- 
tory department at Amherst, Massachusetts; 
and Annie K., attending the public school. 

Mr. Edwards is a member of the Old Set- 
tlers' Society of La Crosse county, and is 
associated with the I. O. 0. F. lie and his 
family worship at the Congregational Church. 



-^^xn/i/iy- 



-^inn^^ 



flLLlAM LUENING, dealer in <lry 
, \j| goods, furnishing, etc., was born in 
l*-&y?r] Bremen. (Tcnnany, March 12, 1851. 
His father, AVilliam Luening, wasayierchant, 
and his ancestors had generally been mercan- 
tile people in Hanover, Esens, and other cities. 
He married Bertha Kroning, whose fore- 
fathers had generally been in public ofKce. 
In 1853 he came to America and established 
himself in business at Milwaukee, and two 
years later bro\ight his family over. In 1864 
he moved to Sauk City, this State, wliere he 
passed the remainder of his useful and active 
life, dying in 1876, and being buried with 
the honors of the German Singing and Liter- 
ary Society. He left two sons and two daugh- 
ters, namely: Diedrich C, principal of a 
public school in Milwaukee; Louisa, who 
became the wife of Edward Carl of Wausau, 
Wisconsin; William of this sketch, and Ber- 




Ma^ii 



^^•. ^. JS ^0^4.1 



BIOORAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



329 



tha, who married John Kohlsaat, of Chi- 
cago, Illinois. 

Mr. William Luening, onr subject, com- 
pleted his school days in the Milwaukee high 
school; then, at sixteen, was apprenticed 
clerk in a wholesale notion store; at nineteen 
he went out as a " knight of the gripsack" 
(traveling salesman), in which capacity he 
enjoyed great success. In 1880 he retired 
from the road and joined the John Gund 
Brewing Company, which partnership lasted 
until 1886. Next he joined Mrs. 0. F. Klein, 
in the business of dry goods, clothing, etc. 
He has served one term of four years as a 
member of the City Council; has been Presi- 
dent of the Germania Society three years, 
Speaker of the Turn-Verein three terms, and 
lias held other positions in these societies. 

He was married in La Crosse, to Miss Em- 
ma Gund, daughter of John Gund (see 
sketch). She died in 1886, leaving two sons 
and a slaughter: Irma, Guido, and William. 
Mr. Luening subsequently married Miss 
Anna Kienohs, a native of Northern Ger- 
many, and by this marriage there is one son, 
b}' name Eugene. 



-|«>^^- 



I^^ENJAMIN F. BRYANT.— The man 
from Maine has always been a potential 
element in the civilization and develop- 
ment of Wisconsin. The pine tree pointed 
the way for the pioneers, but along the 
woodman's trail came men of all vocations 
— merchants, mechanics and scholastic pro- 
fessors of every degree. No better blood 
ever infused pioneer life; no sturdier arm 
ever set about the task of subduing the wil- 
derness, and no less vigorous mental activity 
could have raised a great commonwealth 
amid the unbroken elements of nature within 
the limits of half a century. Very much of 



the strong, distinctive Americanism which 
Wisconsin has maintained almost co-equally 
with the other Eastern States, against an un- 
paralleled tide of immigration from every 
nation upon the earth, is due to the virility 
of the pioneer stock in which the ir*ine Tree 
State is so strongly represented. 

The war, which turned and overturned 
everything in the United States except t)ie 
fundamental principles of indissoluble union 
and universal liberty, called a halt upon the 
westward-journeying star of empire until 
every star in the national firmament, how- 
ever prone to wander, shall know and admit 
that its place was fixed and everlasting. The 
lessons of the war were not only to those 
who denied the nation; all men understood 
better that this was our common country, 
and the migrations, which before had seemed 
like leaving home for distant and alien lands, 
took on a changed aspect as the iron bound- 
aries of the State were leveled. The associa- 
tions of the war had also their influence. 
TJie men of Maine and Wisconsin stood side 
by side for a common cause on manj' fields, 
and the friendships cemented in sacrificial 
blood are not easily broken. When the last 
act in the great drama was accomplished, and 
half a million soldiers returned to peaceful 
civil life almost in a single day, thousands 
of home-seekers turned their faces toward 
the star of empire which again grandly took 
its way westward. Every Eastern State had 
its favorite Western State, and the men of 
Maine, still influenced by the magnetic pine 
tree as well as by the thought of friends who 
had preceded them, resumed their journey 
toward Wisconsin. 

There are occasional instances of one who 
paused upon the way to try the light of what 
we now call the Central States, but which 
thirty years ago seemed the far West to the 



New Englander. 



When such an one com- 



230 



BIOORAPUIOAL HISTOIiF. 



pleted his journey to Wisconsin, fulfilling 
his destiny as a Maine man, he was received 
with all the more complacency as one who 
came upon judgment and knowledge, and 
not because others liad beaten the path. Such 
an one was the subject of this sketch, Benja- 
min F. Bryant, who left Maine for Ohio in 
1801, and first put his foot upon Wisconsin 
soil to dwell there in 1868, three years of 
the interim having been spent upon Southern 
battle-fields. The Judge, or Colonel, as he 
is called indiscriminately, is one of the best 
representatives of his native State, Wiscon- 
sin, that it has ever welcomed; proud of his 
birth-place; loyal to his alma mater, the ven- 
erable Bowdoin College; faithful in regard 
for statesmen and scholars that Maine has 
given the nation, yet from the start, thor- 
oughly assimilating all of western life except 
its crudeness, he was well fitted to do his 
share in the educational and social develop- 
ment of a relatively new community. 

Benjamin French Brj'ant, son of Benja- 
min and Lncy F. Bryant, was born at Rock- 
land, Maine, September 3, 1837. His father 
was a physician, born at New Vineyard, 
Franklin county, Maine, in 1803, himself the 
son of a farmer and blacksmith, who taught 
all his sons — many in number — the black- 
smith trade before their majority. The Bry- 
ants in New England were from the olden 
time workers in iron. Colonel Br^'ant's 
grandfather, of the maternal branch, Deacon 
Joseph French, was a farmer, who went into 
Maine from Massachusetts near the close of 
the last century, when Franklin county was 
a wilderness, and settled on a farm at South 
Chesterville before a tree had been felled 
on it, and cleared it himself. His daughter 
Lucy was born there in 1805. The farm is 
still owned and cultivated by descendants of 
the same name. 

Both branches of Colonel Bryant's family 



are old in New England, and settled in Mas- 
sachusetts near the middle of the seventeenth 
century. His fatiier's family are of English 
and Scotch extraction; his mother's of Eng- 
lish. His grandfather Bryant and sons were 
men of versatile talents and ready in speech. 
The mother's family have been from the 
earliest time among the sturdiest of New 
England people, usually farmers, but some- 
times hotel keepers, mechanics, merchants 
and physicians. Dr. John French, of Bath, 
New Hampshire, was Colonel Bryant's moth- 
er's uncle, and Ezra B. French, Second Au- 
ditor of the United States Treasury, was 
Dr. French's son and her cousin. 

Colonel Bryant lived in Maine from his 
birth until after his majority, attending com- 
mon schools only until he was seventeen 
years old. He then began to attend the 
Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill, in 
the town of Readtield, where his father and 
mother had completed their education. He 
there pursued his studies about six months 
each year for four years, fitting himself for 
teaching and also to enter college. As his 
father was too pooi' to assist him in his 
education, he was comjjelled to provide the 
ineans himself, and accordingly while at the 
academv and in college he worked on the 
farm each summer and tautrht school win- 
ters, and in this way defrayed the expenses 
of school. He left home when sixteen years 
old to take care of himself, and was with 
his parents afterward only for brief periods 
with long intervals. 

The young man had the full measure of 
American ambition, and upon the subject 
of education he said, "1 will." 

All things come to such if they are as 
steadfast as courageous; and in 1859 he 
entered Bowdoin College, in the class of 
1863. He did not, however, complete the 
course. When his class graduated he was 



BlOORAPaiCAL HISTORY. 



231 



taking a higher course in patriotism with 
the Armj of the Cumberland in tiie Chick- 
amauga campaign. In 1856 his father liad 
removed to Huron county, Ohio, where the 
son joined him in 1861. Soon alter he en- 
tered the law office of Kennan & Stewart at 
Norwalk in that county. Legal studies as 
well as all other peaceful vocations were 
prosecuted under difficulties, with the war 
spirit growing into an intense passion 
thiougliout the land, and in August, 1862, 
Blackstone et id omne genus went hack upon 
the shelves to bide their time, while the 
young student went to the front as Sergeant 
in Company A, One Hundred and First 
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The 
regiment was assigned to the Army of the 
Cumberland, and participated in the j^rincipal 
battles of that section. After Stone River, 
Sergeant Bryant was commissioned First 
Lieutenant, and in March, 1864, Captain of 
his company. He was mustered out with 
his regiment at the close of the war, June 
20, 1865. His military record tells its own 
story; promotion was won on the field, and 
was the reward for duty faithfully and 
courageously tlone. 

He was not alone of his familj' to serve 
the Union cause in the service of arms. His 
father had but three sons, all of whom were 
in the army. Colonel Bryant's oldest brother, 
John E. Bryant, was Captain in the Eighth 
Kegiinent Maine Volunteer Infantry. He 
entered the service with his regiment in 
1861, and served three years. The young- 
est brother, Thomas C. Bryant, enlisted in 
1863 in the Third Regiment Ohio Volunteer 
Cavalry, and served there until the close of 
the war. 

Alter returning from his military service 
Colonel Bryant completed his legal studies 
at Norwalk, Ohio, in the office where he had 
commenced them in 1861, and was admitted 



to the bar in April, 1866, at the spring term 
of the District Court for Huron county, and 
at once began to practice law there. He was 
married near the close of the war, to Miss 
Augusta A. Stevens, of North Fayette, Maine. 
She was educated at Kent's Hill, at the semi- 
nary which he had attended, and also at the 
female college there. In 1866 the young 
couple took up their residence at Norwalk, 
Oliio, and remained until the spring of 
1868, when they removed to La Crosse in 
May, which has been their home to the 
present day. 

Few men have settled in La Crosse who 
made their presence felt more quickly and 
positively than Judge Bryant. He had an 
exceeding grace and 'suavity of manner that 
sometimes made his Irish friends inquire 
what part of the "ould sod" claimed the 
honor of his birth. When occasion arose for 
a public speech he stepped in an instant into 
pupular favor. His language was scholarly, 
forcible, poetical if occasion required, with a 
pungent savor of wit, and his method was 
at once persuasive and forcible. From the 
start Colonel Bryant w'as in such demand by 
the Republican party that his law practice 
would have fared ill had not good Yankee 
business sense set a limit upon too impor- 
tunate party demands. As it was he was 
forced against his intention, and almost 
against his will, into public life. He was 
County Judge of La Crosse county for one 
term of four years — from 1870 to 1874. He 
has been elected to the office of District At- 
torney of that county for three terms of two 
years each. In April, 1875, he was ap- 
pointed United States Pension Agent at La 
Crosse, and held the office until it was con- 
solidated, in July, 1877, with the St. Paul 
and Milwaukee agencies. From October, 
1882, to September, 1885, he was Postmas- 
ter at La Crosse. Governor C. C. Washburn 



BIOORAPUIGAL UISTORT. 



and also Governor William E. Smith, of Wis- 
consin, appointed him Aid-de-catnp on tlieir 
staffs with rank of Colonel. He has also 
been active and prominent in the Grand 
Army; was a charter member and has been 
Commander of Wilson Colwell Post, G. A. 
R., of La Crosse; has also served as Senior 
Vice-Commander and Department Com- 
mander of this Department. He was one of 
the incorporators of the Wisconsin Veteran 
Home, established in 1887 nnder the aus- 
pices of the Grand Army of that State, and 
has been a member of the Board of Directors 
and treasurer of that institution. 

It is, perhaps, well that some more ex- 
tended allusion should be made to Judj^e Bry- 
ant in his capacity as a public speaker. In 
his practice he is best known as an advo 
cate, though he never goes into court with a 
case without knowing thoroughly all the law 
bearing upon it. If the announcement is 
made that Judge Bryant is to address the 
jury, people make it a point to get around 
and hear what he has to say. He likes very 
well to compose an address — to set his 
thoughts clearly and logically in array with 
felicitous simile and apt quotations; but he 
is also one of the few men who can make a 
speech under the inspiration of the hour 
that will, without addition or emendation, 
read like a polished essay when it appears 
in print. A notable instance of this faculty 
is found in his speech at the annual encamp- 
ment of the Grand Army of the Republic at 
Milwaukee in 1887, on the Dependent Pen- 
sion bill, which was taken down by the 
stenographers as spoken, and printed without 
revision, a sheech made without preparation 
and called out by the occasion, but that stands 
as one of the ablest and most eloquent ad- 
dresses ever delivered in Wisconsin. While 
Colonel Bryant rarely speaks without some 
preparation, still, when called upon with l)ut 



a short time to prepare, the outline of a 
speech quickly takes shape in his mind, both 
as to what he should say and the order of ar- 
rangement. Close observation of current 
affairs throughout the world, the study of 
ancient history, especially the history of gov- 
ernments, and an e.xceptional familiarity with 
the best literature, both ancient and modern, 
have stored his mind with ideas which are 
always subject to the call of a retentive 
memory. That such a man should be both 
an elegant and eloquent speaker need hardly 
be said. That he is a logical and accurate 
debater has been proven in many warm 
political contests in Wisconsin. His speeches 
on patriotic occasions are models for all 
America. He inculcates a devotion to the 
ideas underlying our form of government, 
and the flag that symbolizes them, "that 
touches the right spot," as his hearers say, 
and makes one of his addresses a lesson in 
patriotism for old and young. To sum up 
his broad-gauge character in a phrase, it may 
be said that Colonel Bryant is a true cosmo- 
politan. The rugged experiences of early 
farm life put stores of vitality into a phy- 
sique not apparently robust; his years at that 
sedate and most dignified seat of learning, 
old Bowdoin, imparted the scholastic air 
which time and later circumstances have not 
changed; the study and practice of law has 
eliminated haste or prejudice in judgment; 
the l)itter e.xperiences of war has made patriot- 
ism an active principle worthy of entering 
into all the affairs of life; the tilling of pub- 
lic offices widely differing in character has 
imparted a knowledge not only of affairs, but 
of Tiien, and to these latter qualities twenty 
years of experience as a public speaker hare 
contributed more than words can readily ex- 
press. To all this something equal to all may 
be added: a wife capable of aiding as well 
as appreciating. Mrs. Bryant is so charm- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



233 



ing in society that only those who know her 
well realize all the graces of her amply stored 
mind, her judgment of art and literature, her 
clear insight of character, and her kind and 
charitable disposition. Their home is a model 
of quiet elegance, and whoever enters feels at 
once the pervading atmosphere of refinement. 
It is the model American home of a model 
American citizen. 

E. I5ENTLEY is the efficient cashier of 
one of the most popular, strong and 
'® flourishing financial institutions of the 
State of Wisconsin — the Batavian Bank of 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, with which he has 
been connected since 1866, first in the 
capacity of messenger boy, and lastly as 
cashier, doing effective service in each and 
every department. He was born in Scho- 
harie county, New York, October 22, 1843, 
to Edwin S. and N. M. (Gallup) Bentley, 
both natives of the State of New York. The 
parents came to Madison, Wisconsin, in the 
spring of 1855, and in the fall of the same 
year took up their abode in La Crosse, where 
the father followed the calling of a painter, 
his trade being that of a mechanic. He was 
a very devout man and was as highly re- 
spected as he was widely known. He was 
converted to Christianity at the early age of 
nineteen years, and soon after united with the 
Methodist Episcopal Church — the church of 
his clioice. He was a tireless worker in the 
vineyard of his Master, and as layman filled 
all the important otiices with great efficiency, 
and his life was fully rounded out and filled 
with the deeds and benevolences which mark 
the truly Christian character. \n the more 
intimate and sacred relationships of domestic 
life, as husband and father, he became all 
these words imply ; and in this inner circle, 



where his noble character won love, venera- 
tion and filial reverence in overflowing 
measures, his death left a void that can never 
be filled. He was married on the 24th of 
September, 1834, to Miss Nancy M. Gallup, 
of Gallupville, New York, a village named 
in honor of her uncle, and she became to him 
a true, faithful and loving helpmate. She 
was a woman whose many acts of kindness 
and charity gave her an exalted position in 
the affections of the community in which she 
lived, and she was in every way worthy of 
being the life companion of such a man as 
her husband. Their many deeds of Christian 
charity will stand as living monuments for 
many years to come, and their lives point a 
moral which all would do well to heed. Mr. 
Bentley died December 25, 1866, at the age 
of fifty six years, his widow surviving him 
until May 24, 1884, when she passed away, 
at the age of seventy-two years. The follow- 
ing are the names of the five children born 
to their union: Abbie S., Clara M., Charles 
S., E. E., the suljject of this sketch, and 
William L E. E. Bentley first received a 
public-school education, but later finished a 
classical course in the Ohio Wesleyan LTni- 
versity, graduating in the class of 1865, after 
which he followed the calhng of a pedagogue 
in Hamilton, Ohio, and also in Wisconsin, 
winning the reputation of being a conscien- 
tious and able educator and a fine disciplina- 
rian. He was first married in 1869, to Miss 
Susan N., daughter of Alfred Shepard, of 
La Crosse, the only issue of which marriage 
is a daughter, Susan M., who is a pupil in 
the Ohio Wesleyan LTniversity, and will 
graduate in the classical department in the 
class of '92. Mr. Bentley was called upon 
to mourn the death of his wife in 1872, who 
died at the untimely age of twenty-seven 
years, having been a devout member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church from girlhood. 



234 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



In 1879 Miss Emma E. Langdon, daughter 
of Walter M. and Sallie E. Langdon, of La 
Croese, became liis second wile, and tliefrnita 
of this union ai'e the following children: 
Charles E., Wayne and Percy D. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bentley are members of the Metiiodist 
Episcopal Church, in which he has been 
trui^tee and steward. He was a lay delegate 
to the General Conference of this church, 
which was held in New York city in 1888, 
and has been a member of the Lay Electoral 
Conference one term. He is president of the 
Y. M. C. A. of La Crosse, an organization of 
which the city is justly proud. In 1864, 
while attending college, Mr. Bentlej, with 
many other students, dropped his books to 
become a votary of Mars, and enlisted in the 
Union service from Delaware, Ohio. During 
the four months that he was in the service 
he was principally on guard duty. The Ad- 
jutant of the regiment was W. H. Moore, 
and Richard Rwj'iiolds was the Captain of 
his company. As will bo seen, Mr. Bentley 
has lield positions of preferment in social, 
moral, financial and educational organiza- 
tions, and as an honored citizen has the re- 
spect and coulidence of a large circle of ac- 
quaintances, and is held in high esteem for 
his many excellences of character. 

Perhaps tliis is as good a place as any to 
give a sketch of the Young Men's Christian 
Association of La Crosse, with which Mr. 
Bentley has been so prominently connected. 

THE YOUNG men's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 

Among all the agencies for the good of man- 
kind and the betterment of his moral, physical 
and spiritual natures, probably no one has 
proved more practical and efficient than that 
arm of the church known as the Young Men's 
Christian Association. As the late Earl of 
Shaitesbnry said in speaking of their work, 
"theyareofimmonseimportance. They are not 



only good locally, but politically. The young 
men educated in them will contribute much 
by their sentiments and actions to form pub- 
lic opinion, and will constitute what has been 
called by Burke, * the cheap defense of na- 
tions.'" All over the world, where tiiey iiave 
sprung up by the thousands, and especially 
in our own land, where they have been most 
systematically and comprehensively' develop- 
ed, they are pointed to with confidence by all 
classes as conservators of the greatest force 
of any nation, — the power of young manhood. 

While by no means possessing a model 
association in every respect, owing to local 
restrictions, yet La Crosse may well take 
pride in her Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation. In 1883 a public meeting was called 
to consider the advisability of opening a 
reading room for young men. Previous ex- 
perience, which had resulted in failure, even 
under most favorable auspices, decided against 
any effort in this direction that was not an- 
chored to some sure and tried principle, and 
it was thought best to organize as a young 
men's christian association. State Secretary 
Lewis, of cherished memory, and Secretary 
Willis, of the Milwaukee Association, aided 
in the initiatory steps. 

The formal organization took place April 
30, 1883, at the office of H. B. Smith, and 
the following persons signed the constitution: 

E. E. Bentley, E. B. Magi 11, L. B. Coleman, 
M. B. Greenwood, G. \Y. Burton, J. M. 
Holley, II. B. Smith, Geo. McMillan, S. F. 
Clinton, J. T. Van Valkenberg, Alfred James, 
John James, Joseph James, E. R. Montague, 

F. W. Lange, Robert Nourse, A. R. Gustaf- 
son, Gilbert Shepard, N. Arneson, J. Bangs- 
berg, H. B. Smith, Jr., II. I. Bliss, E. D. 
Loomis, Wm. W. Jones, J. B. Canterbury, 
Henry A. Salzer. The first board of direc- 
tors were as follows: President, E. E. Bentley; 
Vice-President, J. T. Van Valkenberg, Re- 



niOGBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



333 



cording Secretary, J. M. Holley; Treasurer, 
H. B. Smith; Directors, G. R. Montague, 
Geo. McMillan, A. R. Gnstafson, Joseph 
James, Henry A. Salzer. 

Great interest was at once manifested in the 
organization, and it at once sprang into popu- 
lar favor. Mr. M. B. Williams, General Sec- 
retary of the Elmira, New York Association, 
was called to take charge as general secretary, 
and, under his skillful and experienced man- 
agement the work was successfully developed 
along all lines. In 1886 Mr. Williams re- 
signed to accept an offer to become State 
secretary of Virginia, and was succeeded by 
Mr. James R. Pratt, who continued to act as 
general secretary until 1889, when he ac- 
cepted a position tendered him upon the 
State force, afterwards succeeding to the po- 
sition of State secretary, upon the death of 
Mr. Lewis. Mr. Pratt was followed as gen- 
eral secretary by Mr. W. B. Miller, who had 
iust finished his studies at Appleton. Mr. 
Miller remained in charge only eight months, 
when he was offered, and accepted, a position 
in the office of the Twenty-third Street 
Branch, New York city, and was succeeded 
in April, 1890, by Mr. F. D. Hopkins, the 
present general secretai-y. 

The first quarters occupied by the associa- 
tion were on Main street, between Front and 
Second, where the Nordstern now has its 
office. The rooms were considered very de- 
sirable at the time, but in 1884 the associa- 
tion took advantage of the erection of the 
building where the rooms are now located at 
Nos. 423-425 Main street, to have rooms 
especially arranged for them, and in October 
of that year occupied thera. Great credit 
should be given the ladies' auxiliary for their 
help, not only at this time in furnishing the 
rooms but for their efficient aid from the very 
beginning of the association. 

The rooms now occupied consist of a read- 



ing room, pleasantly furnished and supplied 
with all the leading publications of the day; 
a parlor, furnished in good taste with piano, 
etc.; recreation room, furnished with suitable 
amusements and games; assembly room, for 
meetings; gymnasium, with fair equipment; 
bath-rooms with tubs and shower baths; toilet 
room, and secretary's office. 

The association has a total membership 
of about 325, including a junior department 
of fifty members for boys between the ages of 
twelve and sixteen. 

Early in the history of the work its ne- 
cessity of special work on the North Side was 
recognized, and a branch was started with Mi-. 
George Tummings, now general secretary, at 
Chippewa Falls, in charge. In 1885 this was 
made an independent railroad department, 
and is now partially supported by the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee and St Paul Railroad 
Company. They occupy a very tastefully 
furnished suite of rooms on Rose street, in- 
cluding all the advantages mentioned in con- 
nection with the South Side rooms. Mr. 
George A. Kidder, a former active member 
of the South Side department, is now the 
efficient general secretary, and the associa- 
tion is in a most prosperous condition. 

The result of the work in La Crosse can 
only be estimated. Briefly summarized, over 
450,000 visits by young men have been made 
to the rooms, 60,000 have attended its re- 
ligious meetings, over 500 known conversions 
reported, and scores each year kept from 
leading evil lives; hundreds have come here 
strangers and aided by the association have 
found good companions, good boarding places 
and employment; thousands of letters have 
been written, thousands of baths given, while 
free lectures, medical talks, entertainments, 
educational classes, gymnasium instructions, 
etc., etc., have all aided in rounding out a 
grand work. 



236 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



The present officers of the South Side As- 
sociation are: {'resident, E. E. Bentiey; Vice- 
President, J. T. Van Valkenberi>;; Recording 
Secretary, J. J. Hartley; Treasurer, Geo. H. 
Clark; Directors, T. B. Lawrence, J. M. 
Ilolley, C. F. Emery, I. Cuvilear, J. P. Sal- 
zer, D. H. Stowell. General Secretary, F. D. 
Hopkins. 

The officers of the North Side Association 
are: E. G. Boynton, President; W. E. Kit- 
tredge, Vice-President; K. P. Howard, Re- 
cording Secretary; T. C. Dodds, Treasurer; 
Directors, D. E. Bice, A. R. Van Mocker, I. 
Ranuin, S. A. Brown, C. C. Prescott, G. H. 
Taylor, F. C. Green, H. P. Magill, A. S. 
Sather, E. B. Nelson. 



-*5s^ 



'■@®-^ 



E*^ 



(HARLES LINSE, one of the most 
prominent agriculturists of La Crosse 
county, was born in Germany in 1835. 
His parents, William and Ida (Kuelin) Linse, 
emigrated to the United States in 1848, and 
settled in JefFt-rson county, Wisconsin, where 
they remained une year; thence they removed 
to Columbia county, near Portage, Wiscon- 
sin, and lived there until 1853, coming in 
that year to La Crosse county. Mr. Linse 
pre-empted Government land, improved it 
one year, and then sold out his claim; he 
ne.vt bought a tract of 160 acres, on which 
he and his wife lived until 1864. In that 
year tlicy gave up housekeeping and went to 
live with their children. William Linse died 
in 1873, at the age of seventy years; his wife 
died in 1871), aged seventy-nine years. They 
reared a family of five children, of whom 
Charles is the oldest; Emielie married Au- 
gust Lauderbach, and they have four chil- 
dren; Herman married Fredericka Breixze, 
and they are the parents of eight children; 
Matilda is the wife of Adolj)h Pfunt, and 



they have eight children; Frederick married 
Caroline Danz, and they have nitie children. 

Charles Linse purchased his father's prop- 
erty in 1864, and the same year was married 
to Miss Julia Tausche, a native of Austria, 
born in 1842. Her parents crossed the sea 
to America in 1855, but both are now de- 
ceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Linse were Imrii 
nine children, six of whom are livinif at the 
present time: Charles married Miss Harriet 
Relnhart, and resides in Chippewa Falls, to- 
gether with his brother William ; Valentine, 
Joseph, Anna and Ida are all at home. The 
mother of these children died in 1879, and 
three of the children died in infancy. Mr. 
Linse was tnarried a second time in 1884, to 
Miss Margueritte Pfunt, and of this union 
three children were born: Adolph, Julia and 
Matilda. 

Mr. Linse owns a good farm of 400 acres 
of finely improved land in Mormon valley, 
well fitted for carrying on the dairy business. 
He runs a dairy of about fifty cows, making 
it his business to produce the finest quality 
of butter, for which he receives the top mar- 
ket prices, both in La Crosse and St. Paul. 
In connection with his dairy he is also en- 
gaged heavily in raising hogs, selling about 
100 head annually. 

At various times Mr. Linse has held nearly 
all the offices of his township, and in 1884- 
'85 he was a member of the State Ijegislature. 
lie is president of the Farmers' La Crosse 
County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 
which covers nearly all the farm buildings ip 
La Crosse county and four townships of Ver- 
non county. It was organized in 1875, and 
Mr. Linse has held his present office since its 
inception. Like all good citizens he is in- 
terested in the political welfare of the county 
and State and Union, and, believing the prin- 
ciples of the Republican party best suited to 
the demands of the nation, he has cast his 




Kp"iy7' ,■ Kp^"- 




/S^^if^ 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



237 



suffrage with that body. He and his wife 
are devout members of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church. 



^ON. FREDERICK ALLEN COPE- 
LAND, a prominent citizen of La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, was l)orn July 14, 
1846, at Ypsilanti, Michigan, whither his 
parents, Allen A. and Mary A. (Kittridge) 
Copeland, removed about 1840 from Lowell, 
Massachusetts. In both lines of descent he 
belongs to stock of New England origin. 
His father was a merchant at Lowell and 
conducted a similar business at Ypsilanti for 
ten years, removing thence to Battle Creek, 
Michigan, and in 1853 to a farm near Paw 
Paw, Michigan. In 1860 lie went to Baraboo, 
Wisconsin, whei-e he remained until 1869, 
the date of his removal to Winona, Minne- 
sota. In 1872 he removed to Weaver, Minne- 
sota, and while a resident of that place he 
revisited his old home in Massachusetts. 
Before the end of his visit he died at Mans- 
field in November, 1882; his wife still sur- 
vives. Six of their eleven children are living: 
Edward A., George N., Frederick A., Lucius 
D., Harriett A. and Willis E. Harriett 
married Hon. A. S. Batchelor, of Littleton, 
New Hampshire, a prominent Democrat and 
at present State Historian. 

At the tender age of fifteen years Mr. 
Copeland enlisted in the service of his coun- 
try. He enrolled Decemlier 3, 1861, at 
Baraboo, Wisconsin, and was mustered in 
during the same month with Company F^ 
Third Wisconsin Yolnnteer Cavalry. In 
the spring following the regiment went to 
the front, leaving the State March 26, 1862, 
stopping at St. Louis for partial equipments 

and went thence to Kansas, arriving at Fort 
17 



Leavenworth, where horses were added to 
their outfit. 

Up to that time Mr. Copeland had acted 
as clerk for his Captain, David S. Vittum, 
who had taken a great interest in him. After 
the regiment was fully equipped, the Second 
Battalion, \inder command of Major B. S. 
Henning, was ordered to Fort Scott, Kansa'. 
In the meantime Captain Yittum was put on 
detached service at Fort Leavenworth. Mr. 
Copeland had his choice to remain with Cap- 
tain Yittum or go South with the company 
in the same capacity with Lieutenant Plows, 
who was in command. Being of an adven- 
turesome disposition he chose the latter, but 
soon found that he was not with his good 
friend, the Captain, but a would-be tyrant, 
and rather tlian be ti'eated as a servant he 
concluded to take his chances with the boys, 
returning to the ranks. 

.Fort Scott was the border of the frontier, 
and the last defense. The command there 
engaged in all sorts of frontier service, chiefly 
scattering guerrillas. Mr. Copeland was in- 
croduced to one of the worst features of war 
at Montevalio, Missouri, with the command 
of Colonel Coffee. He ne.xt had a similar 
experience in the unequal fight at Prairie 
Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862. where 
the Rebels, under General Hind man, were 
whipped by a Union force one-third as great 
through the prowess of Wisconsin soldiers. 
The next move of the Third was to Yan 
Buren, Arkansas, and thence to Forsyth, 
Missouri, encountering before reaching Yan 
Buren a force of Texas Rangers, whom they 
scattered while taking their breakfast. Mr. 
Copeland lost his horse, and had to substitute 
an old mule, which he bought for ten dollars. 
Thus mounted he started with his command, 
and had the distinction of always bringing 
the rear at night, and received the title of 
' Balaam. At Yan Buren they burned several 



238 



BIOOliAPlIICAL HISTORT. 



stecamers belonging to tlie Rebels going up 
to Arkansas with siipplie?. They went from 
there to Forsyth, and thence to Salem, Mis- 
souri, sending impediments by way of Spring- 
field. In the spring of 18G3 they went to 
Fort Scott, and Companies A, C, D and E 
remained there until the spring of 1865 
guarding the outposts of the frontier aud 
scouting between Missouri, Kansas and the 
Indian Territory. Soon after arriving at Fort 
Scott Mr. Copeland was detailed as Chief 
Clerk at General C. W. Blair's headquarters. 
January 4, 1861, he veteranized and took 
veteran furlough. In the fall he was relieved 
of detached duty to become Commissary Ser- 
geant of his company, which he joined at 
Camp Insley, seventeen miles east of Fort 
Scott in Missouri. At the reorganization of 
the regiment in the spring of 1865, Com- 
pany A was made Company K, and Mr. 
Copeland was commissioned Second Lieu- 
tenant, to date from April. In June follow- 
ing Companies F and K were sent to Fort 
Leavenworth, and on arrival there were or- 
dered to Marysville, Kansas, and remained 
there protecting and escorting Government 
trains. Mr. Copeland was made Quarter- 
master of the battalion. In October the regi- 
ment was ordered to Madison, and the sol- 
diers were mustered out October 23, 1865. 

Four sons of Allen A. Copeland proved 
their right to their inheritance by fighting in 
the war of the rebellion: W. H. Copeland 
enlisted in June, 1861, in Company A, Sixth 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and fought 
with the Iron Brigade until the battle of 
Antietam, where he received a fatal wound, 
dying in the afternoon of September 17, and 
was buried on the field; Edward A. was with 
Kit Carson in the Third New Mexico Cav- 
alry, and George N. was with the Army of 
the Tennessee. 

After his return home, Mr. Copeland ob- 



tained a position in a dry-goods store, and 
passed three years as a clerk at Baraboo. He 
started for Winona, Minnesota, stopped at 
La Crosse, and here chanced to meet Captain 
I. 11. Moulton, who had just been appointed 
agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Faul 
Railroad, to whom he applied in vain for a 
position; but a week after his arrival in 
Winona he received a telegram summoning 
him to La Crosse to the employ of the rail- 
way company. His head fell in the autumn 
of 1890, when the force was reduced, as he 
was one of the youngest employes. But 
Captain Moulton had become interested in 
him, and obtained for him a position with 
the Southern Minnesota Railway, where he 
was occupied until the spring of 1871, when 
he entered the employ of Hart & Norton, 
dealers in agricultural implements. 

In December, 1871, he was selected out 
of fifteen applicants as bookkeeper of the La 
Crosse Lumber Company, of which Governor 
C. C. Washburne was president. In 1875 
Governor Washburne purchased the interests 
of the other stockholders, and in the fall of 
1880 directed Mr. Copeland to go to the 
woods and take charge of putting in a large 
tract of timber. Never having done anything 
of the kind, Mr. Copeland ask for instruction, 
and what be should do when he arrived on 
the spot. The Governor's reply was: '' Yon 
go up and find out for yourself, and if you 
do not find any thing to do, 1 shall have no 
further use for your services;" and it turned 
out to be the most valuable incident of his 
whole life. In the following spring he re- 
ported to the Giivernor the exact price per 
thousand it cost for labor, to feed the men, 
and to feed the teams. This so pleased the 
Governor that he placed Mr. Copeland in 
charge of his lumber interests at La Crosse. 

After the death of Governor Washburne 
in 1882, he received instruction from the 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



239 



executors of the estate to continue in full 
cliarge of all the late owner's lumbering in- 
terests. By the terms of the will the estate 
was to be settled in five years, and during tlie 
interim the interests under Mr. Copeland's 
contract made a net showing of $300,000 
above appraised valuation. In April, 1887, 
the executors submitted to Mr. Copehmd a 
proposition to purchase the mill property, 
which he finally accepted with much reluc- 
tance, and was successful. The capacity of 
his mill is 200,000 feet of lumber, 125,000 
shingles and 40,000 laths. The mill contains 
one circular and one band mill and one im- 
proved Wick gauge. In 1892 he controls 
about 125,000.000 feet of pine stiimpage. 

Mr. Copeland was named in the will of 
Governor Washburne as one of the trustees 
of the public library founded by him, and 
to the efforts of Mr. Copeland are largely due 
the completion of the library building, its 
attractive style of architecture and its ar- 
rangements. 

Early in 1887 he organized a stock com- 
pany for the purpose of putting in an Edison 
incandescent electric-light plant, and he was 
made president. Under his management the 
platit has increased from 2,000 lamps in 1887 
to over 8,000 in 1892. He is also a director 
in the Batavian Bank, the Exchancre State 
Baidc, the Brush Electric Light Company, 
the La Crosse Gas Light Company and La 
Crosse Theater Company. He has in every 
possible manner fostered the public enter- 
prises of La Crosse, and, with other citizens 
equally interested, he has aided in securing 
for the city one of the finest opera-houses in 
Wisconsin. 

He has also made a record in the Wiscon- 
sin National Guard; he has an executive 
ability which is exercised in all his relations, 
and in connection with the militia of which 
the Badger State boasts he has sustained his 



reputation. In 1878, when the La Crosse 
Light Guards were organized, he was made 
Third Sergeant, and August 22, 1879, was 
elected Second Lieutenant by unanimous 
choice, and was commissioned by the Gov- 
ernor. June 17, 1881, he was promoted to 
a Captaincy, and in June, 1884, his connec- 
tion with the Light Guards ceased through 
his appointment on tlie staff of Governor 
Rusk, with the rank of Colonel, and was 
assigned to duty as Assistant Inspector Gen- 
eral of the W. N. G. On the expiration of 
the term of that official, in 1889, he tendered 
his resignation. 

He is a Mason, belongs to the Republican 
party, and is a member of the G. A. R. and 
of the Loyal Legion. In the spring of 1891 
his friends, much against his will, induced 
him to make the run for Mayor of La Crosse. 
His party being considerably in the minority, 
the outlook was not very encouraging, but he 
managed to win the race, he being the only 
Republican elected on the city ticket. 

Mr. Copeland was married in 1874 to Cora, 
daughter of Colonel Theodore and Marie A. 
Rodolf. Two children have been born to 
them: Marie Louisa, August 7, 1875, and 
Irene, March 15, 1877. 



fOSEPH POEHLING was born in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, September 23, 1859, 
son of Herman and Annie Poehling, 
natives of the province of Westfoelen, Ger- 
many. His father, a carpenter and mill- 
wright, came to America when a young man 
and settled in Rock Island, where he spent a 
few years and where he was married. He 
came to La Crosse about 1852 and made his 
home here until his death, which occurred in 
1863. He left a widow, four sons and one 
daughter. The latter, Louisa, married Cas- 



240 



BIOOKAI'IIICAL IJISTOR Y. 



par Crockelhauer, and died without issue. 
The sons, Herman, Joseph, John and Henry, 
are all residents of La Crosse. 

Tlie subject of our sketcli jj^rew to man- 
hood in the city of liis nativity, obtained a 
fair schooling, and at the age of seventeen 
began to learn the tinner's trade in the shop 
of Vincent Tausche, with whom he has since 
continued, with the exception of one year 
spent with Dittraan & Jorsted. He was 
married in La Crosse to Miss Annie Steelier, 
a native of Milwaukee and a daughter of 
Charles Steelier, a merciiant tailor. They 
have two sons and one daughter living: An- 
nie Louisa, Kdward William and Rubert 
William, and an infant son deceased. Mr. 
Poehlinj; and his wife are both reifular com- 
municants of the St. Joseph congregation, 
Iloiuan Catholic Church. He is a iii nnber 
of St Htm i face Aid Society. 

As an honorable and upright man Mr. 
Poehling has the respect and confidence of 
his fellow-citizens. He is Supervisor of the 
First Ward of La Crosse. 

ILLIAM EDWIN DAVIS, County 
(Merk of La Crosse county, was born 
"i in Cardiganshire, Wales, June 2, 184:9, 
and was reared in Covington, Kentucky, his 
parents being Thomas and Sarah (Jenkins) 
Davis. Ilia father was a pattern -inaker by 
occupation. On both sides the ancestors of 
Mr. Davis were ciiaracterized by well devel- 
oped physical frames. In 1850 the parents 
emigrated to this country, landing at New 
York and settling at Covington, Kentucky, 
where they had two sons and a daughter. 
After the war they moved to Wisconsin, set- 
tling where they now reside, in La Crosse 
county. 

Mr. Davis, the subject of this sketch, in 




his youth engaged in steamboating on the 
Ohio and Mississippi rivers, running from 
Pittsburg to New Orleans, and in 1866 came 
to Wisconsin, first locating in Farmington 
township. La Crosse county, but followed 
steamboating on the Mississippi, during the 
season of navigation, until 1886. He has 
served as Treasurer of his township and Di- 
rector of the school board, and was finally 
elected to his present position, already named. 
He was married in La Crosse, to Katie 
Barclay, a native of Scotland and a daughter 
of Andrew and Jenette Barclay, and they 
have two sons, — Thomas and John. Mr. and 
Mrs. Davis worship at the Presbyterian 
church. 



-^^ S'T - S 

fACOB HUBERT GRATES, proprietor 
of the Park Saloon and Summer Garden, 
was born August 1, 1848, at Ileinslierg, 
Province of the Rhine, Prussia, the son of 
John Hubert and Elizabeth (Fabre) Grates. 
His father, a baker by trade, came in 1864 to 
America, locating at Cashka, Minnesota, and 
afterward at Long Prairie, same State, where 
he died in 1874 or '75, and was buried in the 
Catholic cemetery. His wife died in 1878, 
in Wyckoff, Minnesota, and is buried beside 
her husband. They were both in full com- 
munion with the Catholic Church. By their 
death they left three sons and three daughters: 
Leonard, a mason, contractor and builder of 
Cashka; Hubertina, wife of John Hofer. a 
fruit-raiser of Anaheim, California; Jacob 
Hubert, the subject of this sketch; Conrad, a 
resident of St. Paul, Minnesota; Helena, the 
wife of Joseph Fitzthum, a saddler and har- 
ness-maker of Austin, Minnesota; and Mary, 
the wife of John Eickstadt, of Grand Meado.w, 
Minnesota. 

Mr. Grates, our subject, followed farming 



BIOGRAPSWAL HISTORF. 



241 



at Long Prairie until 1884, when he came to 
La Crosse, and at length eu<j;a<jed in the 
saloon business, in which lie is doing well. 
He built the store which he now occupies, 
and has since added to and improved it. He 
is serving his first term as Supervisor, now 
representing the Eieventli Ward. He is a 
member of St. Boniface Society (benevolent), 
and also of the Concordia Society, and both 
himself and wife are members of the Catholic 
Church. 

He was married in 1878, at La Crosse, to 
Miss Anna Hofer, a native of La Crosse 
county, and a daughter of Joseph and Clara 
Hofer, lately deceased, of Onalaska. They 
have one son and three daugiiters, namely: 
Joseph, Mary, Cecelia and Emma. 



fOSEPH MORAN", West Salem, Wiscon- 
sin. — Among the many prominent agri- 
culturists now residing in La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, stands the name of Joseph 
Moran, who was born in County Donegal, 
Ireland, May 8. 1821. His parents, Alex- 
ander and Mary (Thompson) Moran, natives 
also of Ireland, are both deceased. 

Mr. Moran came to New York in 1839, 
and there followed the mercantile business 
for seventeen years. In 1856 he came to 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he resided two 
years. In 1858 he bought a farm of 160 
acres in the town of Barre, where he has since 
resided. Mr. Moran has been an industrious 
farmer and has been repeatedly honored with 
the various offices of his town and has tilled 
them in a most satisfactory manner. In 
politics he is a Whig Democrat, and believes 
in free trade. 

He was married in 1844 to Miss Catherine 
Kegan, a native of Ireland. They have had 
ten children. Mary married Peter Sparling, 



and died January 13, 1882; Alexander mar- 
ried Miss Saunders, of River Fails, Wisconsin; 
Joseph, Jr., married MissStevens,ofLaCrosse; 
Sitnuel Wilson; Catlierine Jane, died No- 
vember 4, 1889; Francis died July 10, 1857; 
William; James Henry; Zaida Elizabeth 
married Frank Leete, and died April 9, 1884; 
and Charles Boyd . 

Mr. and Mrs. Moran, with all their chil- 
dren, are zealous members of tlie Episcopal 
Church, and are classed among the best citi- 
zens of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Moran are 
still both " hale and hearty," after their many 
years of pioneer life, and bid fair to enjoy 
the fruits of their labors for many years to 
come. 



fSENRY ESMILLER, farmer, Barre Mills, 
Wisconsin. — It is doubtless owing en- 
^^l| tirely to the industrious and persevering 
manner with which Mr. Esmiiler has adhered 
to the pursuit of agriculture and stock- 
raising that he has risen to sucii a substantial 
position in farm affairs in this county. His 
parents, Fred and Mary (Linderkamp) Es- 
miiler, were natives of Germany, and there 
the father tilled the soil all his life. Of the 
eight children born to this union, only our 
subject and one sister came to this country. 
The parents died in their native country. In 
1866 Henry Esmiiler crossed the ocean to 
America and first worked in a sawmill in 
Chippewa county, Wisconsin. Later he 
worked on farms in La Crosse county, and in 
1873 he bought his present place of 260 acres 
where he has resided ever since. He was 
married in 1873 to Mrs. Mary Miller, 
widow of Fred Miller, by whom she had 
six children, four sons and two daugh- 
ters. Fred, one of the sons, married Miss 
Anne Sandmann, and now resides in Kan- 



242 



DIOOBAPHIGAL U I STORY. 



sas; Deidrich married Miss Sophia Knt- 
teliiianii, and now resides in La Crosse 
county; Sopliia became the wife of Fred 
Kuttelmann, and resides in La Crosse county ; 
Henry married Sophia Sandmann,and makes 
his home in Kansas; Dorette became the wife 
of George Sprain, and resides in Bostwick 
valley; and William, at home. Mr. Esmiller 
arrived in La Crosse in the winter of 1866, 
with only $8 capital, but by his energy and 
push has accumulated a comfortable compe- 
tency for his declining years. He belongs to 
the Freethinkers' Society of Bostwick Val- 
ley. He has held a number of local positions 
in the township, Supervisor for five years and 
assessor nearly as long, and filled those ofiices 
in a manner satisfactory to his constituents. 
He may well be classed as one of the best 
citizens of tlie town, for he shares the respect 
and confidence of his fellow men. He is 
independent in politics, supporting the men 
and measures he considers best for his town 
and State. On his large, well improved farm, 
he has a commodious two-story brick resi- 
dence, large basement barns and other con- 
venient out-buildings. He raises good crops 
and in connection with his farming interest 
is engaged in stock-raising; He keeps 
graded cattle, eight horses, etc. 



-»J^ 



JTIKLING W. BROWN, editor and 
])roprietor of the West Salem Journal, 
and Notary Public, was born in La 
Crosse county, July 12, 1856. His parents, 
John and Elizabeth (Brown) Brown, were 
born, reared and married in Scotland. In 
1856 they emigrated to America, and after 
their arrival in the ITnited States located in 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin. The father 
had been engaged in mercantile pursuits in 
Scotland. He purchased a farm of 160 acres 



in La Crosse valley. In 1875 he removed to 
West Salem, retiring from active labor. His 
death occurred August 10, 1881, aged seventy 
years. He and his wife were both members 
of the Congregational Church. Mrs. Brown 
still survives, at the age of seventy-nine 
years. 

Stirling W. Brown is one of a family of 
nine children, six of whom are living. 
Thomas S., tlie oldest son, went to California 
in 1858 and was engaged in mining there 
until the beginning of the civil war, when he 
enlisted in the Union ranks and served four 
years; John A. enlisted in Company B, 
Second Wisconsin Cavalry, and did valiant 
service for a period of four years; he is now 
a resident of Cottonwood county, Minnesota, 
and was elected Auditor in 1890. Our sub- 
ject was educated in the common schools of 
La Crosse county, and was engaged in teach- 
ing for a period of seven terms, gaining an 
enviable reputation as an educator. In 1884, 
during the Blaine campaign, he was employed 
on the RejnM'tcan Leader of La Crosse, and 
worked on this paper until December, 1888, 
when he purchased the West ^^^leia Journal. 
This paper was founded in 1886, and has 
flourished since its inception. It is a read- 
able sheet, devoted to the best interests of 
the county, and is well patronized. 

Mr. Brown was elected Justice of the 
Peace in 1891, the term of ofKce being two 
years. He is librarian of the Hamilton 
Library Association, and has given most cor- 
dial support to this organization. In his 
printing-office he does all kinds of job work 
in the most approved style, being thoroughly 
equipped for lirst-class work. 

He was married in 1889 to Miss Julia 
Larson, who died October 13, 1891. One 
son was born of this union, September 16, 
1891, named Julian. Mr. Brown is a mem- 



BIOGRAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



24S 



ber of the Knights of Pythias, and affiliates 
with the Republican party, casting his first 
vote in 1880, for James A. Garfield. 



^ 



^•^-^^^ 



fOHN A. MILLEU, a progressive and 
highly respected citizen of La Crosse, is 
descended from a long line of German 
ancestors who were well versed in the art of 
building. His parents, Caspar and Susanna 
(Ginsbach) Miller, were natives of Germany, 
their name being originally Mueller. The 
father was a contractor and builder, and was 
educated for this occupation in the polytech- 
nic schools of his native country. In 1853 
he emigrated to America and spent the first 
year of his residence in this country in IN'ew 
Orleans. He then came to Dubuque, Iowa, 
and the year following was married. In 
1856 he came to La Crosse, and was a well- 
known figure in building circles until his 
death, which occurred August 10, 1887. 
His ancestors for many generations were of 
the Roman Catholic faith, and he was a full 
communicant of the church. His burial 
service was conducted by the societies to 
which he belonged: St. Joseph's Benevolent 
Society, St. Joseph's Casino, and the La 
Crosse Diocesan Life Insurance Society, of 
which he was a foundei". He was of a re- 
tiring disposition, but gave a cordial support 
to those institutions which were for the bene^ 
fit of the entire community. His widow died 
September 24, 1891, and four sons and a 
daughter are living. 

John A. Miller received a good education 
in the public schools, and when he came to 
select a vocation for life he chose that of his 
father. The date of his birth is December 
31, 1857, and the place La Crosse. It was 
not until 1881 that he joined his father in 
business. They were connected with the 



erection of many prominent buildings of 
this city, and since the father's death Mr. 
Miller has conducted a prosperous business. 
He has taken an active part in many of the 
public movements of the city and county, and 
was one of the early promoters of the Ijuild- 
ers' Exchange, one of the largest and most 
potent organizations in the city. He is a 
member of the Catholic Knights of Wiscon- 
sin, of St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, of 
St. Joseph's Casino, and of the La Crosse 
Diocesan Life Insurance Company. 

Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss 
Minnie Ritter, a native of Pittsburgh, Penn- 
sylvania, and a daughter of Henry Ritter, of 
the firm of Voight & Ritter, manufacturers 
of carriages and wagons. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Miller have been born three children: Alfred, 
and two sons who died in childhood. 



/^EORGE H. YARRINGTON, one of the 
flW pioneer settlers of La Crosse county, 
^^ was born in Steuben county, New York, 
in 1841, a son of William and Amanda 
(Nolan) Yarrington, natives of Pennsylvania 
and New York respectively. The father was a 
wagon maker by trade, and in 1851 he remov- 
ed to the West, settling at Watertown, Wis- 
consin; there he followed his trade until 1862, 
when he was eny)loyed as a teamster in the 
army for one year; at the end of this period 
he was discharged on account of disability. 
After his return he engaged in the business 
of building, which he followed until his death 
in 1887; he was seventy-seven years old, and 
his wife still survives, aged seventy years. 
George H. lived with his father until 1862, a 
blacksmith by trade, and then enlisted in the 
Twenty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
and went out in defense of his country's flag; 
he had been in the service nine months when 



344 



BIOGIUJ'JJWAL UlSTOUY. 



lie was discliarged on account of ill health. 
He came back to his home, and as soon as he 
was able he began driving an omnibus in La 
Crosse; this lie contimied two years, and then 
entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad Company; he was in 
their yards for fourteen years, and then went 
into the train service, filling this position for 
seven years; he was transferred to a way- 
freight train, and has filled this position for 
three years. He is highly valued by the 
officials of the road, and his conscientious 
service has been fully appreciated. 

Mr. Yarrington was married May 10, 1870, 
to Miss Louisa, a daughter of Isaac and 
Polly L. (Austin) Dolphin; the father died 
May 16, 1870, aged fifty-si.\ years; his wife 
survives him, and makes her home with her 
son-in-law; she is seventy-four years old, and 
is well preserved both in body and mind. 
Mr. and Mrs. Yarrington have had born to 
them six children, four of whom are living: 
Jasper H , Myrtle L.,Mary Louiea and Mabel 
E.; the parents wei-e sadly bereaved in the 
death of tlieir two sons, George Lucius and 
Albert Clyde, aged four and eight years re- 
spectively. The father and mother are devout 
members of the J>a])tist Church, also the son 
and two daughters. Mr. Yarrington belongs 
to John Fiynn Post, No. 77, G. A. R., and 
his wife is president of the Woman's Relief 
Corps, having been elected to that office at 
the first of the year. Jasper H. Yarrington 
is a member of the Sons of Veterans. 

— ^- ^s .. ; - ^ .^ — 



|OCKWELL E. OSBORNE, of the firm 
of Edwards & Osborne, La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, is a native of the Empire State. 
He was the son of Jonathan Willis Osborne 
and Alma li. (Denison) Osborne, both natives 
of New York State, and was born at Nelson, 



Madison county, New York, January 23, 
1812. The fatiier was by occupation a farmer. 
Grandhitbcr Jonathan Osborne was a native 
of Connecticut and a descendant of an Eng- 
lish family who made settlement in that 
State in early Colonial times. About 1810 
or 1811 he removed from Connecticut to the 
central part of New York State, then a new 
country. He settled in Nelson, Madison 
county, where he lived until his death, which 
occurred in 181;3, at the age of seventy-si.K 
years. He was a man of strict integrity, an 
adherent to the Presbyterian faith, and was 
the father of fifteen children, nearly all of 
whom grew to manhood. 

The father of our subject was one of the 
youngest of these children. While absent 
from home on business he was taken ill and 
died at Groton, Tompkins county. New York, 
November 19, 1850, at the age of thirty-six 
years. He left to mourn his loss a widow, 
three sons and one daughter. The subject of 
this sketch is the oldest of these children. 
In 1858 the family came West and located at 
La Crosse, where they still remain except the 
youngest son, who is a member of the pros- 
perous firm of Osborne & McMillan grain 
dealers of Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Rockwell E. taught school from the time 
he was eighteen until he was twenty-three 
years of ago. In the meantime he served as 
a private in Company L) of the Fourteenth 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was en- 
gaged in the battle of Shiloh, and was dis- 
charged for disability in August, 1862. In 
1864 be assisted in the organization of Com- 
pany G of the Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry and did service in Tennessee. After 
retiring from the teacher's desk, Mr. Osborne 
was engaged in various interests of a clerical 
nature until May, 1879, when he joined Mr. 
B. E. Edwards in the lumber business, which 
they continued until 1887, when they dis- 





'^c^,-^-^ 




i;z^^ ^t- 




' '^^sc^-^'-'^i^'^'''^ 



BIOGHAPHICAL HISTORY. 



245 



posed of it, and engaged in other and varied 
interests. 

Mr. Oshorne was married in La Crosse, 
August 17. 1870, to Miss Louise L. Ober, 
daughter of Levi E. Ober, M. D. She was 
born in Painesville, Ohio, and is a graduate 
of Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary. Her 
father was a native of Vermont. He came 
to La Crosse in 1857, and was an active and 
useful man, in his profession, a public- 
spirited citizen, a devout Christian, and a 
faithful member of the Baptist Church. He 
died in 1881. 

Mr. and Mrs. Osborne have one daughter, 
Ella Louise, a student of Mt. Holyoke Col- 
lege, South Hadley, Massachusetts, a bright 
and promising young lady. 

Mr. Osborne is a trustee of the First 
Methodist Episcopal Church of La Crosso. 
He is also a member of the Nineteenth Cen- 
tury Club, and of the Hamilton Club of that 
city. 



IGHT REV. FATHER JAMES 

SCHWEBACH, Bishop of the Diocese 
of La Crosse, was born in the Grand 
Duchy of Luxemburg, Germany, August 15, 
1847. His parents were pious German 
people, and he was early educated in the 
principles of the Roman Catholic Church, to 
the interests and advancement of which he 
has thus far devoted his life. While yet a 
youth in his 'teens, he finished a collegiate 
course of study in Luxemburg, where he be- 
came proficient in the French and German 
languages. He emigrated to America in 
1864 during the trying times of the civil 
war, and entered St. PVaiicis Seminary at 
Milwaukee, where he studied philosophy and 
theology for five years. Being a young man 
of rare intelligence and tine mental endow- 



ments, he was graduated from this seat of 
learning at the age of twenty -one years. Too 
young for ordination, he was sent to La Crosse 
as a sub-deacon, where he performed such 
duties as his otiice required. For one year 
previous to his ordination he preached regu- 
larly in three different languages, English, 
German and French. He was ordained a 
priest on the- feast of Corpus Christi at St. 
Paul, by Bishop Grace, in 1870, and was then 
appointed pastor of St. Mary's Church, La' 
Crosse, which position he held to the time of 
his elevation to the episcopacy. In 1882 he 
was appointed Vicar-General of the Diocese 
of La Crosse, a position of honor and responsi- 
bility, and at the death of F'ather Flasch was 
appointed administrator of the diocese. 

Being of a studious disposition and owning 
a fine, well-selected library. Right Rev. 
Father Schwebach devotes much of his time 
to reading. 

On the 30th day of November, 1891, he 
was appointed liishop of the Diocese of La 
Crosse. The interesting announcement was 
received by the candi'date at Prairie du Chien, 
Sunday, December 13, 1891, while in the act 
of blessing the new church at that place. 
The official letter announcing his promotion 
was received by Right Rev. Father Schwebach 
through the Archbishop at Milwaukee, to 
whom it was addressed by the Pope. He 
was consecrated on the 25th of February, 
just twenty-three years from the day of his 
arrival in La Crosse. 

The selection is a wise one, and will give 
general satisfaciion, as the newly appointed 
Bishop is thorouglily conversant with the 
business of the Diocese, and is loved and re- 
spected by the clergy and laity tiierein. h\ 
manner he is quiet and unobtrusive, possess- 
ing a most amiable ciiaracter. As a spiritual 
superior he has always been a mild, yet firm 
and just ruler. The people of La Crosse, 



246 



BIOGRAPHICAL Ul STORY. 



who have known liiin for a quarter of a cen- 
tury, speak of him in the highest terms, as a 
Christian gentleman, and congratulate iiira 
upon the distinguished honors recently con- 
ferred upon him. 



NATHANIEL FREY, who is in the em- 
ploy of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Northern Railroad Company, and lias 
been for many years connected with railroad 
work in the West, was born at Erie, Pennsyl- 
vania, in the year 1850, the oldest son of 
Isaac and Anna (Klein) Frey, both natives of 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The fatlier 
is a direct descendant of the Frey family that 
emigrated to Lancaster county from Holland 
in 1687; they are one of the most widely and 
favorably known families in tiiat county. 
Isaac Frey was a merchant at Erie until 1870, 
when lie retired from active pursuits; he is 
now living on a farm in Bow creek, Arkansas. 

Nathaniel Frey acquired liis education in 
the public schools of his native city; theti lie 
took a business college course, after wliich lie 
served an apprenticeship in a machine shop 
at Erie. 

In 1871 1 Mr. Frey was married to Miss 
Sopha Hans, a daughter of Adam Hans, a 
merciiant tailor of that city, wiio died in 
1887. When Mr. Frey became a master 
machinist, he moved to Davenport, Iowa, 
where he was employed as foreman of the 
Laclair Iron Works, He also had ciiarge of 
the water-works until 1874, after which lie 
accepted a position as pit boss for the Rock 
Island Company. During the construction 
of the Northern Pacific Road, he accepted 
a position as general foreman of tiie shops 
at Fargo, North Dakota. In 1886 he entered 
tlie employ of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Northern Railroad Company, and was located 



at Savanna, Illinois, where he had charge of 
the round-house, and was general foreman of 
the Savanna division. In 1889 he was trans- 
ferred from Savanna to La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
where lie now holds the position of general 
foreman. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Frey have been born two 
daughters: Cora Belle and Eva. The parents 
are devout members of the Baptist Church. 
Mr. Frey belongs to the Masonic order, and 
has filled many important offices of that 
fraternity. He is an ardent believer in the 
principles of the Republican party, and sup- 
ports the issues of that body. 

l - h * { • % ">' 



|EY. FATHER A. J. JOERRES, pastor 
of St. Nicholas' Catiiolic Church, corner 
of Thirteenth and South Park streets, is 
a native of Dueren, near Cologne, Germany, 
born July 12, 1862. He was educated at the 
gymnasium in Dueren, but received his theo- 
logical training in America, at St. Francis' 
Seminary, Milwaukee. He was ordained a 
priest by the Right Rev. Bishop Flascb, in 
St. Joseph's Cathedral, La Crosse, June 29, 
1885, and was assigned to duty as assistant 
to Father Thomas Kelly at Hudson, Wiscon- 
sin, where he remained nine months, at St. 
Patrick's Church. Thence he was removed to 
Colby, Clark county, where he had charge of 
St. Kilian's" Church until May 1, 1891. He 
was then assigned to duty as pastor of St. 
Nicholas' Church at La Crosse. 

St. Nicholas' Church has 115 families in 
the congregation. A parochial school is con- 
ducted by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual 
Adoration during ten months of the year; tlie 
school is held on the first floor of the church, 
and in 1891, 105 children were enrolled. Tiie 
present building being inadequate to the needs 
of the congregation, the erection of a larger 



BIOGRAPniGAL HIHTORY. 



%in 



edilice is in contemplation. The instruction 
of the school is in the English language, but 
the children are taught to read, write, and 
spell in German; the course comprises the 
common-school branches, the catechism and 
Bible history. 



►iM^ 



fOHN STEPHENSON is a gentleman of 
thorough experience in real-estate, both 
as a means of speculation and permanent 
investment, and his long experience has 
proved of inestimable value not alone to him- 
self but to his numerous patrons, and for 
soundness of judgment and keen appreciation 
of relative values, both present and future, he 
is acknowledged to have no superior in La 
Crosse. He was born in Norway July 5, 
1848, a son of Matthew Stephenson and grand- 
son of Carl Stephenson, the latter of whom 
removed from England to Norway, where he 
became very wealthy. Matthew is a farmer 
of New Amsterdam, Wisconsin. John first 
attended school in Norway, and later en- 
tered college at Holstein, Germany, where 
he remained several years and acquired a 
thorough knowledge of the German language. 
He then followed merchandising for some 
time, but in 1867 came to Aitierica and set- 
tled at La Crosse, Wisconsin, but soon opened 
a hotel at Onalaska, which he ably conducted 
from 1870 to 1872. For some time there- 
after his attention was given to the building 
and loan business, after which, until 1880, he 
was on a farm. From 1880 to 1882 he con- 
ducted a hotel in La Crosse, in addition to 
managing his farm, but sold out his liostelry 
in 1882 and returned to his farm. After 
disposing of his farm in 1885 he purchased 
property in North La Crosse, upon which lie 
built a pleasant and very comfortable resi- 
dence the same year. He at the same time 



started in the real-estate business and has 
advantageously disposed of thoiisands of lots, 
besides houses, stores, etc., and has bnilt over 
fifty-one houses. He erected four store 
buildings in 1891, and has been very active 
in his endeavors to build up North La Crosse. 
He and his son Henry conduct a store of 
gents' and ladies' furnishings, and also keep a 
large supply of dry goods and clothing. Mr. 
Stephenson has held the office of Notary Pub- 
lic the past three years and does a good busi- 
ness in that line. He fills out deeds, mort- 
gages and all legal papers, and in the real- 
estate business he negotiates loans and insures. 
He rents houses, and at the present writing 
controls forty-two houses in the rentals, al- 
though he has had as high as 100 at one time. 

He was married in 1868 to Anna U. Mun- 
son, a native of Norway, who came to Amer- 
ica in 1867. Her mother is a resident of 
Onalaska, and is sixty-eight years of age. 
Her father died in 1881, aged about sixty, 
from the kick of a horse which he was shoeing, 
he being a blacksmith by occupation. Mrs. 
Stephenson was the second in a family of 
eight children, five of whom are living in La 
Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson have a 
family of twelve children, seven of whom died 
young. Those living are: Henry, a merchant 
of La Crosse; Wilhelmina, a fine pianist and 
a successful music teacherof North La Crosse; 
Axtel, a good musician and one of the finest 
performers in the Juvenile Band; Mayer and 
Ludwick. Both parents are members of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church, and in politics 
he is an active worker for the Republican 
party, although not an office-seeker. 

OST REV. MICHAEL HEISS, 
First Bishop of La Crosse and Sec- 
ond Archbishop of Milwaukee, was 
born in Pfahldorf, Bavaria, April 12, 1818, 




24J 



BIOORAPHICAL HlSTORr. 



and entering the Latin school at the age of 
nine was graduated with distinction at the 
gymnasium of Newburg in 1835. lie first 
studied law, but, feeling called to the service 
of God, went through a theological course in 
the University of Municii, where Goerre^, 
Mochler and DoUinger were his professors. 
He then entered the ecclesiastical seminary 
at Eichstadt, and was ordained by Cardinal 
Reisach, October 18, 1840. He received a 
curacy, but came to the United States in 
1843, and was appointed to the Church of 
the Mother of God, in Covington, Kentucky. 
On the appointment of Dr. Henui to Mil- 
waukee, Rev. Mr. Heiss accompanied him, 
acting as secretary, and doing mission work 
for fifty miles north of that city. He founded 
St. Mary's Church in 1846; but his health 
failed and he spent two years in Europe. 
On his return he became president of tlie 
Saiesianum, and by learned theological works 
showed his ability and erudition. On the 
division of the diocese he was selected for the 
see of La Crosse, and consecrated September 
6, 1868. The diocese which embraces that 
portion of the State lying north and west of 
the Wisconsin river had a French settlement 
at Prairie du Chien as early as about 1689. 
In the present century it was first visited by 
a priest in 1817, and the corner-stone of a 
church was laid in 1839. Under the admin- 
istration of Bishop Ilenni religion had made 
such progress in this part of the State that 
the new diocese of La Crosse contained forty 
churches, attended by fifteen priests. Bishop 
Heiss proceeded to carry forward tiie good 
work; he established Franciscan Sisters at 
La Crosse, and their mother-house soon sup- 
plied teachers for twenty-five parochial 
schools and two asylums. The Chiistian 
Brothers opened St. John's Hospital at 
Prairie du Chien, and the School Sisters of 
Notre Dame had excellent schools under 



their care. At the end of ten years the dio- 
cese of La Crosse had thirty-si.x churches 
with resident pastors, fifty others regularly 
visited, forty priests, and forty-five Catholics. 

When the failing health of Archbishop 
Henni required the aid of a more vigorous 
prelate. Bishop Heiss was promoted to the 
see of Adrianople, March 14, 1880, and ap- 
pointed coadjutor. The whole administra- 
tion of Milwaukee diocese soon devolved 
upon him, and on the death of Archbishop 
Henni he became second archbishop of that 
see. As theoloi^ian Dr. Heiss took an active 
part in the councils of St. Louis and the 
Second Plenary Council of Baltimore. He 
attended the Vatican Council in 1869-70, 
and was appointed by Pope Pius IX. a mem- 
ber of one of the four great commissions, 
each being composed of twelve bishops, rep- 
resenting all parts of the world. 

The pallium was conferred on Archbishop 
Heiss in his cathedral, on the 23d of April, 
1882. On the 3d of June in the following 
year he laid the corner-stone of a new cathe- 
dra], a building to be worthy of the great 
and flourishing diocese. He attended the 
Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 
November, 1884. 

Bishop Heiss died at St. Francis Hospital, 
La Crosse, March 27, 1890, and his remains 
were taken to Milwaukee and interred in the 
vault at St. Francis Seminary. 

CATHOLICISM IN LA CKOSSE. 

The first priest residing in La Crosse, Rev. 
W. Tappert, held divine services in the city 
August 24, 1855; the meetings were held in 
private liouses in the beginning, and later 
on in the courthouse. Rev. Father Garlier, 
the French pastor at Prairie du Chien, had 
occasionally visited the place previous to the 
coming of Father Tappert. 

The first Catholic Church in La Crosse 



BIOORAPHWAL BISTORT. 



249 



was built by Father Tappert, and was dedi- 
cated just one year after his coining, August 
24, 1856. The people were poor but con- 
tributed liberally to the erection of the 
modest structure which was called St. Mary's 
Church, and intended to accommodate all the 
Catholics in La Crosse county. What is now 
the city of La Crosse had then about twenty- 
five Catholic families. One of the pastors 
of St. Mary's Church, Kev. M. M. Marco, 
was chosen by Governor Fairchild as a dele- 
gate of the State of Wisconsin to the Paris 
Exposition in 1877. 

A Sisters' school was opened here in 1856. 
In 1863 the German-speaking Catholics built 
a church on the southwest corner of Sixth 
and Main streets. The Sisters' school was 
moved into this building. In tlie same year, 
that is, 1863, the nuinljer of Catholics hav- 
ing materially increased, it was thought best 
to divide the one large congregation into 
two, according to languages, St. Mary's re- 
taining all the English and French, and St. 
Joseph's all the German and Bohemian 
families. 

Up to 1858 La Crosse belonged to the dio- 
cese of Milwaukee, but in that year Milwau- 
kee was divided into three dioceses: Green 
Bay, La Crosse and Milwaukee. (La Crosse 
being the resid.nt place of the bishop, it was 
named Diocese of La Crosse.) The first 
Bishop of La Crosse diocese was Right Kev. 
Michael Heiss, whose sketch is given 
preceding this. During his administra- 
tion of the affairs of the diocese, nearly 
all of the institutions of the church were 
planned, and many buildings which adorn 
and beautify the city were erected. St. 
Joseph's Cathedral, a magnificent structure, 
was erected in 1869-'70, but it was not corn- 
pleted for some years, owing to heavy debts 
which retarded progress. The Sisters of St. 
Francis, of Jefferson, Wisconsin, also began 



the erection of a convent in this city in the 
same year, and occupied the main building 
in 1871. The orphanage was built in 1875, 
and given to the motherly care of the Fran- 
ciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (see 
sketches of St. Michael's and St. Ann's 
Orphan Asylums, the former being named 
in honor of Bishop Heiss, on pages 164 and 
following). The i)ishop's house was also 
erected about this time, a comfortable and 
convenient home, occupied by the late bishop 
Flasch at the time of his death. A neat 
private chapel adjoins the residence, de- 
signed tor the bishop's private use, and 
those sojourning in the house. 

His successor was the right Rev. Bishop 
K. C. Flasch, whose hi>tory appears elsewhere 
in this work. 

ROBERT G. MINER, superintendent of 
bridges and buildings for the Chicago, 
Burlington & Northern Railroad, was 
born in Dale, Wisconsin, October 2, 1862. 
His parents, Joseph and Mary (Huffman) 
Miner, are still living, the father seventy-six 
and the mother sixty- three years of age. 
They were originally from Switzerland, and 
the father learned the trade of an architect in 
his native country, passing the examination 
required by the laws of Switzerland. He 
came to this country about 1850, settled at 
Dale, Wisconsin, and resides there at the 
present time, retired from tl;e active duties 
of life. He and his worthy helpmate reared 
a family of seven children, four daughters 
and three sons, all living and residents of 
Outagamie county, this State, except Robert 
G. The latter started out for himself as a 
house carpenter, and from that to bridge- 
building; in 1880. He began on the Wis- 
consin Central, and accepted his present posi- 



250 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOIiT. 



tioii in 1886. Ue is univergaHy popular ami 
respected in business and social circles. Mr. 
Miner is the fifth in order of birth of the above 
mentioned children. All are members of the 
Lutheran Church. 



M. 1. KINNEAR, M. D., residing at 
933 Caledonia street, La Crosse, Wis- 
i® confin, is one of the leading practi- 
tioners of the homeopathic system of medi- 
cine in La Crosse county. He was born in 
New Brunswick, July 1, 1860, and is the 
son t>f New Brunswick parents. His father, 
Edward Kinnear, died in Boston, Massachu- 
setts, October 26, 1889. IHs mother, whose 
maiden name was Margaret Dobson, is now 
livini:; in Manitoba. They reared a family of 
eight children: George C. lives in Boston, 
and is foreman of a large machine-shop in 
that city; Jennie married David Grant, an 
attorney at Moncton, New Brunswick; the 
Doctor is the third born; Eliza is the wife of 
Dr. David Evans, of Boston; Fannie mar- 
ried Mr. Harries, of Ware, ^rassachusetts; 
Sarah, Maggie and Edward are with their 
mother in Manitoba. 

In 1868 the family removed from New 
lirnnswick to Boston, and at the end of three 
years returned to their old home. When our 
subject was nineteen years of age he returned 
to Boston, and during his residence there he 
took a course of reading under the direction 
of Dr. J. R. Boynton, and by him perhaps 
more than any other one individual was his 
career in life shaped. In 1882 he went back 
to his native country, and he and his father 
made a trip to Manitoba; the father decided 
to locate there, and a year later sent for the 
rest of the family. Dr. Kinnear remained 
there until 1886, when he entered tiie North- 
western University at Evanston, Illinois, 



taking a special course of stud}'. In 1888 
he became a student in the Chicago llomeo- 
pathic Medical College, and was graduated 
in 1890. Immediately after this event he 
came to La Crosse and began the practice of 
his profession. He has met with gratifying 
success, and has established a reputation ae 
an intelligent, careful ])ractitioner. 

June 9, 1886, the Doctor was united in 
marriage to Miss Nellie G. Straw, of Boston, 
Massachusetts. Mrs. Kinnear is a daughter 
of William H. Straw, who died in the army 
when she was an infant six months old. He 
was a native of New Hampshire. Her 
mother was born in Massachusetts, and died 
at Evanston, Illinois, January 13, 1889. 
Her brother, Fred W. Straw, is a member of 
the Western Wisconsin Conference, stationed 
at Viroqna, Wisconsin. These two were the 
only children. 

Dr. Kinnear is a member of the I. 0. O. F. 
and tlie I. O. F., and he and his wife belong 
to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



S. McKOWN, Superintendent of the 
La Crosse County Insane Asylum, was 
* born in La Crosse county, AVisconsin, 
March 14, 1858, and is a son of Samuel and 
Mary iMcKown, who are also residents of this 
county. The father was in earlier days one 
of the prominent farmers of the county, but 
is now retired from active labor. He was 
born in Ireland, and thirty-si.x years ago he 
came to this county, and has witnessed the 
wonderful development which lias taken place 
in a little less than four decades. It was in 
1852 that he crossed the sea, and the first 
three years in America were passed in New 
York. Our subject is one of a family of 
seven children: Myron; Ida, deceased, was 
the wife of Daniel Thompson; C. S. ; Will- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



251 



iam, who married Miss Nettie Buttman; 
Jane, who died at the age of two years; Al- 
bert and Alfred, twins; Alfred McKown 
married Miss Ellen Wallsted, and is engaged 
in farming in the town of Greenfield, Wis- 
consin; Albert is an attendant in the La 
Crosse County Asylum. 

Mr. McKown entered upon the realities of 
a business life at the age of twenty years; he 
was engaged in the tnilling l)usiness with his 
brother Myron; afterward he did farming, 
and then came to the city of La Crosse, where 
he clerked in a wholesale house; later he was 
employed in a retail establishment, and then 
for a year was Deputy Sheriff and Turnkey 
under Sheriff Jensen. On January 1, 1888, 
he assumed the duties of the position he now 
holds, to which he was appointed by the 
board of trustees of the asylum. His wife 
was at the same time appointed matron of 
the institution. The excellent condition and 
management of the hospital show very plainly 
the exceptional fitness of Mr. and Mrs. Mc- 
Kown for the responsibility and care of such 
an establishment. The buildings are models 
of cleanliness, and the patients are carefully 
watched, and every effort is made to lessen 
their physical and mental distress. There 
are now 100 inmates, but so systematic is the 
management that the entire machinery moves 
as in a small, well-ordered family. 

The asylum was built in 1881 and located 
at West Salem, through the influence of Will- 
iam Van Zandt, who was a member of the 
County Board of Supervisors and county 
building committee in 1886, was succeeded 
in 1887 by Frank B. Smith, the present in- 
cumbent. There are 210 acres in the grounds, 
and the buildino; is a brick structure after a 
modern design. 

Mr. McKown was united in marriage July 
17, 1880, to Miss Lizzie M. Sims, a daughter 
of Samuel and Mary Sims. Two children 



have been born to this worthy couple: Sarah 
Ida and Harry Elmer; the latter died at the 
age of fifteen months. Mrs. McKown was 
for many years a successful teacher in the 
public schools; the same power of control 
that rendered her discipline effective in the 
school-room has enabled her to cope with the 
many difficulties that beset her position in the 
hospital, and lier services here have been 
greatly appreciated. 

Samuel Siins and wife were nativesof Eng- 
land, and emigrated to the United States in 
1847, but did not settle in La Crosse county 
until 1855: Mr. Sims is still living, at the 
age of three score vears and ten, but his 
wife passed away May 7, 1883, at the age of 
fifty-six years. In the late civil war he was 
a sailor, serving as a private in the navy for 
thirteen months. He and his wife had a 
family of six children: Sarah, deceased ; Liz- 
zie, who is now Mrs. McKown; John W., 
Theodore W., Ashby, and James, who died at 
the age of two years. 



-^.^^JTJlr- 



~^l/inn^^ 



fAMES McKINLEY, who is well known 
as the largest hay and hop grower of La 
Crosse county, has been a resident of 
Wisconsin since 1850. He was born in Craw- 
ford county, Pennsylvania, in February, 1827, 
and is a son of William and Nancy McKinley, 
natives of Ireland. The father emigrated to 
this country in 1816, and in 1820, the mother 
sailed from the Emerald Isle for America. 
The father followed agriculture, and was 
known as an honorable, upright citizen. He 
died in December, 1840, at the age of sixty 
years; his wife survived him until 1880, when 
she died, at the age of eighty-four years. 
They were the parents of three sons and 
three daughters, James McKinley being the 
oldest of the fatnily; three of the children 



258 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



are still living, and are residents of La Crosse 
county. Our worthy subject was reared on 
a farm, and before coining to Wisconsin gave 
his attention exclusively to agricultural pur- 
suits. As before stated he came to Wisconsin 
in 1850. his object being to get Government 
land. He made the journey from Pennsyl- 
vania round the chain of lakes, landing in 
Milwaukee. In February, 1851, he bought 
Government land, the tract consisting of 200 
acres in Hamilton township; here he opened 
a farm, and in 1853 disposed of the same, 
going to the Black river pinery. He engaged 
in hnnbering for ten or twelve years, and met 
with fair success; while in this business he 
employed about forty hands, but abandoned 
the enterprise to resume agriculture. He 
located the Brown and Tripp farms, also the 
land on which the McEldowneys settled; the 
greater portion of this was land granted sol- 
diers in the war of 1812. In 1863 Mr. Mc- 
Kinley bought the farm on which he nosv 
resides; it contains 520 acres of excellent 
land, and is in a high sta^e of cultivation and 
well improved with buildings of a most sub- 
stantial style. The hay cro]i of this farm 
averages about 300 tons annually, and is of a 
superior quality; thirty-two acres are set to 
hops, and the annual yield is ijetween 30,000 
and 35,000 pounds; the crop for 1891 was, 
liowever, a total failure; twenty acres are 
planted to corn, and a like amount to oats. 
About fifty head of hogs are fed every yeart 
and from six to eight horses are kept on the 
place. The residence is large and convenient, 
and is very pleasantly located about the cen- 
ter of the farm; the barns are capable of 
storing 250 tons of hay, and one of them 
stables fourteen head of horses. 

Mr. McKinley was married first in 1859 
to Miss Hannah A. Waller, a daughter of 
Nathan P. Waller of Pennsylvania; she died 
four years after her marriage, of consumption. 



at the age of twenty-five years; she was a 
most worthy woman, and greatly beloved by 
a wide circle of friends. The second marriage 
was May 25, 1864, to Miss Caroline Ilan- 
toii, a daughter of Joseph and Eliza Han ton 
of Canada. Three children have been born 
to Mr. McKinley and wife: Ella is a sucess- 
ful teacher of vocal and instrumental music; 
Horace is living on a claim in Oregon, and 
John is assisting his father on the farm. 
Both the father and mother are consistent 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 

fULIUS E. KIRCHEIS, one of tiie ris- 
ing young men of La Crosse, is a native 
of the German Empire, born August 24, 
1862. His parents, Julius E. and Fredericka 
(Richter) Kircheis, were also of German birth, 
natives of Saxon}'. The father was a weaver 
by trade; he emigrated to the United States 
in September, 1868, bringing his family with 
him; he settled in La Crosse, securing em- 
ployment with the John Paul Luml)er Com- 
pany, with whom he remained about nine 
years; he was ne.xt engaged in Initchering 
for Frezier Bros., for a period of two years; 
abandoning this trade, he served as janitor 
of Germania Hall until 1890, and since that 
time has been janitor of Armory Hall. He 
is a man of the strictest integrity of charac- 
ter, and is highly respected bj' a wide circle 
of acquaintances. Julius E. was but six 
years old wl.en his parents came to the 
United States. He received his education in 
the public schools of La Crosse, and in the 
German Lutheran school; at the age of twelve 
years he found employment with the John 
Paul Lumber Company for four seasons; he 
then took a position with Semsch Bros., gro- 
cers, which he held four years. At the end 
of that time he determined to devote some 




■^'■:^;'i>/-i.-i..-.-_;i." ' 



.yh-i^ . KU^ 




BTOGRArHICAL HISTORY. 



253 



further time to study, and spent one 3'ear 
under tlie instruction of professor Roese, in 
that gentleman's private scliool. On entering 
the commercial world again lie worked a few 
months for John Ran, and then through in- 
fluential friends he received an ap])ointinent 
in the postoffice of La Crosse, which he held 
from 1879 to 1890. In March of the latter 
year he became city collector for the John 
Gund Brewing Company, and has discharged 
liis duties with great satisfaction, not only to 
the company but also to the patrons. 

In 1879, Mr. Kircheis enlisted in the Gov- 
ernor's Guards, was made Corporal in 1880, 
Sergeant in 1881, Second Lieutenat in 1882, 
First Lieutenant in 188.3, and Captain, Octo- 
ber 7, 1884. This is the steadiest record of 
promotion shown by the company's books, 
and is probably unparalleled in the State. 
He is the most efficient captain the company 
has ever had, and much of its success has 
come through his enthusiasm, energy and 
military genius. 

He was united in marriage March 14, 1883, 
to Miss Emma Jung, a daughter of John and 
Magdalene Jung. Of this union two chil- 
dren have been born: Julius and Fritz. Mr. 
Kircheis is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men, the National Insurance Society, the Ger- 
mania Society and the Concordia Society. 



-^ 



:h 



fOHN C. BURNS, wholesale fruiterer. 
La Crosse, "Wisconsin, occupies a very 
prominent position in commercial circles. 
He was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Janu- 
ary 1, 1863, where he received his education. 
His first business venture was in his youth, 
when he embarked in the fruit business, sell- 
ing a peck of apples at a time on the street. 
The first business position he held was under 
J. A. Spier, whom he succeeded April 1, 

18 



1883. He has made the fruit trade a 
study, and the result has been a most satis- 
factory one. When he began in business 
for himself his capital was quite limited 
being a little less than $300. To-day his 
sales aggregate $150,000annnally. He owns 
fruit ranches in California, where he raises 
and packs supplies for his Eastern trade. He 
handles all kinds of fine fruits, and does an 
exclusive jobbing business. 

The growth of the fruit trade in the United 
States in the last decade has been a phenom- 
enal one, and with such a garden as the State 
of California it is difficult to predict the 
limits to which American enterprise will, 
carry it. Mr. Burns has been an important 
factor in the promotion of this trade in his 
own State, and his success is not due alone 
to his business sagacity, but to his courteous, 
gentlemanly bearing, and to his high and 
honorable methods of carrying on the trade. 

fB. HOLWAY.— Rarely enough do the 
surroundings of a lad correctly deter- 
** mine what the man will be. How 
well this may be proven we have but to fol- 
low the career of the subject of this biography 
from his humble and unaided heirinnincr. Hie 
eighteenth birthday came, and, without an 
education, he was foiced to depend upon his 
muscle. He went to work in the woods at 
$10 per month. This pleasant pastime he 
vigorously pursued for more than seven years, 
during the latter part of which he kindly 
accepted an increase in his wages, his pro- 
ficiency having become apparent to his em- 
ployers. The best pay for any one month's 
work was $14, and this remuneration young 
Holway considered princely. From this 
trifling pay he saved $1,100. In 1850 he 
was swept westward with the tide of gold 



254 



BIOGRAPniCAL HISTORY. 



hunters, and spent three years of fairly profit- 
at)le pursuit excavating in California dirt. 
After fuUv sating this am Ijition lie turned his 
face to the East, and after some travel located 
in La Crosse, and engaged in the lumber 
business. In 1850 he purchased a half inter- 
est in a sawmill at Onalaska, in company with 
C. M. Nichols. This mill was destroyed by 
file in 1859, which terminated their business 
relations. This loss almost wrecked Mr. 
JJoiway, as all iiis means were herein in- 
vested. 

Ilavinu; good credit he then went into the 
lotjging business, which he operated alone 
until 1804, when Abner Gile became his 
partner. In 1875 Mr. Ilolway purchased 
the lloss sawmill at North La Crosse, which 
wa.s burned to asiies in the spring of 1877. 
Reverses were coming fast enough, but Mr. 
Ilolway knew no defeat. He immediately 
rebuilt upon the old site, im-reasing the ca- 
pacity and furnishing the whole with improv- 
ed machinery and appliances. Two hundred 
hands are employed, and the annual tran-5ac- 
tions exceed a quarter of a million dollars. 
More than 20.000,000 feet of logs are sawed 
during the season, and the additional output 
is 9,000,000 shingles and as many lath. 

Mr. Ilolway owns 25,000 acres of timber 
land in Clark, Wood and Taylor counties, 
from which his mill is supplied with logs. 
He also owns about 2,000 acres of farming 
and gnizing lands in Faribault county, Min- 
nesota. 

He is a director and stockholder in the 
Exchange State Bank of North La Crosse. 
On the organization of that institution in 
1888, he was elected vice-president, which 
office he still holds; he is also a stockholder 
in the Batavian Bank. 

Mr. Ilolway is a native of the Bine Tree 
State, born at Madison, May 5, 1824, a son 
of Zaccheus and Azuba Ilolway; his mother's 



maiden name was Jones. The father was a 
native of Cape Cod, and a descendant of 
Puritan stock. Our subject is one of the 
most reliable, liberal and energetic of men, 
and has pursued a business policy that has 
won him the esteem and confidence of all 
those with whom he has had business or so- 
cial relations. 

„„ ,1^, -I I- ,^ii 

C. ELWELL, who has for many years 
been identified with the agricultural 
® interests of La Crosse county, was 
born in Bennington county, Vermont, April 
13, 1827, and is a son of Chauncey and Lydia 
(Munii) Elwell, who were also natives of the 
Green Mountain State. The father was a 
carpenter and contractor by trade, and also 
managed a country hotel and cultivated a 
farm. He was the ninth of a family of 
twelve children, and died in Bennington 
county, Vermont, at the age of fifty years; 
his wife lived to be eighty-three years old. 
They reared a family of six children, our sub- 
ject being the second-born; P. Spencer, a 
younger brother, was for many years a resi- 
dent of La Crosse city, and held various 
county offices. C. C. Elwell received a com- 
mon school education, and at the age of 
twenty-one years entered upon the occupation 
he has followed throuijli life, tarmino-. It 
was in the year 1852 that ho came to La 
Crosse county and settled on a farm, where he 
now resides; he has experienced the hardships 
and deprivations incident to the life of a 
pioneer, but he had willing hands and a 
courageous heart, and as time went on over- 
came all obstacles that presented themselves. 
He has a beautiful farm of 100 acres, only 
forty of which had been broken when he pur- 
chased the tract of Thomas Leonard. He 
has a convenient house, with barns, sheds 



BlOORAPniOAL HISTORY. 



255 



and cribs for the care and protection of live- 
stock and tlie storing of grain; lie is fond of 
fruit culture, and has suriounded himself and 
family with many of the comforts of modern 
civilization. 

Mr. Ehvell was married in the State of New 
York, March 4, 1851, to Miss Catharine 
Preston, a daughter of Joseph and Sallie 
(Bowen) Preston, of Monroe county, New 
York. Joseph Preston died March 3, 1848, 
at the age of sixty-six years; his wife died 
April 25, 1830, aged forty-five yeai-s; they 
reared a family of eight children, of whom 
Mrs. Elwell is the youngest. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Elwell has been born one child, Ida, 
who married Prof. E. S. Tilson, a native of 
Vermont. He was for a number of years 
the principal of the high school of Chippewa 
Falls, Wisconsin; his death occurred July 2, 
1878, at the age of thirty-five years. Mrs. 
Tilson makes her home with her parents; she, 
too, is a teacher by profession; at the age of 
fourteen years she began to teach scliool in 
La Crosse county, and at the a^e of nineteen 
graduated from Pipon College. She has a 
highly cultivated literary taste, is a writer 
of no mean ability, often invited to give 
an essay nt public assemblies. She and 
her parents are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church; for more than thirty years her 
father has been treasurer and clerk, but she 
has relieved him of the labors attachino; to 

o 

the clerk's ofhce. 

Mr. Elwell is an ardent Prohibitionist, and 
has great faith in the final success of his 
party. lie is a man of deep integrity of 
character, and has the respect and confidence 
of the community. 

Joseph Preston was a farmer in New York, 
and resided about twenty miles from Roches- 
ter; he gave the land for the Erie canal, that 
is, the portion which was necessary to make 
the cut throuufh iiis farm. He was one of 



the pioneers of Monroe county. New York, 
and was possessed of those staunch character- 
istics which won him the good will of the 
entire community. His son Daniel, now 
living in Cleveland, served with distinction 
in the late war. 



-►ffe 



^4«- 



^ENRY LEBBER.— There are a number 
-IM) °*' y'*""^ business men in La Crosse 
^(fi county, Wisconsin, who by their push 
and energy have been successful in their dif- 
ferent callincrs, and foremost amono; these is 
Henry Lel)ber, who Hrst saw the light of day 
in Germany in 1863. His father died in 
Germany in 1873, but the mother is still 
living and makes her home there. Henry 
Lebber came to the United States in 1882, 
worked three months in New York city in a 
grocery store, and then came to La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, wiiere he worked on the farm for 
one year. He subsequently worked at the 
carpenter's trade live years, after which he 
bouglit a lot in West Salem and erected a 
good two-story brick building, 26 x 70 feet, 
which he uses for business and dwelling. The 
large hall on the second floor is used for 
public purposes. He has an excellent billiard 
hall, and also deals in liquors. He is a 
pushing and enterprising young merchant, 
and is deservedly popular with all with whom 
he has dealings. He was married in 1889, to 
Miss Emma Horstman, daughter of Henry 
and Mary (Schaifer) Horstman, who reside in 
La Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Lebber are the 
hsppy parents of one child, Mary. They 
hold membership in the Lutheran Church of 
Bostwick Valley, and are lil)eral contributors 
to the same. In politics Mr. Lebber is a 
Democrat. He is public-spirited and is 
always ready with energy and means to 
push forward any enterprise for the benefit of 



256 



BlOGliAPniCAL HISTORY 



his town and county. I5y his good manage- 
ment and excellent husiiiess acumen he has 
raised a good foundation for a fortune and is 
on the highway to snccess. 



-^^lyxn/l 



-^^^—an. 



'yin^. 




FILLIAM W. LEETE, who has heen 
identified with many of the leading 
enterprises of La Crosse county, is a 
native of New Haven county, Connecticut, 
horn Septemher 28, 1853. His parents, 
William P. and Zaida E. (Goodrich) Leete, 
were natives of the same State; the father 
was a farmer and also taught scliool; he came 
to La Crosse valley in 1858, purchased forty 
acres of land, paying $10 an acre therefor, 
and finally opened a farm of 180 acres. He 
was one of tlie early settlers of this valley 
and endnreil the privations of frontier life. 
He held many of the local offices, discharging 
his duties faithfully and efficiently. Before 
his death he owned 220 acres of fine farming 
land, which he sold, purchasing fifty acres one 
and a quarter miles from West Salem in 
1881. He died May 7, 1886, aged sixty-four 
years; his widow is still living; she is a woman 
who has borne her share of the burden in the 
eettlemenl of this country, and cheerfully 
braved the dangers and privations of life in 
the far Wes*:. Our subject is one of a family 
of eight children: Sherman, who has been 
prominently connected with the educational 
interests of La Crosse county, married Miss 
Chloe Sherwin, and they have two children: 
Robert and Mary; Joseph was married to 
Miss Ellen J. Pitkin, and five children were 
born to them: Lucy, Darwin. Herbert, 
Dwight and Helen; the mother died in Jan- 
uary, 1888; the second marriage was to Miss 
Edith Dana; George married Miss Sarah 
Callahan, and one daughter was born to 
them, named Lizzie; the mother died in May 



1887, and Mr. Leete was married to Miss 
China Pearl; Mary died at the age of twenty- 
three year.*; she was a successful teacher, and 
had entered the profession in her seventeenth 
year: William W. is the next in order of 
birth; Zaida is the wife of the Hon. Charles 
White, of Minnesota; Frank married Miss 
Zaida Moran, who died three mouths after 
their union; he was engaged in teaching in 
the Government school of the Sandwich Is- 
lands, and had some commercial interests 
there; his death occurred August 30, 1891; 
Charles died at the age of twenty years. 

Mr. Leete has been successfully engaged in 
the profession of teaching; winning the 
esteem and affection of his pupils and the 
confidence of the board and patrons, he has 
made the profession a labor of love. He 
taught for eight years in his own district, and 
accomplished very satisfactory results. Of 
late years he has given more especial atten- 
tion to agriculture and kindred occupations. 
He is now president of the Farmers' Co- 
operative Creamery, located within three- 
quarters of a mile of West Salem; this enter- 
prise was inaugurated in February, 1891, and 
April 1 of that year lie took charge of the 
business. During May and June the manu- 
facture was from 6,000 to 7,000 pounds of 
butter weekly; the value of sucii an estal)lish- 
ment in the midst of a rich farming country 
can scarcely be estimated, furnisliing, as it 
does a market for a large agricultural product. 

Mr. Leete was a resident of Minnesota 
from 1878 to 1884; during that time he 
occupied a position on the town board which 
he resigned upon his return to La Crosse 
county. He is a man of advanced views, and 
has contributed liberally of his means to the 
support of pul)lic enterprises. 

He was married September 28, 1891, to 
Miss Kate Collins, a woman of rare intelli- 
gence and refinement (v^d a d^iigiiterof A. P. 



BIOOHAPHIGAL UlbTuRT. 



257 



and Jennie Collins, natives of the State of 
New York, but for many years past residents 
of Vii^t) county, Indiana; they are now mak- 
ing their home in Dulnth, Minnesota. Thej 
reared three children: Nettie, wife of L. O. 
Randall; Mrs. Leete and Nellie. Mr. and 
Mrs. Leete are the parents of four cliildren: 
Ruth, Zaida, Carrol and Howard. Politically 
our subject is identified with the Rrohibition 
party. 

— | ' Sn; ' | t>«" — 



SMI Eighteenth 



EORGE EULER, Alderman of the 
Ward of tiie city of La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, was born March 22, 
1852, at Waldlaubersheim, in the municipality 
of Windesheim, district of Kreuznach, 
regency circuit of Coblenz, Germany. He 
obtained a common-school education in the 
evangelical school of his native birthplace, 
which he attended from his lifth year until 
he became fourteen years of age, at which 
time he was confirmed in the Evangelical 
Communion Church at Waldlaubersheim. 
On the completion of his school course in 1866, 
he worked several years for Surveyor Mattes, 
and subsequently found employment on farms 
and in vineyards. In 1870, at the ago of 
eighteen years, and shortly prior to the 
Franco-German war, Mr. Euler emigrated to 
America, arriving at La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
April 1, of the same year. He worked as a 
laborer the following summer until the fall, 
when he visited his uncle, Adolf Huett, near 
Alma, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he 
attended school for the purpose of learning 
the English language. In the spring of 1871 
he returned to La Crosse, and was employed 
by Thomas Shimmins in hauling stone. In 
May he had the misfortune to break one of 
his legs, and thereby was confined to his bed 
for three months, after which he resumed 



work. In November, 1871, in coni)>any with 
his brother, Philip Euler, he went South and 
found employment iu the cotton fields of 
Arkansas. In December, of the same year, 
Mr. Euler contracted a severe sickness, and 
went to St. Louis, Missouri, to obtain treat- 
ment in a hospital, where he remained until 
tlie latter part of January, 1872, when he 
returned to La Crosse and found employment 
as a laborer. September 1, 1872, he obtained 
a position as clerk in the grocery store of 
Philip Knoth, where he remained until July 
1, 1873. From July 6 until November 
6, he worked on the farm of a Mr. Poss in 
Trempealeau cunnty, and November 10 re- 
sumed his clerkship with Mr. Philip Knoth, 
where he remained until June 10, 1874. 
June 24, of the same year, he was engaged 
by John Gund, Sr., to conduct the delivery 
business of the then Empire Erewery, which 
has since been organized into the John Gund 
Brewing Company, by the joining of the 
sons of George, Henry and John Gund, Jr., 
and which position Mr. Euler held continu- 
ously until the present time. 

May 29. 1877, he married Miss Minnie 
Johanna Sewerin, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
and they have had four children: Emma 
Elizabeth Frederika, born March 7, 1878; 
Johann Frederieh Wilhelm, born April 11, 
1881; Wilhelm Berthold, born March 2, 1883; 
and Arthur Philip, born July 17, 1891. 
March 7, 1882, Mr. Euler joined the Third 
Ward Aid Society, and has ever since been 
an active member of the same, serving on 
various committees, and has held the office 
of Collector from Se])teinber 9, 1885, until 
August, 1887, when he was called to assume 
the duties of Comptroller until in May, 1888. 
He was then chosen P'inancial Secretary of 
the same society, which office he holds at 
the present time. In the spring of 1891, 
when the population of La Crosse had nearly 



258 



BIOGBAPHIGAL UISTOJtr. 



readied 80,000 inliabitants, lie was nominated 
l)y the Democratic caucus for Alderman of 
the Eiifhteenth Ward, and was elected as 
such April 7, 1891, for a term of four years. 
The territory constituting the Eighteenth 
Ward was from the center of Sixtli street to 
the center of Tenth street, east and west, 
and south from the center of Jackson street 
to the south line of the city limits. In the 
capacity of Alderman Mr. Euler is the Chair- 
man of the Board of Health and also a mem- 
ber of tlie Committees on Water Works and 
Health. In 1873 he became a member of 
the German Lutheran Congregation of this 
city, and April 3, 1881, joined the insurance 
brancii of the same congregation, and lias 
retained his membership in both up to the 
present time. 

His father, Jacob Euler, was born March 
14, 1812, in the village of Krieg.ifeld, 
fJavaria, Germany. He attended the evan- 
gelical school from his filth to his fourteenth 
year, and afterward worked on farms. In 
1830 he moved to Prussia, in the district of 
Coblenz, and in 1842 settled in Waldlaubers- 
heim, where he followed farm work. He 
was married in January, 1848, to Miss 
Katherina Jacobus, and February 5, 1849, 
their son Philip was born, and George was 
born March 22, 1852. Philip Euler came to 
America in 18(37, and in May of the same 
year settled in La ('rosse. In August, 1872, 
Jacob Euler and his wife lott Germany for 
Anierica, arriving at La Crosse about Sep- 
tember 1. The fitlier died February 9, 
1887, at the residence of his son George, 
and his widow, who was born on August 
11, 1812, has found a home, since her hus- 
band's death, with the family of her son, 
George Euler. 

Carl Sewerin, the father-in-law of Geonre 
Euler, was born in liostow, Germany, May 
9, 1881, and after the death of his father he 



lived with his mother at Quitzero, and re- 
ceived his communion in the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church at Demmiii, in 1845. 
October 1, 1851, he married Miss Maria 
Lowitz, who was born April 12, 1827. 
October 5, of the same year, Mr. Sewerin 
entered the military service of the Second 
Infantry Regiment of King Frederick Will- 
iam of Prussia, and was honorably discharged 
in 1854. The followint' named children were 
born to this union: Caroline, born in Novem- 
ber, 1855, died at Pittsburg in December, 
1862; Minnie, born July 10, 1858; Fred- 
ericka, born January 18, 1860; John and 
William, twins, born November 29, 1865, 
and William died January 10, 1866. Mr. 
Sewerin left his native land in October, 1861, 
and came to America, first locating at Pitts- 
burg, and in the early part of 1862 came West 
to La Crosse, where be has since resided. 
His wife died July 10, 1877, in this city, and 
his son John died July 16, 1891, leaving a 
widow and daughter, Ida. 

IMANUEL MAKKLE.— This honored 
gentleman is one of best known citizens 
of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and his long 
residence within its bordersand his well known 
habits of industry and perseverance have won 
for him a wide circle of friends. By all he is 
considered to lie a model farmer, neat and 
progressive, and of decided views in conduct- 
ing all his operations, and he has met with 
the substantial success which all concede is 
well merited. He was born in Ohio in 1837, 
but his parents, George and Elizabeth (Mil- 
ler) ifarkle, were Pennsylvaniaus, although 
they were married in the Buckeye State 
in 1836. In 1843 he sold his farm in Ohio 
and moved to Putnam county, Indiana, and 
about eight years later, or in 1851, he moved 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



259 



to La Crosse county, Wisconsin. His first 
work in this State was as foreman in the 
brick manufactory belonging to Deacon Syl- 
vester Smith, with whom he remained two 
years. Upon his arrival here he had entered 
160 acres of land, and in 1853 he settled on 
the place with his family, which continued to 
be his home until his death, March 31, 1887, 
at the age of seventy-four years. His widow 
died February 27, 1890, (xt the age of sevsnty- 
six years, having borne a family of nine 
children, of whom the subject of this sketch 
is the eldest. The other members are: J. C* 
who married Naomi Maxwell, is the father 
of three children and is a resident of Ccdor- 
ado; Catherine A., who married Henry Ves- 
tal, of White Rock, Kansas, is the mother of 
five children; Greorge W. is a resident of 
Webber, Kansas, married Mary Vestal, by 
whom he has seven children; John is a resident 
of the old homestead, was married to Sarah 
Lattimer, and is the father of three children; 
Peter, who enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin 
Infantry during the civil war, was killed in 
the battle of the Wilderness; Naomi, who 
married Peter Speck and died in La Crosse; 
Elnora (twin sister of Naomi) married C. 
Bernet, and died in St. Louis and Rachel; 
Jane, who died at the age of two years. 
Emanuel Markle's opportunities for acquir- 
ing an education were confined to the common 
schools, but he judiciously applied himself to 
liis books and obtained a fair practical edu- 
cation. 

After remaining on the home farm with 
his father until 1856, he began trapping, and 
followed this calling with success until 1861. 
He and his brother, J. C, enlisted in the 
Union army in the Second Wisconsin Infan- 
try, in which they served for over three years, 
participating in the battles of the Wilderness, 
Antietam, second Bull Run and Gettysburg. 
In the last named engagement he was wound- 



ed twice, was captured by the enemy and was 
paroled on the field. His brother, J. C.,was 
shot through the left arm at South Mountain, 
and at the battle of the Wilderness was shot 
through the riijht arm. Mr. Markle was 
married in 1866 to Miss Caroline, daughter 
of Lawrence and Maria Anna (Dorfel) Han- 
isch, who were Ixjrn in Austria. They became 
the parents of three children: Joseph, who 
was in the Austrian army and died in the 
hospital at Galetzia, Austria. They emi- 
grated to La Crosse in 1861; Raymond, re- 
siding at Lake City, Minnesota; and Caroline, 
Mrs. Markle. The latter has borne her hus- 
band the following children: Theodore M., 
Charles W., Laura May, Lillian Elberta; 
Simon Peter, Joseph E. and Harriet E. 
Four other children died in early childhood. 
Theodore M. is a mechanical engineer and is 
employed by the Great Northern Railroad in 
North Dakota. Lillian is attending com- 
mercial college at La Crosse, and is now 
writing in the office of the County Register 
of Deeds; Laura M. is a milliner at La 
Crosse, and the others reside at home. Law- 
rence Hanisch died August 23, 1886, aged 
eighty-one years, and Mrs. Hanisch died 
January 22, 1888, at the age of eighty-three 
years. 

In 1867 the subject of this sketch bought 
eighty acres of land in section 27, has since 
added eighty acres in section 16; eighty acres 
in section 21, and 149 acres in section 33, 
making in all 389 acres — a tine farm. The 
buildings on this place are all excellent, and 
his home is a very pleasant and an extremely 
comfortable one. His principal business is 
in the raising of small fruits, and in bee- 
keeping. He keeps about twelve head of 
cattle, three horses, also hogs. He has been 
Justice of the Peace of his township for tne 
past twenty years, and has been elected town 
Supervisor on several occasions, and a mem- 



260 



BIOGRAPHICAL UIHTORY. 



ber of the School Board, lie made the race 
for Assemblyman of his district, but his 
well known temperance proclivities defeated 
him for tliat office. lie is a member of the 
I. O. G. T., F. & A. M.,G. A. R., and U. V. 
L., and is a Democrat politically. 

— g' : " ; - g . - ^ 

^OUIS E. MEASON, whose photographic 
studio is at 128 North Third street, La 
Crosse, is a native of the Badger State, 
born at Mineral Point, September 1, 1848. 
His parents were Louis and Elizabeth (Fick) 
Meason, uatives of Prnssia; they were brought 
to America in tlieir childhood, and were 
married at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in 
1847, being among the pioneers of the State. 
The father was a cabinetmaker, and learned 
his trade in St. Louis, where he worked sev- 
eral years. In 184:9 he left Mineral Point, 
and journeying via the old Fremont route, 
arrived in California, where he remained 
about a year and a half. He returned by way 
of the Isthmus, and was stricken with cholera 
at St. Louis, where he died, in 1850. His 
widow married again, her second husband 
being Frantz Enzenroth, and after his death 
became the wife of Adam Soleras; she lives 
at Mineral Point. 

Louis E., the subject of this notice, was 
the only child of the tirst marriage of his 
mother; by her second union she had three 
children, and by the third marriage three 
daughters. He was educated in the public 
schools of Mineral Point, and took a com- 
mercial course at Bryant & Stratton's College, 
Chicago, from which he was graduated in 
1871. He came to J.,a Crosse in July, 1871, 
and engaged as a bookkeeper for a retail 
grocer, with whom he remained two and half 
years. He had managed to acquire a theo- 
retical knowledge of photography, and on 



January 1, 1874, he formed a partnersliip 
with A. P. Knutesen lor the purpose of 
opening a tirst-class photograph gallery. 
Later he purchased his partner's interest, and 
has since continued the business alone. He 
employs all the modern appliances and the 
latest methods used in the art, and does artis- 
tic work in Imlia ink and crayon. lie has 
won a wide patronage, and bids fair to attain 
excellent rank in the profession. 

Mr. Meason was united in marriage May 
26, 1874, to Miss Emma L. Kinne, a daugh- 
ter of Edward and Katherine Kinne, natives 
of Sa.xony and Prnssia resjjectively. Mrs. 
Meason's mother died in Mineral Point, and 
her father resides at Highland, Illinois. She 
is the eldest of a family of two sons and five 
daughters. To Mr. and Mrs. Meason have 
been born four children, the two younger 
ones dying in infancy; those living are Mary 
Georgiana and Edward Kinne. 

Our worthy subject has filled the various 
offices of Gateway City Lodge No. 153, I. (). 
O. F., and has attained the second position 
in the Patriarchal Circle. He has served six 
years in the Wisconsin National Guards, 
Third Regiment, and about seventeen years 
in the La Crosse Volunteer Fire Department. 
He is a member of the La Crosse Board of 
Trade, and is a zealous supporter of liome in- 
dustries. Politically he affiliates with the 
Democratic party. He and his family be- 
long to the Protestant Episcopal Church, and 
are highly esteemed members of the com- 
munity. 

— --S-^^j-l-^ — 



pjEV. ELIAS P. HARBO, pastor of St. 
Paul's United Lutheran Church, resid- 
ing at 016 Market street. La Crosse, 
was born in the province of Berg, Norway, 
February 6, 1856, and is the sixth of a family 



BIOGRAPHICAL EISIORT. 



361 



of nine children. His parents were Hans 
and Ellen Mary Olsen. lie was reared to 
mature years in his native country, attending 
the common school. At the age of twenty- 
four years he bade farewell to the pine-clad 
hills of his native land and ci'ossed the sea 
to America. Upon arriving in this country 
he settled at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and re- 
mained there one year and a half, working at 
the tailor's trade, which he had learned in 
Norway. Having determined to enter the 
ministry he became a student at Augsburg 
Seminary, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and pur- 
sued a classical course in that institution, 
covering a period of live years. He then 
took up the theological course of the Augs- 
burg Seminary, and was graduated from this 
department at the end of three years; his ex- 
aminations covered a period of two weeks, at 
the end of which time he received his diploma, 
June 6, 1889. Immediately thereafter he 
was ordained and assigned to his present 
charge. His congregation comprises iifty- 
tive families, numbering 333 souls. His 
church is located on King street between 
Fifth and Sixth. 

Mr. Harbo's mother died in her native 
country, but his father is still living; one 
brother, Rud,came to America about one year 
after his arrival and is now a resident of 
Duluth, Minnesota, a mechanic by trade; 
three of the family are deceased, and the 
other four are living in their native country. 

Our worthy subject was united in marriage 
to Miss Martha Maria Larson, a native of 
Wisconsin and a daughter of Eric Larson, a 
farmer residing near Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 
This union occurred December 3, 1889. One 
child, Elise Mathilde, was born in La Crosse, 
February 22, 1891. 

Mr Harbo is a gentleman of broad and 
comprehensive views, and a finished scholar. 
He addresses his congregation in their native 



tongue, although he posseses a thorough 
knowledge of the English language; he is, in 
fact, an accomplished linguist, having passed 
an examination in Latin, Hebrew, Greek, 
German, English, and Norsk. He owns a 
large and well selected library. 

tEN RIK K. E. N1SSEN,M.D., an honored 
member of the medical profession in 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin, is a native 
of Maalselven, Norway, born April 22, 1864, 
and is a son of A. E. and E. (Istad) Nissen. 
His father was born in Tromso, and his 
mother in Stordalen, Norway. The Doctor 
received his elementary education in the 
private schools of Christiania, and at the age 
of eighteen years he entered upon the study 
of medicine in the Royal University of that 
city; he was graduated from the classical de- 
partment in 1882, and six years later received 
the degree of M. D. During one year of 
his college life, 1887, he was resident physi- 
cian of Rotvold Insane Asylum. When he 
had completed his professional studies he de- 
termined to visit America, and accordingly 
crossed the sea, landing in La Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, in February, 1889. He at once entered 
ujjon the practice of Iiis profession, and suc- 
cess has attended him on every hand; he has 
won a large practice, and his skill as a prac- 
titioner is daily adding to the laurels already 
won. 

Dr. Nissen was united in marriage May 
28, 1889, to Fayette E. Nissen, who was born 
in Norway, July 15, 18G4, of Norwegian 
parents. Both the paternal and maternal 
grandfathers of our subject, as well as two of 
his father's brothers, were honored members 
of the medical profession. He has passed 
the State examination in Minnesota, and holds 
a diploma from the board of examiners of 



S63 



BIOGRAPniCAL HISTOBT. 



that State. He makes a specialty of the 
treatment of the eye, and is a devoted student 
of the science he has chosen for his life's 
occupation. 

To Dr. and Mrs. Nissen has been born one 
son, Arvid, who first saw the liglit of day, 
May 4, 1890, and a daiigiiter, Da^ny, born 
September 17, 1891. The Doctor is a mem- 
ber of the Norden Society. 

fOIIJV' J. FRUIT, attorney and counselor 
at law. La Crosse, is a native of the State 
of Wisconsin, born at Lima, Grant 
county, March 29, 1849, and is a son of Perry 
and Sarah M. (Lambkin) Fruit. His father 
was a farmer by occupation, and a native of 
Illinois. The parents reared a family of four 
sons and five dauj^hters, John J. being the 
fourtii-born. lie ol)tained his elementary 
education in tlie public schools of Grant 
county, and at the age of sixteen years he 
entered the State Normal School at Platte- 
ville, Wisconsin. At the age of twenty-two 
he finished the course of study in this insti- 
tution, and received its diploma. In August, 
1871, he came to La Crosse and was em- 
ployed as pririfcipal of the Fifth Ward school, 
a position he held for four years, and was 
then transt'eried to the Third Ward, of which 
he was principal one year. 

From his boyhood the legal profession had 
had its attractions for Mr. Fruit, and during 
the years he was teaching he devoted his 
leisure moments to studying the subject, pre- 
paratory to taking a prescribed course of in- 
struction. In 1876 he left the school-room 
and entered the law otiice of James I. Lyndes, 
under whose direction he continued his studies 
until lie became a student in the law depart- 
ment of the State University. He was grad- 
uated with the class of 1877, and immedi- 



ately after this event he formed a partnership 
with Mr. Tfund; this relationship existed 
but six months, and Mr. Fruit was alone in 
practice until June 1, 1880, when he and 
John Brindley formed a co-partnership, which 
has since been continued uninterruptedly. 
The firm name is Fruit & Crindley. 

During the year 1880 Mr. Fruit served as 
City Superintendent of the Public Schools, 
devoting only that portion of time which he 
could spare from his professional labors. 
Preferring to give his wliole energy to his 
legal work, he resigned the superintendency 
at the end of the first year. He is a close 
and careful student, and has a very high 
standing among the members of the bar; he 
possesses the confidence of the entire com- 
munity, and has a host of friends both in and 
out of the profession. 

In recognition of his ability as an attor- 
ney Mr. Fruit was appointed to the responsi- 
ble position of Assistant United States At- 
torney for the Western District of Wisconsin 
in April, 1890, an ofiice which he has tilled 
with dignity and to the complete satisfaction 
of the public. In tlie fall of 1881 he was 
elected District Attorney of La Crosse county, 
and served five years. 

Our worthy subject was united in marriage 
December 11, 1877, to Miss Marion E. Haw- 
ley, a daughter of R. H. and Ruth W. Haw- 
ley, of La Crosse. Her parents were natives 
of Vermont, in which State she also was 
born. Her father was a tiierchant during the 
active years of his life, but he is now retired 
from business. Mr. and Mrs. Fruit are the 
parents of four children : John Clyde, Clarence 
Henry, Alice Marion and Edna Kuth, all 
pupils in the public schools of La Crosse. 
Mr. Fruit is an ardent Republican in his 
political convictions, and during the local 
campaigns does his duty in tlie canvass. He 



BIOGRAPHIGAL EI STORY. 



263 



and his wife are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 

The firm of Fruit & Brindley have a fine 
legal library, and an excellent location. What 
is of greater importance, they are personally 
well adapted to the work, and are an orna- 
ment not only to the bar of La Crosse county, 
but also to the bar of the State of Wisconsin. 




— ~-^-^^^-~ — 

^5^0RRIS HIRSCIIHEIMER, one of 
the enterprising young business men 
^^^^ of La Crosse, has been a resident of 
the city since his early childliood, his parents 
having settled here in 1855. He was born 
in Wiirtemburg, Germany, January 6, 1850, 
and is a son of Louis and Fannie (Hart) 
Hirschheimer, natives of the same country. 
The father emigrated to America in 1850, 
making the voyage in a sailing vessel, and 
consuming two months on the journey. He 
settled in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, 
where his family came soon after their arri- 
val in America. There were five sons and 
four daughters, eight of whom are still living. 
Morris enjoyed the advantages afforded by 
the public schools of La Crosse city. Having 
attained his majority, he looked about for 
some congenial occupation in which to em- 
bark, and decided to establish a foundry; 
this he did in April, 1865, the plant being 
known as the La Crosse Foundry. He con- 
ducted this enterprise until 1889, when he 
disposed of the property and engaged in the 
manufacture of tents and awnings. He 
makes a specialty of awnings, tents, flags 
and banners, employing a number of men in 
the busy season. He has established a fine 
trade, and has so satisfactorily supplied thie 
demand that no competitor has offered. He 
is located at 109 and 111 South Fifth street. 
Mr. Hirschheimer was married October 



15, 1876, to Miss Bertha Abraham, a daugh- 
ter of Henry Abraham, of Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin. Three children have been born to 
them: Hattie, Louis and Clara, all pupils of 
the public schools of La Crosse. The mother 
of these children died April 26, 1885. Mr. 
Hirschheimer was married a second time, 
June 15, 1887, to Miss Mathilda Benjamin, 
a native of Hanover, Germany. They have 
no children. Our subject is a worthy mem- 
ber of the A. O. U. W., of the order of 
Chosen Friends, and of a Jewish benevolent 
association called B'nai B'rith. He is a mem- 
ber of Anshe Cheset Congregation. 

fTEPHEN MARTIN DALE, Jr., attor- 
ney and counselor at law, is a rising 
young member of the bar of La Crosse, 
to which he was admitted in 1885. He is 
the eldest son of Stephen and Katharine 
(Howard) Martindale, a full history of 
whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and 
was born in the city of La Crosse August 21, 
1859. Here he passed his childhood and 
youth, attending the pul)lic schools. He is a 
member of the first class that was graduated 
from the La Crosse High School, and in 1876 
he entered Beloit College, Wisconsin; this 
institution conferred upon him the degree of 
A. B. in 1880, and two years later that of 
A. M. In 1882 he l)egan the study of law, 
reading under the direction of Messrs. Wing 
and Prentiss of this city, and in 1885, as be- 
fore stated, he was admitted to the bar. In 
the fall of the same year he became a student 
in the law department of the Wisconsin State 
University, and took a two years' course, be- 
ing graduated with honoi-s in 1886. 

After this event, a partnership was formed 
betvveen Stephen Martindale, Jr., and his 
brother, Edward S. H. Martindale, who was 



264 



BIOORAPHIOAL UISTORT. 



born ill La Crosse November 23, 1861. He 
received his literary education ia the public 
schools of La Crosse, studied law at home, 
and afterwards entered the law department of 
the Wisconsin State University; he was ex- 
amined before the State Commissioners and 
admitted to practice in 1887, before he had 
iinished the course in the University. It was 
after his return to La Crosse that tlie part- 
nership of Martindale & Martindale was 
formed. He is now taking a post-graduate 
course in the University of Virginia. 

Stephen Martindale, Jr., the subject of this 
notice, was united in marriage at Beloit, 
Wisconsin, in 1883, to Miss Sopliia Rosen- 
blatt, a daughter of H. Rosenblatt, a merchant 
and manufacturer of tiiat place. Two chil- 
dren have been born of this union: Henrietta 
and Katharine. Politically Mr. Martindale is 
identified with the Republican party. 

tWARD ALGER, M. D., residing at 221 
South Seventh street. La Crosse, was 
' born in West Bridgewater, Plymouth 
county, Massachusetts, March 9, 1887, and is 
a son of Ward and Elizabeth L. (Howard) 
Alger. Six generations of the family were 
born in Plymouth county, and three of them 
on the same farm. The Doctor is the second 
of three children : Mary Elizabeth, the eldest, 
died at the age of five years; Albert L. is a 
farmer and coal dealer and lives on the old 
Massachusetts homestead. Dr. Alger attended 
the common schools until he was thirteen 
years of age, when he entered Pierce Acad- 
emy at Middleboro; he afterwards pursued 
the classical course at Phillips Academy, 
Andover, Massachusetts, and was also a stud- 
ent at Brown University, Providence, Rhode 
Island. In 1853 his studies were interrupted 
for a time when he was engaged in teaching; 



but he followed this profession only tempor- 
arily, and at the age of twenty years he was 
ready to begin his medical studies. When 
he was choosing a profession he gave some 
thought to civil engineering, and had pur- 
sued the study for a while when he decided 
upon medicine. He did his first reading in 
this line in the office of Dr. Swan, of West 
Bridgewater, and during the winter of 1858- 
'59 he attended a course of lectures at Har- 
vard Medical College. The following winters 
was a student at Jefferson Medical College, 
Philadelphia, and was graduated from this 
well-known institution March 9, 1861, his 
twenty- fourth birth-day, receiving the degree 
of M. D. He opened an office at Conton, 
Massachusetts, near Boston, and continued in 
practice there for seven years, meeting with 
excellent success. The western fever, how- 
ever, had begun to rage in JSew England, 
and in the spring of 1868 he came to Wis- 
consin and located at La Crosse. Here he 
has built up a fine practice, and has accumu- 
lated a competence. His college courses 
were according to the old school, as were also 
his preceptors: but he has made a study of 
the homeopathic system of medicine, and of 
late years has practiced according to it. 

Dr. Alger was united in marriage January 
8, 1862, to Miss Angenetto M. Hall, at Mans- 
field, Massachusetts. She was born in that 
place April 23, 1842, her ancestors being 
early settlers of New England. The Doctor 
and his wife are the parents of four children: 
Ernest Ward, born December 20, 1863, died 
August 26, 1864; Fannie E., born March 18, 
1867; Alice M., born August 24, 1872, and 
Clifton Howard, born June 14, 1876. The 
children have received their education in the 
common schools of La Crosse; Fannie E. is a 
graduate of the high school; she was mar- 
ried Septem ber 14, 1887, to Homer T. Fowler, 
and resides at West Superior; her husband is 



BIOGRAPHfCAL HISTORY. 



265 



president of the State Bank of Wisconsin; 
they have three children. 

Dr. Alger is a member of the State Medi- 
cal Society of Wisconsin, and belongs to the 
Masonic order and to the A. O. U. W. The 
family are members of the Congregational 
Chnrch. 

^ARVEY J. FECK, one of the honored 
pioneers of the State of Wisconsin, is a 
resident of La Crosse county, and a 
history of this section would not be complete 
without an outline of his career. He was 
born in Chenango County, New York, and is 
the youngest son of a family of four children 
of Joseph and Ada (Parker) Peck, natives of 
Vermont and Connecticut. During his in- 
fancy his parents moved to Oneida county, 
where his youth and early manhood were 
passed; he attended the common schools and 
received some academic training. In 1838, 
at the age of twenty-one years, he came to 
Wisconsin, and for ten years was engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. Then he took up car- 
pentry, which trade he had learned while a 
resident of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Being 
impressed that La Crosse would be a good 
business center, he decided to locate here, his 
iirst introduction to the place being in 1851, 
when he was employed to build a dwelling 
fur Rev. W. H. Card, a Baptist minister of 
this city. He followed building and contract- 
ing for some years, principally at Oiialaska, 
where he resided until 18G4. 

in 1863 Mr. Peck was elected Clerk of the 
Qircuit Court of La Crosse county, a position 
he held for six years. In July, 1870, he was 
appointed by the Judges of the United States 
Court to the office of Clerk of the LTnlted 
States Circuit and District Courts, which 
position he has since held, a period of twenty- 



one years. He has been United States Court 
Commissioner about eighteen years. In 
connection with his official business he at- 
tends to a large insurance business, and loans 
money. 

He has been twice married; first, to Miss 
Lucinda Hickey, a native of New York, wiio 
was the mother of four children: Joseph, a 
resident of Onalaska; Cecelia, wife of H. 
Smith, a resident of Grant's Pass, Oregon; 
Hattie, the wife of W. H. Wadsworth, a 
resident of Madelia, Minnesota; and one child 
that died in infancy. Mrs. Peck died in 
1850, and six years afterward Mr. Peck was 
mavrieJ to Miss Carrie M. Lawrence, a native 
of the Empire State. No children have been 
born of this marriage. 

Mr. Peck has been a member of the I. O. 
O. F. for many years, and when a young man 
took an active part in the order. He and his 
wife arc members of the Baptist Church. 
Politically he affiliates with the Republican 
party, having voted with that body since its 
organization. He is a very prominent citi- 
zen, and is universally esteemed by his ac- 
quaintances. In all his official positions he 
has shown unusual capacity and an integrity 
of character that has placed him above the 
corruption which has crept into our political 
system. For twelve years he has been Notary 
Public, and in this, as in every other calling 
of life which he has entered, he has discharged 
his duty to the best of his ability'. 



^ 



If^.ON. GILBERT MOTIER WOOD- 
WARD, of the law firm of Losey & 
Woodward, was born in Washington, 
District of Columbia, December 25, 1835. 
He learned the printer's trade in Baltimore, 
being apprenticed in 1850. He worked as a 
printer and proof-reader in the latter city, at 



266 



BIOORAPUICAL HISTORY. 



Upper Marlborough, Maryland, and at Wash 
ington. District of Colunihia, UTitil the be- 
ginning of the year 1860. In Wasiiington 
he was employed the greater portion of the 
time on the National Intelligencer. In 
February, 1860, he removed to La Crosse, 
and entered upon the study of law in the 
office of Messinore & McKenney. He was 
admitted to the bar at EUck Biver Falls, 
Wisconsin, Judge George Gale presiding, 
but he did not immediately enter npon the 
practice of his profession, as it was at this 
time the civil war broke over this country. 

He enlisted in the La Crosse Light Guard, 
Company B, Second Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, May 22, 1801, and was mustered 
into the United States service for three years, 
June 11, 1801, at Madison, Wisconsin. He 
was with his regiment in all the campaigns 
of the Army of the Potomac until the 
expiration of his term of enlistment. He 
received various promotions, as follows: 
Orderly Sergeant in September, 1861; Second 
Lieutenant in August, 1802; First Lieuten- 
ant in September, 1862, and Adjutant of his 
regiment in June, 1863. He was acting Aid- 
de-Camp of the First Brigade, First Division, 
First Army Corps (General James S. Wads- 
worth's Division), at the battle of Gettys- 
burg. In this engagement he received a 
severe gunshot wound in the riglit fore-arm. 
His services as Aid-de-Camp were continued 
during the Wilderness campaign. May 5 to 
June 11, 1804, his division being then a part 
of the Fifth Corps. He was mustered out of 
service at Madison, Wisconsin, June 80,1864, 
when he returned to La Crosse. 

In April of the following year he was 
elected City Attorney. In November, 1865, 
he was elected District Attorney of La 
Crosse county, and was re-elected in 1807, 
1869 and 1871. lie formed a law partner- 
ship with S. S. Burton in January, 1868, 



which continued until 1876. In 1874 he was 
elected Mayor of La Crosse, and discharged 
the duties of this office two years. He was 
again elected City Attorney of La Crosse in 
April, 1876, and held that position for sev- 
eral years. He was a delegate to the Na- 
tional Liberal Convention at Cincinnati in 
1872, and was a delegate to the National 
Democratic Convention in the same city in 
1880. In 1882 he was elected a member of 
Congress from the Seventh District of Wis- 
consin, but was defeated when a candidate 
for re-election in 1884; he was the Demo- 
cratic candidate for Governor of Wisconsin 
in 1886, *nd was a delegate at large from 
Wisconsin to the National Democratic Con- 
vention at St. Louis in 1888, and served as 
chairman of the delegation. January 1, 1889, 
the present law partnership of Losey & 
Woodward was formed. 

POLLEYS, one of the represent- 
e citizens of La Crosse and 
C"'s^)s:^i ^ ex-City Clerk, was born in the town 
of Baring, Washington county, Maine, May 
4. 1851, and is a son of William H. and 
Dora A. (Woodcock) Polleys, natives of 
Nova Scotia ai.d Maine respectively; the 
father was a lumlierman in Maine, and en- 
gaged in that business at an early day. He 
came West in 1849 when a trading post was 
all that was visible of Minneapolis; later he 
returned to Maine, and in 1856 he came to 
La Crosse; his family, however, did not come 
until the following year, when they located 
in Melrose. Mr. Polleys invested in land, 
and made a beautiful home there. For many 
years he was largely interested in the lumber 
business on Ulack river, and in 1870 he 
erected a steam sawmill at La Crosse. In 
1883 he embarked in the lumber business in 




BWOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



367 



Georgia, and Iniilt a large steam sawmill at 
Bainbridge, which was afterward destroyed 
by fire. After this he returned to Melrose 
where he now lives. He has assisted materi- 
allj' in the growth and progress of this county, 
and has lent a helping hand to all material 
improvements. He enjoys the highest respect 
of the entire community. He is now in his 
sixty-ninth year; his wife died in June, 1887, 
aged fifty-eight years. Her life was one of 
great activity, and she was a woman of rare 
force of character, giving a strong vitality to 
any cause she espoused. She was a member 
of the First Baptist Church, and was an un- 
tiring worker in the church and Sabbath- 
school. To Mr. and Mrs. Polleys were born 
four children: W. E., the subject of this no- 
tice; Edgar H., Abner D. and Frank 0. 

W. E. Polleys was educated at Galesville, 
Wisconsin, and at the La Crosse Business 
College, being graduated from the latter in- 
stitution in 1871. He was bookkeeper for 
his father, and continued in that capacity for 
six years, when he and his brother, Edgar H., 
succeeded his father at La Caosse in the lum- 
ber business, the firm name being Polleys 
Bros. They carried on the business until 
1884, when they sold out and embarked in 
the lumber business at Bainbridge, Georgia; 
there they were burned out within a year's 
time, and returned to La Crosse. They are 
DOW engaged in the logging business on the 
Chippewa river, and are meeting with grati- 
fyiug success. 

Mr. Polleys was elected Clerk of La Crosse 
in 1887, and was re-elected in 1889, serving 
two terras, with a high degree of satisfaction 
to his constituency. 

He was united in marriage, September 4, 
1878, to Miss Emma L. Edwards, a daughter 
of George Edwards, and to them was born 
one child, Irene E. Tbe mother was called 
from this life June 11, 1891, at the age ot 



thirty-seven years. She was a woman of the 
rarest traits of character, devoted to her home 
and family, and beloved by a wide circle of 
acquaintance. She was a member of the 
Congregational Church Society. Mr. Pollfeys 
is one of the progressive business men of La 
Crosse, and has always favored those move- 
ments which have been along the line of ad- 
vancement. Politically he is identified with 
the Itepublican party, and is thoroughly 
posted upon all the leading issues of that 
body. 



^ATRICK KEAVEN Y, who has for many 

^ years been connected with the railroad 
"~5C business in La Crosse county, was born 
in Ireland in 1831, a son of John and Mary 
(Feiney) Keaveny. The father died in his 
native land, and the mother is still living, 
now a resident of La Crosse, at the age of 
eighty-six years. They had born to them 
eight children, seven of whom are living, 
four sous and three daughters, all having 
homes in La Crosse. Patrick Keaveny, the 
subject of the following biography, acquired 
an education in the old country, and was 
trained to the pursuit of agriculture. Until 
he was thirty- live years of age he followed 
this calling, and then, believing greater op- 
portunities would be offered him in America 
than in his own country, he emigrated to the 
United States. The first work he did was 
in Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained 
about six months; thence he came to La 
Crosse, arriving here in 1866. The river 
packet business was then in its prime, and 
for two years Mr. Keaveny was in the employ 
of Davidson & Co., in their packet ware- 
house. 

In 1868 he began his career as a railroad 
man, in the employ of the Chicago, Milwau- 



308 



RIOORAPHICAL DISTORT.^ 



kee & St. Paul Railroad Company, and after 
a few years of faithful service he was made 
section foreman, a position he still holds. 
During his twenty-one years' connection with 
this road, there has never been an accident 
that was dne to his neglect, which is, indeed 
a comfortino; reflection. 

Mr. Keaveny is a member of the Ancient 
Order of Hibernians, of the Catholic Knights 
of Wisconsin, and of the Total Abstinence 
Society. In politics he is independent, sup- 
porting those men whom he esteems best 
titled for the discharge of the duties of pub- 
lic office. 

In 1862 he was united in marriage, in Ire- 
land, to Miss Bridget "Walsh, a daughter of 
John and Catharine (Cusack) Walsh. Mrs. 
Keaveny's father was a farmer by occupation, 
and lived and died in his own country; her 
mother still survives, a resident of the Emer- 
ald It^le. Mr. and Mrs. Keaveny are the 
parents of six children, five of whom are liv- 
ing: Mary, the wife of E. J. Kelley, of the 
board of ))nblic works. La Crosse; Catharine, 
the wife of William Cragen, is the mother of 
three children; John isliving in Washington; 
Sabine and Delia arc both in La Crosse; 
Bridget died at the age of three years, five 
months and three days. The family are all 
devout members of the Catholic Church. 

fOUN M. CHILDERS, senior member of 
the firm of J. M. Childers & Co., cut- 
stone contractors, is a native of the State 
of Ohio, born at Letartville, Meigs county, 
May 24, 1851, and is a son of Samuel and 
Edith (DradKeld) Childers. The father was 
a shoemaker by trade, and was a native of 
Virginia. The Bradtield and Childers fami- 
lies were descended from the same ancestors. 
About the year 1858 Samuel K. Childers 



removed with his family to La Crosse, 
coming from Mason via the Ohio river down 
to the Mississip])i, and thence up the latter 
river to La Crosse, where our subject passed 
his youth. Here he learned the stone- 
cutter's trade, and has since February 17, 
1869, been identified with this industry. In 
1885 he formed a partnership with Thomas 
O'Coiiner for the purpose of entering into 
the stone contracting business, and they have 
built up a large and prosperous trade. 

Mr. Childers was united in marriage, June 
11, 1880, in the city of La Crosse, to Miss 
Minnie B. Brabender, of this place, a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Brabender, a native of Ger- 
many. Of this union two sons have lieen 
born: John M., Jr., June 22, 1S84, and 
George Roy, September 25, 1886. 

Mr. Childers is a man of broad public 
spirit, and has liberally sustained those 
movements which have had for their object 
the upbuilding of the city and connty. He 
is an active member of the Builders' Ex- 
change of La Crosse, and is numbered among 
the leading business men. 

XGUS CAMERON, of La Crosse, was 
born in the town of Caledonia, Livings- 
ton county, New York, July 4, 1826. 
He received an academic education, read law 
at Buffalo, and graduated from tlie National 
Law School at Ballston, Saratoga county, 
New York. lie was admitted to the bar at 
Albany in April, 1852. 

He married Mary Baker, of Urbana, Steu- 
ben county, New York, February 21, 1856, 
and removed to La Crosse in 1857. 

He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate 
in 1863, 1864, 1871 and 1872, and of the 
Assembly of Wisconsin in 1866 and 1867, 
and was Speaker of the Assembly in 1867. 




/^^^^^ OK^y^lyi<Ul^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL EISTOR Y. 



26n 



He was a Regent of the University of 
Wisconsin for nine years, from 1866 to 1875, 
and was Qnited States Senator from Wiscon- 
sin for ten years, from March 4, 1875, to 
March 4, 1885. 



-^^TyiA/b- 



~^l/mn^^ 



fREDERICK WILLIAM MOULD, pho- 
tographer, 413 South Third street, La 
Crosse, is a native of Baraboo, Wiscon- 
sin, born March 4, 1857. His parents, 
Matthew and Jane (Islip) Mould were natives 
of England, the fatiier being born in North- 
amptonshire, and the mother in Lincolnshire. 
They emigrated to America in 1850, and 
located in Newport, New York, where they 
resided si.x or seven years, subsequently re- 
mother still resides. The father died in 1890, 
at sixty-seven years of age. 

Of the family there were three sons and 
two daughters, of whom Frederick W. is the 
youngest; Mary J. is the widow of A. An- 
drews; Mattie married Henry Marriatt; 
Matthew Henry married Miss Jennie Buck- 
ley; he is engaged in the book and stationery 
business at Baraboo; Simmons I, married 
Miss Emma Burdick of Madison, Wisconsin, 
and is a photograplier at Baraboo. 

Frederick W. received his education in the 
public schools of Baraboo, and then began 
the study of photography witii his father, 
who liad followed that profession since 1857. 
In 1880 he estaljlished himself in business in 
La Crosse, being associated for a time with 
his father. In the spring of 1882 he became 
sole owner of the business and has since con- 
ducted it alone. He employes all of the 
latest improvements in the photographic art, 
and uses the instantaneous process. His 
work is lirst-class in every respect, and his 
patronage extends throughout this and two 
adjoining counties; and 

18 



he does a larger 



business than any other photographer in 
Western Wisconsin. He also does very fine 
work in India ink and crayon. 

Mr. Mould was united in marriage Sep- 
tember 3, 1881, to Miss Julia E. Sorensen of 
Madison, Wisconsin. She was Iiorn in that 
city December 3, 1859, and is a daughter of 
David T. Sorensen, a prominent lumber 
dealer and contractor of Madison. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mould are the parents of two children: 
Ida Florence, born January 5, 1884, and 
Gertrude Lora, born September 28, 1890. 
Mr. Mould is independent in political matters 
and sustains no society or church relations. 



-^^hO/l/ly 



-^l/inn^^ 



EOKGE W. BRICE, real-estate dealer. 
La Crosse, Wisconsin. — At the present 
time there is great activity in the realty 
market, and it is safe to say that never before 
in the history of the city have such advan- 
tages been offered to secure desirable property. 
Among those active in real-estate operations 
is George W. Brice, who is also engaged in 
the loan and insurance business at 116 Nortii 
Third street. He is a native of Franklin 
county, Berksliire township, Vermont, born 
February 9, 1836, and is a son of Alexander 
and Lucy (Wilbur) Brice, natives of New 
London, Connecticut, and Rutland, Vermont. 
The father was a farmer in early life, but 
later engaged in other operations. He was a 
private in the war of 1812, and for services 
rendered received a pension; he came to 
Wisconsin in 1843, and with his family set- 
tled on a farm at Sugar Creek, Walworth 
county, where they remained until 1855; in 
that year they came to La Crosse county and 
settled on what is known as Brice's prairie. 
There the parents died, and their remains 
were interred in the cemetery near the old 
homestead. Of the ten children born of this 



370 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



union, two died in early childhood, four 
dauirhters remained in the East, and four sons 
came West. The father's deatii occurred No- 
vember 11, 1874, in his eighty-sixth year, 
and the mother died July 26, 1865, at the 
age of seventy-two years. They were for 
many years devout members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Chursh. Of their sons, Charles 
C. is now living at Ilillhurst, in the State of 
AVashington; Milton and George W. enlisted 
on the same day, February 28, 1863, in Com- 
pany I, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, Army of the Potomac; another son, 
Robert, enlisted February 25th of the same 
year, in the same company. Their regiment 
was in the battle at the crossing of the North 
Anna, the Petersburg campaign, Spottsyl- 
vania and Cold Harbor; in the last battle, 
June 3, 1864, Milton Brice was killed; he 
was but thirty-two years of age. At the time 
of the surrender, George W. Brice was near 
Appomattox on his way from Buck's Run. 
In June, 1865, the regiment was sent to 
Louisville, Kentucky, and there mustered out 
of service, July 12, of the same year. 

After the war, farming engaged the atten- 
tion of Mr. Brice, until 1870, when he em- 
barked in the farming implement and pump 
business, in which he was utuisually successful, 
continuing the same until his election to tiie 
office of Registrar of Deeds for La Crosse 
county. 

Mr. Brice has had an extensive experience 
in official life. He held the position of Con- 
stable the first year he was a voter, and later 
was elected Justice of the Peace; he was 
elected Assessor of tiie town of Onalaska in 
1870, holding that position six years, and 
served on the County Board about nine years, 
being chairman of the same tiiree years. He 
was elected Registrar of Deeds in 1884, and 
served six years, three terms, in that capacity. 
A manly and trustworthy character only could 



have inspired such confidence and a faithful 
performance of duty only could have secured 
its continuance. In all his otHcial relations 
he rendered a high degree of satisfaction. 
He was again elected Supervisor in the spring 
of 1891, for the Fourteenth Ward of the 
city. 

He is succeeding well in the real estate 
and insurance business, and has earned a 
well- merited reputation for the conscientious 
and efficient manner with which he conducts 
affairs intrusted to his care. He is holding 
his third commission as Notary Public. 

Mr. Brice was married May 8, 1861, to 
Miss Eliza Courtriglit, a native of Illinois, 
and a daughter of Ansel Courtriglit, wlio 
went to California in 1849, and died there 
some time the following year. The children 
born of this union are: Harvey C, who is a 
civil engineer and has been in the employ of 
the Great Northern Railroad for four years; 
he has also held the office of County Surveyor 
one term; Robert E. is a clerk in the insur- 
ance business with his father whom he served 
as Deputy Registrar of Deeds during his last 
term in that office; Florence, who died at the 
age of two years; and Myrtle G., still living. 
Mrs. Brice is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

Mr. Brice has passed through all the chairs 
of Odd Fellowship, is also a member of the 
blue lodge, A. F. & A. M., having been W. 
M. of the lodge at Onalaska for two years; 
he belongs also to the chapter and cotn- 
mandry. In politics he has always been ac- 
tively identified with the Republican party. 
In business aflairs he has been quite prosper- 
ous; had his only purpose been to accumulate 
he would to-day take high rank among the 
wealthy men of La Crosse, but his aim has 
been loftier, nol>ler; his means have been dis- 
tributed with a liberal hand as many can 
attest, and those who h^ve sought his aid 



BIOORAPBIGAL HISTORY 



271 



have been generously helped along life's 
rugged pathway. In his intercourse with his 
fellow-citizens, he has been found true to 
every trust, competent and faithful in every 
position to which he has been called, honor- 
able and ujjright to the utmost degree. 



jl^-%,IRAM G. MILLER, Eclectic physician 
and surgeon, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was 
born at Virgil, Cortland county. New 
York, March 30, 1825, and is a son of Ben- 
jamin and Julia (Garrett) Miller. The mother 
was born at Sharon, Connecticut, of English 
ancestry; the father was a native of Williams- 
town, Massachusetts, and was a lineal de- 
scendant of the house of Hamilton. The 
paternal grandfather of our subject died at 
the age of ninety-nine years from the effects 
of a fall; he was a schoolteacher for more 
than forty years. The family was one of 
professional men, numbering among the dif- 
ferent generations many educators; they were 
large of stature, some measuring six feet, 
three and a half inches, and were a long-lived 
race. Hiram G. is the eldest son and second 
child in a family of eleven children. At the 
age of eleven years he removed with his 
father's family to Peoria, Illinois, where he 
received his elementary education; he entered 
Shurtleff College at Alton, Illinois, in 1847, 
and two years later he was caught in that 
mighty tide of emigration that swept to the 
gold fields of California; he went overland 
via the southern route, and was engaged in 
raining in the Yuba River locality for two 
years, meeting with fair success. 

When he returned to his home he began 
the study of medicine under the preceptorsliip 
of Dr. L. C. McKenney, at Burlnigton, Iowa; 
he pursued his studies for live years, and 
then engaged in practice at Rosefield, Illinois. 



He afterwards entered the Eclectic Medical 
Institute at Cincinnati, from which he was 
graduated in 1869. He then removed to 
La Crosse, where he has devoted himself to 
liis profession for the past twenty-three 
years. He has been eminently successful, 
and has established a fine reputation as a 
skillful and trustworthy physician. His pa- 
tients are not found alone in La Crosse 
county, but come from distant points. 

Dr. Miller was married July 16, 1868, to 
Miss Virginia E. McKenney, eldest daughter 
of Dr. L. C. and Lucinda (Clarke) McKenney, 
of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Dr. McKenney, 
who was the tutor uf Dr. Miller, was a promi- 
nent physician in Burlington, Iowa, but upon 
his removal to La Crosse he turned his at- 
tention to the law, in order to avoid the ex- 
posure attendant upon active medical practice. 
He died in this city April 19, 1887; his 
widow is still living, and resides in La Crosse. 
There were seven children in the McKenney 
family, four of whom are living. To Dr. 
and Mrs. Miller have been born five children: 
Lewis Benjamin, James Leslie, and Charles 
Willis, are deceased; Virginia E. and Hiram 
G., Jr., are aged eleven and eight years re- 
spectively. Mrs. Miller is a worthy member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The 
Doctor is an active member of the Prohibi- 
tion party, having allied himself with that 
moral reform in 1887. He was formerly a 
Democrat. 



-^ 



^. 



-S^ 



IHARLES J. ALDEN, United States 
Pension Claim Agent and War Claim 
Attorney, La Crosse, was born in Mon- 
roeton, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, July 
5, 1844. F'rom an examination of a carefully 
prepared genealogical record, we find that our 
subject is a direct descendant of John Alden, 



273 



BIOGliAPUIOAL HI STORY. 



who landed on Plymouth Rock December 
20, 1020. Tlie parents of Mr. Alden were 
Sylvester W. and Frances (Wilcox) Alden, 
natives of Bradford county, Pennsylvania. 
The father was born March 19, 1810, and the 
mother July 31, 1815. The former was a 
eon of Timothy Alden, be the son of Israel, 
lie the second son of Pev. I^oab Alden, and 
he, the youngest son of John Alden, born in 
1694:, and he the son of Joseph, born in 1624, 
and he the son of John Alden, from whom 
the family in America has sprung; be was 
born ill Duxbury, England, in 1599. The 
The father of our subject removed his family 
to Wisconsin, and became heavily interested 
in lumbering in the vicinity of Green Bay, 
at which place he died July 13, 1881. His 
wife died at Monroeton, Pennsylvania, Aug- 
ust 29, 1847. Two sons comprised tlieir 
family, De Alanson T. being the elder, and 
Charles J. the younger. The brothers en- 
listed in Company II., Twenty-first Wisc( n- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, August 15, 1862. 
De Alanson died of disease contracted in the 
service, June 2, 1864. Charles J. had a 
peculiar and varied military career. His first 
initiation being in Kentucky in pursuit of 
the rebel General Bragg. IJe first partici- 
pated in battle at Perryville; here his regi- 
ment suffered terribly, and after participating 
in many other battles he was difabled from 
activeservice and declared unfit lor duty. De 
was assignid to duty at General Carrington's 
head-quarters at Indianapolis, Indiana; later 
on he was iransferred to the headquarters of 
General Hovey, where he served until the 
close of the war. He was mustered out of 
service June 30, 1865. 

He then joined his father at Green Bay, 
Wisconsin, and was engaged in the lumber 
business until 1870, when he located at To- 
mali, Monroe county, Wisconsin, where he 
embarked in the mercantile trade; he had a 



branch establishment in Oakdale, Wisconsin. 
In 1876 he turned his attention to agricult- 
ure and operated a farm tor three years. He 
was married at New Lisbon, Wisconsin, Sep- 
tember 10, 1872, to Antoinette, daughter of 
Joseph and Dorcas Davidson. To them four 
children have been born: Frances May, Syl- 
vester W., Leola and Charles J., Jr. Mr. 
Alden is a Kepublican in politics. He be- 
longs to the Knights of Pythias, to the I. O. 
O. F., and to Wilson Caldwell Post, No. 88, 
G. A. li. 

Some twelve years ago Mr. Alden engaged 
in the pension and war-claims business, and 
established an office at Tomah, Wisconsin. 
Subsequently he removed to Sparta, and after 
three years there he came to La Crosse, the 
rapid increase of hbs business rendering it 
necessary for him to place himself within 
reach of better railroad and mail facilities. 
During the year just passed 35,000 let- 
ters were sent out from his office, besides 
many thousand circulars. Fully $2,000 
are spent annually in advertising. He has 
been instrumental in securing the allowance 
of claims from every State in the Union. A 
close application to business, with ample fa- 
cilities and access to records renders Mr. 
Alden a very successful practitioner in his 
line. He has accumulated valuable records 
and information relative to the pension laws, 
liavino- full tiles of circulars and legal docu- 
ments issued by the Pension Department. 
To give an idea of bis increase of business 
since 1883, it may be noted that the number 
of claims allowed in that year was seventy - 
two, and in 1890, 937. 



■ g - 3 " ; - g ' 



l> w —- 



ATT. WANNEBO, dealer in staple 
and fancy groceries, flour, provisions, 
choice butter, etc., at La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, has gained a front position in his 




BIOGRAPHIVAL HIHTOBY. 



273 



line of trade, and numbers among his patrons 
some of the best families of the city. The 
stock he carries consists of a full line of the 
choicest articles to be found in the market, 
and are to be obtained at most reasonable 
prices. Mr. Wannebo was born in Norway, 
August 18, 1851, being the youngest of four 
children born to his parents, who were born, 
reared and died in Norway. Two of the 
children, besides the subject of this sketch, 
reside in La Crosse county, and one resides 
on a farm in Minnesota. On a farm in Nor- 
way Matt. Wannebo was reared, but in 1870 
he came to America and settled in La Crosse 
county, and for some time worked by the 
month on a farm. His brother Andrew set- 
tled on a farm here in 1865; Otto came to 
this country in 1867, and the sister Annie, 
who became the wife of Louie Knudsen, 
came thitlier in 1869. After one year spent 
as a farm hand, Matt. Wannebo went to the 
pineries of Wisconsin, where he worked as a 
millwright for eight years, after which he re- 
turned to La Crosse and built the handsome 
store building in which he is now doing 
business. Its dimensions are 24 x 80, two 
stories in height, and it is located in a con- 
venient district for trade, at the corner of 
Clinton and Caledonia streets. Every facil- 
ity for the prompt transaction of business is 
here to be found, and in all respects it is an 
A 1 house and a representative one in the 
grocery business of the city. Butter and 
eggs are received direct from the producers, 
and all kinds of the best fruit and vegetables 
that are in season are to be obtained at his 
establishment. Upon coming to America he 
was compelled to bori'ow money with which 
to pay his passage, but he is now in inde- 
pendent circumstances and has the satisfac- 
tion of knowing that his present success is 
due to his own pluck and industry. He is a 
broad-spirited, liberal-minded man, of the 



highest business capacity, and honored in all 
circles of society. He has held the positions 
of Alderman and Supervisor with ability and 
to the satisfaction of his constituents. He 
is a Republican in politics, and his influence 
has always been given in support of educa- 
tional, social and moral interests. Septem- 
ber 27, 1882, his marriage to Miss Otilia 
Evanson was celebrated. Her parents were 
natives of Norway, and her mother is now 
an old resident of La Crosse county. Her 
father was a soldier in tlie Union army 
during the Rebellion, serving from the be- 
ginning until the close. Mrs. Wannebo and 
a single daughter, Emma, are their only sur- 
viving children, the latter being also a resi- 
dent of La Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Wannebo 
are the parents of the following children: 
Henry, Morris, Arthur, George and Eva. 
Mr. Wannebo is a member of the L O. O. F., 
of which he is a zealous and active member. 



,ARSHALL CONANT, a highly re- 
spected citizen of La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, wa.s born at Malone, Frank- 
lin county. New York, and is the youngest 
son of Leonard and Eunice (Bates) Conant. 
His parents were natives of Windsor county, 
Vermont, and removed to New York about 
1820, where they were married, at Fort Cov- 
ington. The paternal grandfather was born 
at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, January 28, 
1758; the maternal grandfather, Joseph 
Bates, was born at Middleboro, Massachu- 
setts, March 10, 1762, and was a soldier in 
tiie Revolutionary war; he married Miss 
Lucy Lee, who was born in Windsor county, 
Vermont, October 28, 1764; she died at Ma- 
lone, New York, July 13, 1862, in her 
ninety-eighth year. The mother of our sub- 
ject was born November 24, 1795, and died 




274 



BIOGRAPHICAL UI STORY. 



at Malone, New York, February 6, 1S80. 
Ill's father was twice married; his first wife 
was Miss Lucy Cleveland, a native of Pom- 
fret, Vermont, and one child was born of the 
union, Lucy, who married Ileury V. Jnd- 
eon. There were two children of the second 
marriage: Azro 11, now a resident of Ma- 
lone, New York, and the subject of this 
notice. 

Marshall Conant was educated in the 
public schools and at Franklin Academy, 
Malone, New York. At the early age of 
sixteen years he began teaching school, and 
followed the profession until 1848; during 
these years his leisure time was devoted to 
the study of law. In his youth he was a 
music pupil of Lowell Mason, of Boston, and 
sang one season in his choir. He was present 
at the noted celebration on Bunker Hill, June 
17, 1843, when Daniel Webster delivered his 
memorable oration on the completion of the 
Bunker Hill monument. He taught both 
vocal and instrumental music until 1848, 
when he was admitted to practice as an at- 
torney at a general term of the Supreme 
Court at Canton, St. Lawrence county. New 
York. He was engaged in legal work at 
Malone, New York, until October, 1851, 
when he was appointed to a position in the 
general offices of what is now known as the 
Vermont Central Railway system. He was 
promoted from one position to another until 
he was made chief clerk, having charge of all 
the books of the company. In December, 
1866, he came West as land commissioner 
for the Southein Minnesota Railroad Com- 
pany, and served in that capacity until Au- 
gust, 1872, with headquarters at La Crosse, 
Wisconsin. Subsequently the offices were 
removed to Wells, Minnesota, but were re- 
turned to La Crosse in 1878, when he again 
entered the employ of the company. At the 
end of three years the entire business was 



sold to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad Company, when he embarked in the 
real-estate business on his own account. 

Mr. Conant was married June 6, 1849, to 
Miss Caroline F. Man, a native of West 
Constable, New York, and a daughter of 
Ebenezer and Caroline Mhu, natives of New- 
Haven, Addison county, Vermont. Her 
mother was born August 23, 1802, her 
maiden name being Hoyt; the father was 
born April 26, 1798; they were married 
April 25, 1822, and six children were born 
to them, two of whom arc now living. Mr. 
and Mrs. Conant are the parents of two chil- 
dren; Eben Leonard was born February 12, 
1851, and May C, May 22, 1866. The son 
is employed in his father's office; both chil- 
dren are unmarried. Mr. Conant has all his 
life been a close student; he takes a deep in- 
terest in the study of astronomy, and is ex- 
ceptionally well informed upon this science, 
while his musical education is worthy of 
more than passing notice. He is identified 
with the Republican party, with which he 
has voted since its organization. Mrs. Conant 
is a consistent member of the Congregational 
Church. 

fOllN JAY COLE.— The subject of this 
biographical sketch is a descendant of 
the early settlers of Connecticut, but 
almost the opposite of a Puritan. Whether 
this is from degeneration of stock or from 
modern ideas, is for the Puritan and Agnostic 
to answer. His grandfather, following the 
"westward course of empire,'' removed to the 
State of New York, and John Jay Cole was 
born in Albany, the capital of that State, 
August 29, 1824; there he lived until the 
age of thirty-two years. He received a thor- 
ough literary education, and after pursuing 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STORY . 



875 



a course in t!ie study of the law and some 
experience as manager of a law tinn, lie was 
admitted to the bar of the old Supreme Court 
of New York, and separately to the Court of 
Chancery, in 1846. He was Assistant Dis- 
trict Attorney at Albany, and practiced his 
profession in that city until his removal to 
Wisconsin. He settled in La Crosse in 
August, 1859, and has practiced law thei-e 
from that time to the present. He has been 
a candidate for several offices, such as Dis- 
trict Attorney, City Attorney, Member of 
the Assembly and State Senator. He would 
not accept a nomination for any office ex- 
cepting of the kind indicated, but he has been 
for many years, and is now. United States 
Commissioner and State Court Commissioner. 
He is a good Latin and Greek scholar, reads 
both the German and French languages, 
and speaks German fluently; he is self-taught 
in the latter language, and as to general in- 
formation he has been called a walking 
encyclopaidia. 

His father's name was John O. Cole, who 
was a Police Judge of Albany, New York, 
for almost forty years, being elected regard- 
less of politics by large majorities and 
through many fluctuations of the party ma- 
jority in Albany. After his voluntary 
retirement from that office, he accepted the 
office of Superintendent of Public Schools of 
Albany, and died while serving in that capa- 
city, at the age of eighty-four years. His 
son, Charles "W. Cole, succeeded him in that 
office, which he has since held. 

John J. Cole was married October 13, 
1846, to Mary A. P. Lee, at Albany, New 
York; she was a daughter of Thomas Lee, a 
well-known citizen of Albany. The fruit of 
this marriage was one son, Thomas L. Cole, 
who died in childhood, and Theodore L. Cole, 
of Washington, District of Columbia; he 
married Kate Dunn Dewey, a daughter of 



ex-Governor Dewey, of Wisconsin, and 
granddaughter of Charles Dunn, first Chief 
Justice of Wisconsin, and of this union one 
child has been born, named Felix. After 
the death of Mary A P. Cole, in 1865, an 
interval of several years elapsed before Mr. 
Cole was married to Louisa £. L. Smith, at 
La Crosse. 

They are the parents of two sons: Lucius 
J., born November 14, 1878, and Herbert 
Spencer Cole, born P^ebruary 7, 1881. 

Mr. Cole's branch of the somewhat numer- 
ous Cole family has not traced its genealogy 
to the ancestor or ancestors who emigrated 
to America. They came from England, or 
perhaps Ireland, although of English stock. 
The Earl of Enniskillen (Ireland) is a Cole. 

The first ancestors in this country must 
have come prior to the Revolutionary war, 
probably over 200 years ago. 

Mr. Cole's nearest=relatives live at Albany, 
New York, so that he is somewhat isolated 
from his kith and kin in his Wisconsin home. 

During the war of the Rebellion, he was a 
War Democrat, a phrase known in that time 
as a Northern Democrat, adhering to the 
organization of the Northern Democratic 
party, but standing strongly for the Union 
Im all the issues of the war, hoping for the 
early success of the Northern armies against 
the South. 

— ->*- "^ ' 3"S ' |" "' 



JI^HENDELL L. A. ANDERSON, M. D., 
wffl/fl ^'^° ^^^ nearly twenty years was 
&^^^ actively engaged in the practice of 
medicine in La Crosse, is deserving of the 
space that has been accorded him in this re- 
cord of the leading men of the county of La 
Crosse. He was born in the town of Gray, 
Maine, September 9, 1840, and received his 
preparatory education in the common schools 



276 



BIOORAPUIGAL UiSTORY. 



of tliat place. In 1853 lie entered the Gor- 
Iiam Academy, Gorliain, Maine, and was a 
student tliere four years. Ele then entered 
the Freshman class ot" Bowdoin College, but 
did not complete the course there. Having 
chosen the profession of medicine, in the 
summer of 1859 he began the study of the 
science under the preceptorship of his father, 
who w.as then a prominent physician of Gray, 
Maine. In the winter of 18G0-'G1 he attended 
medical lectures at the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, New York city, and afterwards 
continued his studies at the Portland School 
for Medical Instruction until the autumn of 
1801, when he entered the regular army of 
tile United States as a medical cadet. lie 
was assigned to duty at Annapolis, Maryland, 
and remained there until the fall of 1862, 
when he again attended lectures at the Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, New York 
city; he was graduated from this well-known 
institution in March, 1863, and in April uf 
the same year he was appointed Assistant 
Surgeon of the Third Maryland Volunteer 
Infantry; he served with this regiment in the 
Held at Ciiancellorsville, Gettysburg, and in 
all its subsequent engagements with tiie 
Army of the Potomac from the wilderness to 
Lee's surrender. In March, 18G4, he was 
commissioned Surgeon of his regiment with 
the rank of Major. 

After the war was ended, and he resumed 
his professional labors, he attended another 
course of lectures in New York city, and 
came to La Crosse in February, 1866, and 
entered into active practice. From 1869 to 
1873 he was United States Examinina: Sur- 
geon for pensions in this city, his territory 
including La Crosse, La Crosse county, and 
the adjacent country. He was city physician of 
La Crosse from 1870 to 1875, andao-aiu from 
1877 to 1881. He was a member of the Wis- 
consin State Medical Society from 1871 until 



he retired from active practice. He lias been 
a ci<jse student of the science of medicine, 
and during the years of his practice kept fully 
abreast of the times in all the latest discov- 
eries and most approved methods of treat- 
ment. 

Dr. Anderson was president of the Board 
of Education from 1873 to 1877, and was 
chairman of the Democratic State Central 
Committee in 1875 and 1876. In September. 
1881, he was nominated by the Democratic 
party for the otHceof Lieutenant-Governor of 
Wisconsin, and was at the time again made 
chairman of the Democratic State Committee; 
he served in the latter capacity nntil Juiie, 
1885, when he resigned the position, having 
been appointed by President Cleveland, 
Consul General to Montreal. He discharged 
the duties of this office until July, 1889, 
when lie returned to his home. 

Dr. Anderson was married in March, 1864, 
to Miss Susie M., daughter of John G. Small, 
of I5oston, Massachusetts. Of this union six 
children have been born, three of whom sur- 
vive: John W., the eldest, was educated in 
the public schools of this city, spent one year 
at Cornell College, and entered the law depart- 
ment of the University of Michigan; he wae 
graduated from this school in 1890, and is 
now practicing law in Detroit, Michigan; 
Greeley S. is employed in the La Crosse Na- 
tional Bank, and Spencer E. is in school; the 
other three children died in infancy. 

The Doctor, with a few other gentlemen of 
philanthropic spirit, was instrumental in 
organizing the La Crosse Library Association 
in 1878; the association is still in existence, 
although under another name. The Doctor 
was chairman of the lecture committee for 
several years, and devoted himself earnestly 
to the success of the enterprises. To all 
those persons who have interested themselves 
in supplying standard literature to the youth 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



277 



of La Crosse, a lasting debt of gratitude is 
due, and the service cannot be too liighlj ap- 
preciated. Dr. Anderson belongs to the 
Masonic fraternity, though he is not in active 
membership. 

jLBERT BELLERUE, one of the leading 
pharmacists of La Crosse, is an Ameri 
can citizen by adoption. He was born 
in iSorway, at Kongsbero;, June 18, 1849, 
and is a son of Halvar and Elizabeth (Bryhn) 
Bellerue. The father was a merchant hy oc- 
cupation, and when Albert was fifteen years 
of age removed with his family to Chris- 
tiania. In this city our subject grew to man- 
hood, and received a thorough education in 
the public schools; this excellent instruction 
was supplemented by a literary and classical 
course of study in the high school of Kongs- 
berg. Having chosen the profession of Phar- 
macy for his life work, he entered the Uni- 
versity of Christiania, where he completed a 
very exhaustive course of study, and was 
graduated from the pharmaceutical depart- 
ment. 

In 1876, he crossed the sea to America, and 
located in La Crosse, where he secured em- 
ployment as a clerk for a time. He next 
spent six months in Chicago, returning at the 
end of that period to La Crosse. In 1878, 
he went to Blair, Wisconsin, and there estab- 
lished a business which he has since conducted; 
he remained there, himself, but two years, 
coming back to La Crosse in 1880. He then 
purchased the business of Mr. Heyerdahl, 
and in this enterprise he has met with marked 
success. 

Mr. Bellerue was united in marriage in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, to Miss Clara Jaekwitz, a 
native of Norway, and a daughter of C. R. 
Jaekwitz, a native of Christiania. Two sons 



and one daughter have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Bellerue: Victor, Helen and Albert. 

Mr. Bellerue is a member of the Norden 
Society, of the Norwegian Workingmen's 
Society, and of the Wisconsin Pharmaceuti- 
cal Association. He is a man of intelligence, 
thorouglily well posted in his business, and 
in every way worthy of the confidence which 
he enjoys. 

»-^|*iwf-|«-~ 

fAMES A. TRANE, plumber and con- 
tractor for steam and hot-water heating 
apparatus, is a native of Norway, born 
at Tromsoe, on the shores of the Baltic sea, 
April 29, 1857. He is a son of Rasmus and 
Christiana (Hegel und) Trane, who emigrated 
to America in 1864, going directly to the 
city of La Crosse after arriving in New York 
city. The father was a printer by occupation, 
and followed this calling for many years; his 
death occurred March 14, 1888, and his re- 
mains were interred with the religious cere- 
monies of the Lutheran Church. His widow 
stiil survives. Of their family, three sons 
are living: James A., the subject of this 
notice; Nicholas H., an engineer residing in 
St. Paul; and Ernest A., associated with 
James A. in business. 

When Mr. Trane was a lad of fourteen 
years he began to serve an apprenticeship in 
the shop of W. A. Roosevelt, and when he 
had completed his trade he worked as a jour- 
neyman in this city until 1885, when he 
embarked in business on his own account. 
He has conducted a very successful and well- 
ordered establishment, and has won a place in 
the front ranks of the craft. 

He was married to Miss Mary Miller, a 
native of Brownsville, Minnesota, a daughter 
of William and Mary (Gaab) Miller, natives 
*»f Germany. Of this union one son and 



278 



BIOQRAPUIGAL HISTORY. 



three daiicjliters have been born: Susie, Jessie, 
Reuben and Stella. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Trane are members of the Colmaii Methodist 
Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee and 
steward. He is one of the zealous members 
of the Builders' Exchange of La Crosse; be- 
longs to the Norwegian Workingnien's So- 
ciety, to the Board of Trade, and is a stock- 
holder of the State Fair Association. 



-^■^x/TM/b- 



■^Jlfiny^ 



SLURIAN WOLF, a farmer and stock- 
raiser of section 5, Bangor township, 
was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, 
Marc-h 28, 1848, a son of Andrew Wolf, now 
deceased. The latter was born in Switzer- 
land June 6, 1819, and came to the United 
States in 1840, settling at Highland, Illinois. 
Three years later he removed to Sank county, 
Wisconsin, where, May 18, 1845, he married 
Christine Rnedy, a daughter of Florian and 
Anna Knedy, who came to tiiis county in 

1851, settling in Dutch Valley, this township. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wolf came to this county in 

1852, settling where our subject now lives, 
which was then a wild country, inhabited by 
Lidians and wild animals. At one time a 
drunken Indian came to their home and at- 
tacked Mrs. Wolf, who dodged his strokes 
until another Indian came along and per- 
suaded him to leave her. The parents had 
seven children, only three of whom survive, 
namely: Florian, our subject; Andrew, who 
lives in Bangor, and Christian, a resident 
of Iroquois, South Dakota. One son, Cas- 
per, died March 8, 1883, at the age of twenty- 
seven years; and a daughter, Anna, died 
January 12, 1886. She was the wife of John 
Schiedt, and at her death left tive children, 
four of whom are now living: Christine, 
Lizzie, Annie and Mary. Our subject's 
brother, Andrew, married Minnie Buoly 



lives in Bangor, and has two children, Edwin 
and Eugene. Christian married Mary Myers, 
resides in Minor county. South Dakota, and 
has three children: Louise, Reinhold and 
Christian. The father died May 9, 1867, 
and the mother now lives with the subject of 
this sketch. 

Florian Wolf, our subject, owns a one- 
fourth interest in the Bangor Cheese Factory, 
which manufactures 500 pounds of cheese 
daily, and which they sell mainly in La 
Crosse, but also ship to Winona and St. Paul. 
They make a specialty of brick and Swiss 
cheese, both of which took first premium at 
the Interstate fair at La Crosse, in 1890. 
Tiieir American cheese also took firstpreminm 
at the same time and place. Politically Mr. 
wolf is a Democrat, but takes little interest 
in political matters, and, socially, he is a mem- 
ber of the A. O. U. W. He has been a 
member of the Side Board several years, and 
has also held school offices. 

He was married November 23, 1867, to 
Eliza, daughter of George Scheldt, a native 
of Switzerland. Her father lived in this 
county several years, and estaljlished the 
woolen mill on Dutch Creek. The children 
of Florian and Eliza Wolf are: Andrew, 
Lizzie, George and Christina. 




. PAMMEL, general agent for the 
Union Central Life Insurance Com- 
l)any of Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 
Western District of Wisconsin, was born in 
La Crosse in the first brick store building 
ever erected in the city, February 2, 1862, 
his parents being Louis and Sophia (Frei6e^ 
Pammel, who were born, reared and married 
in Germany. In 1852 they came to the United 
States, and after two years' residence in Mil- 
waukee they settled in La Crosse, the father's 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



279 



business at that time being tliat of a butcher. 
He is now residing on a farm in La Crosse 
county, which is under the management of a 
son, Herman A. It is one of tlie largest and 
best farms in the county, and a large portion 
of it is given to stock-raising, which has 
proven a protitable industry. The father was 
County Commissioner for about fifteen years, 
and although somewhat advanced in years is 
still interested in the welfare of this section. 
He is thoroughly conversant with the hard- 
ships and deprivations incident to the Wis- 
consin pioneer, and thoroughly sympathizes 
with those who have to tight the battle of 
life with limited means. He and his worthy 
wife thoroughly enjoy their comfortable home, 
and the knowledge that it has been honestly 
earned by their own efforts, is sweet to them. 
Mr. Pammel is sixty- two years of age, and 
Ins wife is fifty-eight. They reared the fol- 
lowing family of children: Matilda, wife of 
Louis Koch, a market gardener and the owner 
of a small farm; Professor Louis PL, who is 
Professor of Botany in the Iowa State Agri- 
cultural College, his wife being Gussie Emrael 
of Chicago; G. J.; Herman H., who is the 
manager of his father's stock farm; Dora, a 
graduate of the La Crosse high school, and 
Emma, attending the Iowa Agricultural Col- 
lege. 

G. J. Pammel was educated in La Crosse, 
and for four years traveled for the dry-goods 
firm of Emil Freise & Co., Chicago, of which 
firm he was junior member for five years. 
On January 15, 1891, he entered upon his 
present business, his district containing tlie 
counties of La Crosse, Trempealeau, Buffalo, 
Jackson, Monroe, Vernon, Richland, Craw- 
ford, and Juneau. He is succeeding admira 
bly in this new enterprise and has every 
promise of a bright future before him. 

Jnne 3, 188-t, he was married to Miss 
Emma Burmeister, daughter of Henry Bur- 



meister of Chicago, a retired merchant who 
is still living. They have one child, Henry 
Louis, a bright and promising little lad. Mr. 
Pammel is a member of the Kniehts of 
Pythias, was a member of the Grand Lodge 
of Illinois, for two years; the order of the 
Iron Hall; the Deutscher Verein, and the La 
Crosse Turngemeinde. He is secretary of 
the Fire Department of the city. He takes 
little interest in politics, but usually votes for 
whomsoever he considers the best man. In 
business he has been eminently successful, is 
thoroughly efficient in the discharge of his 
duties, and uniformly courteous and obliging 
in his methods, a secret doubtless of his 



success. 



-^}^ 



A. KREBAUM, contractor for plumb- 
ing and steam heating apparatus, is 
'* the president of the Builders' Ex- 
change of La Ci-osse, and is a prominent 
member of the commercial cii'cles in La 
Crosse county. He is a native of the State 
of Illinois, born in Lewistown, Fulton county, 
in 1860. His parents are Fred and Sybil 
Krebaum, some of whose ancestors came from 
Germany. His father was a farmer by occu- 
pation and emigrated to America in 1835, 
sailing from Bremen. 

Mr. Krebaum passed his youth at Havana, 
Illinois, and at the age of nineteen years 
began to serve an apprenticeship to the busi- 
ness which he has since followed. For this 
purpose he went to Peoria, Illinois, and at 
the expiration of his apprenticeship he worked 
for one year as a journeyman. He afterward 
spent a short time in Lincoln, Nebraska, and 
from tiiat city went to Chicago, where he re- 
mained two and a half years; there he was 
engaged in the plumbing business until 
1885. when he accepted a position with W. 



280 



BIOORAFHICAL HISTORY. 



A. Roosevelt and came to La Crosse. In the 
February following he became one of the in- 
corporators of the Roosevelt Company, and 
remained with this organization for one year. 
He then withdrew to enter into business re 
lations with D. J. Slattery, the firm name 
being Krebaum & Slattery. At the end of 
live months Mr. Krebaum purchased his 
partner's interest and since then has con- 
ducted the business alone. Among the mauy 
buildings he has furnished with heating ap- 
paratus may be mentioned St. Ann's Orphan- 
age, St. Francis' Ilospital, and many of the 
most elegant residences of the city. He has 
recently purchased the City Steam Laundi-y, 
and is about to enlarge it and move it to 
Main street. 

Upon tiie organization of the Builders' 
Exchange Mr. Krebaum gave that enterprise 
a very cordial support, and assisted materially 
in perfecting its incorporation. lie had the 
honor to be elected its first president, an 
office he still holds. 



JMIL ERNEST KOWALKE, Alderman 
for the seventeenth ward of La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, has been a resident of the 
city since his childhood. He was born at 
Dantzig, Prussia, August 23, 1861, and is a 
son of Louis and Carolina (Gillmeister) Ko 
walkc. His parents emigrated to America in 
1807, landing in the city of New York. 
Thence they continued their journey to La 
Crosse, where they resided twenty-two years; 
they then went to Minneapolis, Minnesota. 
The father is a carpenter and contractor. 
The family consists of four sons and two 
daughters, two sous and a daughter bavins 
been born in Prussia. Emil Ernest passed 
his youth in this city, and when he left 
school went to learn the trade of a millwright. 



He followed this occupation throughout the 
Western part of this country, returning to 
La Crosse in 1883, when he engaged in the 
grocery trade. He has won a fair patronage, 
and has every prospect of the most satisfact- 
ory results. 

Our subject is serving his first term as 
Alderman for his ward and has discharged 
the duties which have devolved upon him in 
a manner reflecting great credit upon him 
and upon his constituency. He is a member 
of the Sons of Hermann, of the Third Ward 
Aid Society, of which he is treasurer, and of 
the Governor's Guard. 

Mr. Kowalke was united in marriage to 
Miss Minnie Bauer of this city, a daughter 
of George and Theresa (Neumeister) Bauer, 
natives of Bavaria and Austria respectively. 



-^^>yi/l/l/' 



•Z/irw.^^ 



fOHN JOSEPH STANEK, marble and 
granite worker, La Crosse, is interested 
in one of the most important industries 
of the city. He was born in Illmau, Austria, 
October 24, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and 
Catherine (Schaufler) Stanek. His parents 
bade farewell to their native land, crossed the 
sea to America in 1865, and after their ar- 
rival here settled at Winona, Minnesota. 
There they lived four years and then went to 
Chicago, remaining in that city two years. 
At the end of that period they came to La 
Crosse, where the father has followed his 
trade of stone mason ; he is also a plasterer, 
and has carried on a prosperous business in 
his adopted country. 

The family consists of three children: 
Frank, the eldest, is a brick mason by trade; 
Mary is the wife of Frank Padecky, a ma- 
chinist of La Crosse; John Joseph, the sub- 
ject of this notice, grew to maturity in La 
Crosse, and here learned the trade of marble 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



281 



and granite worker. In 1887 he opened a 
business on his own account, which lie has 
conducted with marked success; his sys- 
tematic methods and his liigli and honorable 
dealing have made a place for him in com- 
mercial circles of which any man might be 
proud. 

Mr. Stanek was married in this city to 
Miss Clara KoUer, a daughter of Michael and 
Christina (Hafenbratel) Koller, who emi 
grated to America in 18 — , and settled in 
the State of Indiana, but later on removed to 
La Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Stanek are the 
l>arent8 of two daughters, Delia M. and Helen 
M., and one son, Victor L. They are both 
members of the Roman Catholic Church, 
belonging to the congregation of St. 
Joseph. Mr. Stanek is a member of the 
choir, and also belongs to the Catholic Knights 
of America. 

|ICHARD T. DAVIS is a member of 
I the firm of Davis, Sorenson & Co.. 
contractors and builders, La Crosse, 
Wisconsin. He is a native of the State of 
Wisconsin, born at Madison, September 23, 
1847, and is a son of Richard T. Davis, Sr. 
His father was a native of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, and wa? a carpenter by occu- 
pation. In 1836 he removed to Wisconsin 
and settled in Madison. He was united in 
marriage, at Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Miss 
Harriet Maples, whose death occurred when 
our subject was nine years of age. Richard 
T., Jr., was educated in Madison, and at the 
age of fourteen years he went to learn the 
carpenter's trade. After serving his ap- 
prenticeship he worked as a journeyman 
until the breaking out of the civil war. He 
enlisted and worked at his trade in the 
service of the United States Government 



until the close of hostilities. From 1882 to 
1885 he was employed in the construction of 
the State University, and during this time 
he gave some instruction in carpentry and 
wood-work. 

In 1887 Mr. Davis formed a partnership 
with Mr. Sorrensen, and they came to La 
Crosse and established their present plant. 
They give employment to about thirty 
skilled workmen, and do an annual business 
of $300,000. They make a specialty of 
side-boards, mantels, store and bar fixtures, 
and tine hard-wood work. Mr. Davis assisted 
in the organization of the Builders' Exchange 
and has been one of its most energetic sup- 
porters. 

He was united in marriage, in Madison, 
Wisconsin, to Miss Annie Leonard, of that 
city, a daughter of Michael and Margaret 
Leonard. Of this union three sons and four 
daughters have been born: Hattie, Maud, 
Mary, Annie, Tunis, Loyd and Harry. 

H. PUTNAM.— It will be unani- 
mously conceded that the well ap- 
* pointed restaurant fills an imjiortant 
niche in the sum total of any city's acquisi- 
tions, and it is in such connection that due 
mention is made of the establishment be- 
longing to Mr. Putnam, which is located at 
205 Pearl street, La Crosse, Wisconsin. He 
is one of the pioneer settlers of the county, 
but was born at Ogdetisburgh, New York, 
in 1834, his parents, Isaac and Mary (Dual) 
Putnam, being natives of Herkimer county, 
that State. In 1854 they came to La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, and, altera short residence 
in the town, removed to Sparta, where they 
are still residing, the father being seventy- 
eight years of age, and the mother seventy- 
seven years old. C. H. Putnam assisted his 



282 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



fatlier until April, 1861, when he enlisted in 
Company I, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, 
beincf the second man to volunteer I'rom 
Sparta. His services, however, were rejected 
on account of his being under age, but he 
soon after enlisted in the Tiiird Wisconsin 
Cavalry, with which he served until dis- 
ciiarged, February, 1863, on account of 
wounds received in the railroad wreck of 
March 29, 1862, near Chicago, Illinois. After 
recovering, he, in the fall of 1863, enlisted 
in the Twenty-tilth Wisconsin Infantry, com- 
manded by Colonel Jeremiah Kusk, present 
Secretary of Agriculture, and served with 
that regiment until the first months of 1865, 
when he was transferred to the Twelfth Wis- 
consin Infantry, with which he remained 
until mustered out of the service in 1865. 
lie was with General Sherman on his march 
to the sea. He was wounded in the knee by 
a niinie ball in the peach orchard in front of 
Kenesaw Mountain in Georgia, and carries 
the scar to this day. tie took part in the 
grand review of troops at Washington, Dis- 
trict of Columbia, and after arriving home 
was married to Miss Sarah M. Smith, daugh- 
ter of K. G. and Katie (Schimmerhorn) 
Smith, both natives of New York. The 
father died in 1877, and the mother died 
February 29, 1892, at Sparta, being in her 
ninety-first year. After his marriage Mr. 
Putnam followed farming for one year, after 
which he began dealing in windmills and 
pumps, which business occupied his time 
and attention until 1885, after which he 
opened a restaurant at Menominee, where he 
remained three years. Upon selling out he 
moved to Eau Claire, where he was engaged 
in the confectionery business, but since 1890 
has been iu his present business in La Crosse. 
His place of business is near the Burlington 
& Northern passenger depot, and Mr. Put- 
nam has built up a good trade. He and his 



wife have two daughtero: Frances M., born 
in 1868, now the wife of W. D. Patterson, 
who is city electrician at Beloit, Wisconsin, 
managing the electric lighting of that city; 
they have one daughter, Juiietta; and Kate, 
who was born in Eau Claire in 1882. Mr. 
Putnam is a popular member of the Wilson 
Colwell Post of the G. A. R., and has been 
a life-long Democrat. He is one of the old 
residents of the county, and has seen La 
Crosse grow from a hamlet of si.xty holises 
to a city of 35,000 inhai)itants. His mater- 
nal grandfather was engaged in the Patterson 
war in Canada, and was captured at the 
battle of the Windmill and banished to Van 
Diemen's Land with a number of other 
prisoners. They secured their release by 
capturing a band of pirates. While in cap- 
tivity he was chained to the deck, and his 
bonds were drawn so tight that the blood- 
vessels of his limbs were ruptured, for which 
disability he received a pension nntil his 
death in 1858. Alter being released he 
reached his home in 1847. 



Ij^^ANIEL B. HARRISON, who is recog- 
nized as one of the most efficient painters 
and decorators of La Crosse, was born in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, August 8, 1842, and is a 
son of William and Eliza (Looker) Harrison. 
The father was born at Brush Creek in south- 
eastern Ohio, near the Ohio river, April 8, 
1807. His parents were Richard and Fanny 
(Blyde) Harrison, natives of London, Eng- 
land ; they emigrated to America shortly after 
the Revolutionary war, and eventually settled 
in Cincinnati, Ohio, where they passed the 
remainder of their lives. Richard Harrison 
held a Government position in London, and 
after coming to America engiged iu teaching 
school for many years; he then followed agri- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT. 



283 



culture, and the latter years of his life retired 
to his home in Cincinnati; he there gave some 
attei)tion to the manufacture of musical instru- 
ments, such as violins and other stringed 
pieces. He and his wife both died in the 
fnll faith of the Baptist Church. William 
Harrison, son of the above, grew to maturity 
in Cincinnati, and tiiere served an apprentice- 
ship as a painter and furniture finisher. In 
1854 he made a trip to La Crosse, and after- 
ward removed to the place and located per- 
manently. He was married in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, to Miss Eliza Looker, a native of Har- 
rison county, Ohio, born about the year 1810; 
slie was a daughter of Samuel and Hannah 
(Irwin) Looker, and her paternal grandfather 
was Judge Orthwell Looker of Ohio. Mrs. 
Harrison was a faithful and consistent mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church. July 26, 18S0, 
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison celebrated the fiftieth 
anniversary of their marriage at their resid- 
ence, corner of Cameron avenue and Fourth 
street. 

Daniel B. Harrison lived in Cincinnati un- 
til 1857, when the father removed with his 
family to La Crosse; here he com])leted his 
apprenticeship to the painter's and decorator's 
trade, and from that time has been promin- 
ently identified with the craft. 

He was married at Tomah, Wisconsin, to 
Miss Flora M. King, a native of Massachu- 
setts and a daughter of Charles W. and Lucy 
M. (Gartield) King, who were also natives 
of the old Bay State, and whose ancestors 
were members of the early CDlonies of New 
England; they removed to Wisconsin about 
1867. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are the parents 
of five sons and one daughter: Charles King, 
a decorator; Alfred Walter, Edwin Garfield, 
and Gertrude May; Arthur and Benjamin 
are both deceased. 

Mr. Harrison is a member of the Builders' 
Exchange. In 1864 he enlisted in the service 



of the Union, joining Company G, Fortieth 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was 
through the Tennessee Campaign, and was 
honorably discharged at the close of the war. 
He is a member of the G. A. R. and takes an 
active interest in sustaining this organization. 
He and his wife, two elder sons and daughter, 
belong to the First Baptist Church, with 
which he has had an official connection for 
several years. 



RI SORENSON, a member of the firm 
of Davis, Sorenson & Co., is justly en - 
^ titled to a space in this record of the 
leading, substantial men of the county. He 
was born at Madison, Wisconsin, November 
12, 1856, and is a son of David T. and Wil- 
helmina (Petersen) Sorenson, natives of 
Copenhagen, Denmark. The United States 
presenting many attractions and promising 
many opportunities not afforded by the Old 
World, the parents of our subject bade fare- 
well to their iiome and friends and native 
land, and crossed the ocean to America about 
the year 1850, settling in Madison, Wiscon- 
sin. The father was a contractor by trade, 
and followed this occupation for many years. 
He and his wife reared a family of two sons 
and three daughters. 

Ori Sorenson acquired a good education in 
the common schools and learned the carpen- 
ter's trade. He worked as a journeyman for 
several years, and then formed a partnersiiip 
with Mr. Davis, establishing their present 
business; they have accomplished most satis- 
factory results, and are building up a trade 
second to none in the county. 

Mr. Sorenson was married in Madison, 
Wisconsin, to Miss Eva Rounds, a native of 
the State of New York, and of this union 
three sons have been born, named: Clarence, 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



Fred anrl Edward; the two last are twins. 
Our subject is a member of tlie Builders' E.x- 
cliange of La Crosse, and lielongs to the 
Masonic fraternity, of which ho is a Worthy 
Sir Kniijiit. 



fACOB J. SMITH, M. D., wlio has been 
a resident of La Crosse since 1887, is 
the subject of the following brief bio- 
grapiiieal sketcli. He was born at Middle- 
town, Juniata county, Pennsylvania, Febru- 
ary 9, 1839, and is a son of Jacob and 
Catherine (Jontz) Smith, natives of the Key- 
stone State, of (ierman ancestry. They 
removed to South Bend, Indiana, in 1843, 
and there papsed the remainder of their days; 
the mother died in the fall of 1852, and the 
fatlier two weeks later. They reared a family 
of live children: the eldest, Sarah A., mar- 
ried F. A. Howe, who was accidentally killed 
in 1857; Kosa H. married T. G. L. Pope, 
and resides at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Abraham 
H. and Jacob J. are twins, the former being 
a resident of Memphis, Tennessee; Ciiristian, 
the youngest of tlie family, was drowned 
while bathing in Lake Michigan, at Evanston, 
Illinois; he was, at the time of his death, a 
student at the Northwestern University, and 
was fitting himself for the ministry. 

Dr. Smith was reared on bis father's farm 
at South Bend, Indiana, and at the age of 
eighteen years he entered Wesloyan Seminary, 
at Albion, Michigan, where he continued his 
studies two years; he then spent four years 
reading under the preceptorship of Dr. J. M. 
Stover, at South Bend, and at the end of that 
period went to Ann Arbor and took a course 
of lectures in the University of Michigan; 
he next went to Philadelphia, entered Jeffer- 
son Medical College, and was graduated from 
this honored institution in March, 1864. In 



that same month he received a commission 
as Acting Assistant Surgeon in the United 
States Navy; he was ordered to the West 
Gulf Squadron, under command of Admiral 
Farragut, and served until the end of the 
war. He was Assistant Surgeon of the 
United States Steamship Owasco, and was 
temporarily attached to the naval hospital 
at Pensacola, Florida. In caring for the 
wounded after the battles of Forts Morgan 
and Gaines, the Doctor had the honor of 
dressing the wounds of Admiral Buchanan, 
who was at the head of the Confederate Navy; 
he says the Admiral was a gentleman if he 
were a rebel. The last part of his term of 
service was spent in a blockade squadron at 
sea, doing duty in the West Gulf Squadron. 
He participated in the capture of three 
blockade-runners off the coast of Texas, and 
took part in the distribution of prize money. 
Upon the close of the war he was ordered to 
the New York Navy Yards, where he was 
granted a three months' leave of absence with 
full pay. He received his final discharge 
from the service at South Bend, Indiana, 
November 15, 1865. 

Dr. Smith practiced medicine at South 
Bend for two years, and at the same time was 
physician to the female portion of the pupils 
at Notre Dame University. In May, 1867, 
he was married to Miss Rebecca J. Hyde, a 
native of Ohio, and at the time of her mar- 
riage a resident of Middlebur}', Indiana. 
They are tiie parents of four children: Jesse 
E., b^rn in 1868; William E., in 1869; Bessie 
E., in 1876, and Mamie A., in 1881. Jesse 
E. is established in business at Middlebury, 
Indiana. The Doctor continued his practice 
in Indiana until 1881, when he removed to 
Kendall, Monroe county, Wisconsin, where 
he remained six years. He then came to Li 
Crosse in 1887, and during the time of his 
residence here he has won a fair practice. 





^^J2ik__ 



BTOOBAPJWAL B78T0RY. 



283 



He is a inetiiber of tlie Masonic order, and 
of John Flynn Post No. 77, G. A. R.. The 
father, motlier and daughter Bessie are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Sniitli 
belono^s to the W. C. T. U., and takes a deep 
interest in its prosperity. 



i-i • " in 



fOSEPH W. SKINNER was born at Troy, 
Ohio, October 22, 1860. The death of 
his parents which occurred in his child- 
hood, left him almost alone in the world 
and threw him upon his own resources. By 
energy and perseverance he secured a good 
education, and at the age of twenty-one years 
he started out on the road as a traveling sales- 
man. He was thus employed for si.x years, 
during which time he visited nearly every 
State in the Union. In March, 1887, he 
came to La Crosse and took up liis permament 
residence here, having purchased the patent of 
the Monroe Ink Eraser. He at once besjan 
the manufacture of this little article, which 
was destined to become a friend to thousands 
of writers, book-keepers, accountants, and 
business men in general. This is the only 
eraser yet invented that will remove any kind 
of ink from paper without any abrasion or in- 
jury to the most delicate surface. 

At the time Mr. Skinner purchased this pa- 
tent, the eraser had been manufactured in a 
small way for several months, but it remained 
for him to place it upon the market of the 
world. After making a few changes to im- 
prove its appearance, he established a factor}' 
and began his system of advertising. Under 
his skillful management the success of the 
manufacture was phenomenal, and to-day the 
trade in this simple pi-oduct e.\tends through- 
out the civilized world, and carries the name 
of La Crosse to evei'y quarter of the globe. 
There are orders from Aberdeen, Glasgow, 

20 



Munich, Berlin, Constantinople, London, 
Paris, Bombay, Havana, Melbourne, Sydney? 
city of Mexico, Rio Janeiro, Valparaiso, and 
many cities throughout the Americas, West 
Indies, England, and the Eastern continent. 
Mr. Skinner also owns a number of other 
patents on useful articles, and is a promoter 
of useful inventions for patentees; and he is 
also entrusted with other business enter- 
prises in tlie city. 

The offices of the business are the finest in 
La Crosse, and active minds and busy hands 
keep the system moving in perfect order. 
The correspondence averages from four to five 
hundred letters per day, requiring a force of 
ten to twelve clerks. The advertisincr ex- 
penses amount to $1,000 per week. 

Mr. Skinner is quite a traveler, and has 
lately returned from a four months' business 
and pleasure trip to Europe, where he has 
completed arrangements for the establishment 
of branch houses to supply the growing 
European trade. He is a lover of all the Kne 
arts, and manages to steal from the cares of 
business time to gratify a refined and culti- 
vated taste. He is too liberal and is possessed 
of too many generous impulses ever to be- 
come avaricious, and believes that the use of 
money is its only good. He is genial, court- 
eous, of manly bearing, and possessed of 
straightforward business principles which 
have established his reputation for honorable 
and upright dealing. He enjoys the warm 
friendship of all his associates, and is already 
one of the leaders in the social and business 
circles of La Crosse. 

fESSE B. WILLIAMS, -manager of the 
firm of Williams & Turnbnll, dealers in 
new and second-hand furniture on Pearl 
street, is the son of Jesse and Aurelia 



28G 



BIOORA Pd I CAL HISTOR Y. 



(Wakely) Williams, natives of Rutland coun- 
ty, Vermont. The father was a farmer and 
followed this occupation until his death when 
about fifty Hve years of age. Of the eleven 
chihiren born to this union only one, Jesse 
15. Wiiliiiins, is now living. The latter's 
hirtli occurred in (Traud Island county, Ver- 
mont, May 10, 1820, and he was not yet 
three years old when his father died. On 
the 7tli of April, 1857, ho came from St. 
Lawrence county, New York, to Portage City, 
Wisconsin, and began working at the black- 
smith trade until his family came in the fall 
of 1856. He then worked on what is now 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and 
in 1858 moved to Sparta, where, only a few 
days later, he and a Mr. Stewart took a con- 
tract to build ten miles of railroad from 
Mendota towards Shakopee. They were the 
first ones to break dirt for a railroad in 
Minnesota. After this tliey went on the 
Northern Pacific and built five miles on the 
upper end of the sixty-two and a half miles 
out from St. Paul. They came to La Crosse 
in 1858, but were gone much of the time 
until their contract was completed. After- 
ward Mr. Willia'ns left his family in LaCrosse 
and went to Alississippi where he and Mr. 
A. Hobert, built two miles on the Baltimore 
et Ohio Railroad. The war then broke out 
and he lost heavily. His health failed too, 
and he returned to La Crosse where he has 
re.-iued since. He was engaged in the feed 
business until his store was destroyed by fire 
in December, 1865, and he lost everything 
but a few clothes that the family wore. 
The insurance was about $300. After this 
he was Deputy Sheriff for one term, was on 
the police force for three years as a special, 
boarded the prisoners for two years, and was 
Constable for more than twelve years. He 
was also a collection agent for five j'ears, 
then an auctioneer for three years and 



finally drifted into the second-iiand and 
new furniture business, of wliich he is 
now manager. He was wedded on the 17th 
of January, 1847, to Miss Lucia Kimpton, 
from Franklin county, Vermont, and the 
result of this marriage was the birth of two 
children: George W., a steamboat engineer, 
who lias resided in Dubuque, Iowa, for two 
years, and who now runs the Standard Lum- 
ber Company engine in that city. His wife's 
name was Miss Edna Soule and his son's 
name is B. Fay. The daughter of our sub- 
ject, Georgia, became the wife of Frank 
Smith, of Jauesville. She died November 
27, 1875, when about twenty-three years of 
age. Mr. Williams is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and is class- 
leader and steward in tlie same. He is a 
member of the A. O. U. W. and Chosen 
Friends, and in politics is a Prohibitionist. 



B. EWER, La Crosse, Wisconsin. He 
was originally from Essex county, 
* New York, his birth occurrincj on the 
2 1st of February, 18-18, and his parents, 
Jesse and Angeline (Griswold) Ewer, were 
natives of Vermont. The father was a painter 
by trade and followed that for forty years. 
He came from New York to Wisconsin in 
1853, settled in the city of Sheboygan and 
there followed his trade until his death in 

1887. He and wife were members of the 
Congregational Church. Tlio mother died in 

1888. There were three children in this 
family: Edward P., the eldest; a sister, who 
died in infancy, and A. B. Edward P. re- 
sides at Sheboygan, Wisconsin, an agent for 
the Goodrich Steamboat Company. He mar- 
rie 1 and became the father of three children: 
Chester, Evangeline, and Nellie; Nellie, the 
youngest child, died July, 1891, when about 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI6T0RY. 



287 



fifteen years of age. The Ewers were among 
tlie early settlers of "Wisconsin and knew 
laucli of the trials and privations incident to 
pioneer life. A. B. Ewer, snhject of this 
sketch, was educated in the public schools of 
Sheboygan, and when thirteen years of age 
began for himself as clerk in a dry-goods 
store. He has followed clerkiiu and book- 
keeping up to the present time and no efforts 
on his part has been spire I to give satisfac- 
tion. He so'd goods on the road for several 
diflfereut firms, and was quite successful. He 
was married May, 1878, to Miss Susan 
Girard, daughter of James and Eunice 
(Knowles) Girard. The Girard and Knowles 
families are old and prominent ones and 
trace their ancestors back to the Mayflower. 
Mrs. Girard, being a direct descendant of 
Dr. Samuel Fuller, who came over in the 
Mayflower in 1620. The Girards are related 
to the Girard family of England, great cotton 
tnanufacturers there. Mrs. Ewer is the only 
one of that family now living, her father hav- 
ing died in 1866. The mother is still living, 
is fifty-eight years of age, and makes her 
home with our subject and wife. She has 
been an honored and highly respected citizen 
of Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, for many 
years. She is related to Supreme Judge 
Fuller of the United States and to the 
Spragues of Rhode Island. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Ewer has been born one child, Girard, a bright 
little lad of thirteen summers. Both parents 
are members of the Universalist Church. 
Mr. Ewer is a member of the Masonic order, 
the Modern Woodmen of America, and in 
politics is a Republican. Simon Knowles, 
Mrs. Ewer's maternal grandfather, was in 
the war of 1812 and drew a pension until his 
death for services there rendered. Simon's 
father took part in the Revolutionary war 
and his grandfather fouorht in the French 



and Indian war, and was killed in the 
battleon Lake Champlaiii. He is buried on 
one of the islands in that lake. 



pi^flLLIAM PENN MORTON, veter- 
"'ll inary surgeon, 505 South Fifth 
^ street, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was 
born in Buffalo, New York, May 1, 1846, and 
is a son of William Morton, a native of Eng- 
land; his father was killed accidentally while 
superintending the driving of piles on the 
dock at Buffalo, New York, at the age of 
twenty-eight years; his mother was a native 
of Ireland ; after her husband's death she re- 
moved her family of two children to Chautau- 
qua county. New York, remaining there four 
years; at the end of that time she went to 
Warren county, Pennsylvania, and there mar- 
ried Proctor Morton, and is now a resident 
of Sugar Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania. 
David Morton, the brother of our subj^^ct, 
resides at Pittsfield, Pennsylvania, and is a 
veterinary surgeon by profession. William 
Penn Morton received his education at Pan- 
ama, New York, and in Warren county, 
Pennsylvania. He was a student at Panama 
two years after he was discharged from the 
army, and at the age of seventeen years began 
practicing veterinary surgery. A fanner in 
the neigiiborhood had a colt with crooked 
legs, and he gave him a week's work for the 
animal; he cured the colt and sold it for $30 
in the fall, which was considered a large price 
at that time. From this time he followed 
the business without special training until 
1886. In that year he entered the Veterinary 
College at Toronto, Canada, studied there a 
short time, and then went to Chicago; he 
studied in the veterinary college of that 
city, and was graduated at the end of two 



388 



BIOGRM'HICAL IIISTOItr. 



yeans from one of the iMost popular i.:stitn- 
tions ill the country. Ijef'ore goincr to Chi- 
caojo he had been located at New Richmond, 
Wisconsin, and after his graduation he re- 
turned to tiiat place, reniaininij; about one 
year before coming to La (^rosse. Here he 
has won a fine practice, being regularly em- 
ployed by many of the most influential citi- 
zens of the place. He owns a pleasant home, 
and an office where he keeps a complete stock 
of the drugs needed in his profession, lie 
also owns an intirinary capable of accom- 
modating forty-eight horses, and is excep- 
tionally equipped for his work; he has $500 
worth of instruments, and prides himself 
upon being able to perform any operation 
known to the profession. He trains and edu- 
cates vicious horses, and has been more than 
ordinarily successful in this line. His busi- 
ness has increased to such an extent that he 
has been obliged to call to his assistance 
J'rof. W. P. l''reeman, from Parish, New 
Jersey, a native of Jersey City and a graduate 
of the Chicago Veterinary ( 'ollege. 

Dr. Morton was united in marriage De- 
cember 25, 1888, to Miss Eva Frank, who was 
born in Niagara Falls, New York, May 10, 
1862. Politically he affiliates with tlie 
Kepublican party. In March, 1864, he en- 
listed in Battery II, Third Pennsylvania Light 
Artillery, and served until July, 1865. He 
is a member of the G. A. R. lie has held 
the various township offices, and is a standi 
supporter of liome interests. Mrs. Morton 
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



[AMUEL B. PATTERSON, veterinary 
surgeon, with office at Clark & Clark's 
barn, La (Jrosse, was born in Butler 
county, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1862, a son 



of Alexander and Rebecca (Beatty) Patterson, 
natives of county Derry, Ireland, who came 
to America with their parents when children, 
settling in Pittsburg, and finally removing to 
Butler county. In his parents' family were 
the following named children in order of 
birth: Margaret F. (deceased in 1884); George 
W., Samuel H., Alexander S., Rebecca and 
Mary. 

In veterinary medicine and surgery Mr. 
I'atterson spent four years under the tutor- 
ship of A. J. Ilerrick, of Stillwater and a 
graduate of New York College and River 
Falls, Wisconsin. He has superior capacity 
for observing and drawing lessons from ex- 
perience, of which he has had a great deal. 
He first started in business on his own ac- 
count in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, where he 
i-eiiiained about four years. Moving to River 
Falls he engaged in practice in companj' with 
Dr. Morton. A year afterward, that is, in 
June, 1890, he came to La Crosse, where he 
is enjoying a good patronage, which he well 
deserves by his industry, honesty, thorough 
knowledge and reasonable prices. For sev- 
eral years he has made a special study of the 
diseases of cattle and horses. 



-^^hTL/'L'V-- 



l/xry^^^ 



rtHE LA CROSSE FLOUR AND 
FEED COMPANY is one of the 
]irosperous enterprises of this city, and 
the individual members of the same are 
Frederick Schwarz and Frederick T. Heinken. 
Mr. Schwarz was born in Germany, in 1840, 
and came to the States in 1881, settling first 
in Hokah, Minnesota, where he remained 
only a few months. From there he removed 
to Onalaska, Wisconsin, and bought a farm, 
on which he resided for three years. In 
1885 he sold this and bought ten acres of 
land in the town of Shelby, adjoining the 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



283 



city limits of La Crosse, on which he bniit 
two houses and set out a vineyard. In No- 
vember, 1891, Mr. Schwarz associated him- 
self with Mr. Fred. T. Ileinken in the ilour 
and feed business in the city of La Crosse. 
He was married in 1866, to Miss Ida Michaelis, 
a native also of Germany, and they have one 
dauf^hter. Bertha, who is now the wife of 
Fred. T. Ileinken, of La Crosse. The family 
are members of the Lutheran Ciuircli. 
Frederick T. Heinken was born in Germany 
in 1863, to the union of Jolin Henry and 
Fredereka Heinken, natives also of that coun- 
try. The father died in 1865, but the 
mother is still living in Germany. Mr. 
Heinken came to the United States in 1886, 
and has visited nearly every State in the 
Union since his arrival here. In July, 1891, 
he settled in La Crosse, and was married on 
the 25th of that month. Miss Bertha Schwarz, 
daughter of his partner. The iirm is com- 
posed of two very active, energetic and push- 
ing men, with capital enough for their 
business, and prospects of a successful 
future. 



— -^-^^ 



s+"-»~ 



IHRISTIAN F. SCHARPF, a native of 
iW$vt Wiirttemberg, Germany, was born July 
19, 1836, and is a son of John G. and 
Barbara (Gleser) Scharpf. He passed his 
boyhood and youth upon a farm, and was also 
early initiated into the mysteries of the 
weaver's trade. At the age of fifteen years, 
witli a fair education, he was thrown upon 
his own resources, and since that time he has 
not known what it is to depend upon the 
efforts of another. In 1852 the family emi- 
grated to A merica, and he stopped at Galena, 
Illinois, intending to learn the tailor's trade; 
he devoted one year to this calling, and then 
came to La Crosse where he has since made 



his home. He first went to work for his 
brother George at the trade, but at the end 
of six months abandoned the vocation alto- 
getiier, and engaged with Jolm C. Fiihr to 
learn the tinner's trade. After serving an 
apprenticeship took a position as foreman 
for Tenney, Oatman &, Company, remaining 
with this Hrm seven years. In 1862 he em- 
barked in business for himself, forming a 
partnership with George Edwards, in the 
hardware and tin business; they were associ- 
ated together two years, when Mr. Edwards 
retired, being succeeded by Fred Kroner; 
two years later Charles H. Bunting formed a 
partnership with Mr. Scharpf, which existed 
four years. He was then alone for some 
time, and in 1875 he went into business with 
Fred King, with wliom he was connected un- 
til 1881, Mr. Ring then being succeded by 
Y. Tausche, the latter buying Mr. Scharpf's 
interest in 1888. Mr. Scharpf is to a great 
extent the father of the hardware business in 
La Crosse, tlie following gentlemen having 
been associated with him for a greater or less 
period of time; all of them are active mer- 
chants in that line: Fred Dittman, Fred 
Kroner, Frank Doerre, Digo Lang, Adam 
Butch, V. Tausche, and many others. 

When Mr. Scharpf withdrew from the firm 
in 1888 he intended to retire from active 
business, but so many years of responsibility 
had unfitted him for a life from which all 
possibilities of achievement were withdrawn. 
He, therefore, embarked in the same line of 
trade and operated a business until the spring 
of 1891, when he sold his interest, his health 
rendering it necessary for him to have some 
release from close application- He has been 
an indefatigable worker, and has amassed a 
handsome fortune. He is a self-made man, 
and has truly been tlie architect of his own 
fortunes. His cash capital when he came to 
La Crosse was a quarter of a dollar, but this 



iOO 



BIOOMAPniCAL niHToRY. 



was strongly suppleiiiented by the endcw- 
iiients of iiatur(\ Politically \w is a Repub- 
lican, and is serving his first term as Com- 
missioner of the Poor, an otiice to which he 
was elected by the Council. He is a member 
of La Crosse Valley Lodge, JNo. 149. I. O. O. 
F., and is Secretary of tlie same. He also 
was tlie leading sjiirit in securing funds for 
the erection of the L O. O. F. building. He 
belongs to Frontier Lodge, No. 45, A. F. & 
A. M., Smith Chapter, JSo. 13, R. A. M., 
and lia Crosse Cominandcry, No. 9, K. T. ; 
he is Treasurer of the blue lodge, and for 
eighteen years was Treasurer of the comman- 
dery; he has in his possession a letter from 
tlie last named body, expressing the appreci- 
ation and esteem in which his services were 
held. He has been a member of the La Crosse 
Turner Society for thirty-five years, and has 
held many ofticial positions in the same. He 
is also a member of the La Crosse Board of 
Trade. 

Mr. Scharpf was married January 14, 1806, 
to Miss Julia H. Pfund, a native of Switzer- 
land, born March 18, 1848. Mrs. Scharpf 
was brought to America at the age of eiglit 
years. Of this union ninechildren have been 
born, six of them living: Julia, wife of Charles 
Liudeman, of Milwaukee; Bertha, Herman C, 
Albert, Hilda and Freaa. The family are 
members of the Lutheran Church; all are well 
educated, and fully abreast of the times in all 
lines of thought and action. 

fOHN JONES, deceased, who was widely 
and favorably known in La Crosse 
county, was born in Wales, a son of 
Tliomas and Sarah Jones. He was the oldest 
of a famdy of tlirce children, the younger 
membersof the family being ]\[ary and David; 
Evan Jones was a half brother to these chil- 



dren. Our subject was a carpenter and con- 
tractor by trade, and in later yeans gave some 
attention to farming; this occupation soon 
engrossed his time to the exclusion of his 
trade. 

In 1889 lie was united in marriage to Miss 
Mary Morris, a daughter of Samuel and 
Hannah (Jones) Morris, and the second of a 
family of twelve children. In 1842 they 
emigrated to America and settled in Licking 
county, Ohio, where they resided until 1847. 
In that year they removed to Canada, and for 
eight yeai's made it their home. During tliis 
time Mr. Jones worked at his trade, and also 
carried on a general farming business. In 
1855 they returned to the United States, set- 
tling on a farm in La Crosse county, Wiscon- 
sin; this land was situated in Hamilton 
township, the tract covering eighty acres; 
this Mr. Jones improved, and as his means 
permitted, made additions to it, until at the 
time of his death he owned 220 acres of as 
good land as lies within the borders of La 
Crosse county. The farm is well ad-apted to 
stock and grain, and produces any crop that 
can be grown in this Itaitude. 

The death of this worthy citizen occurred 
May 7, 1883, at the age of seventy-two years. 
In his religious faith he was a Unitarian, 
and he lived a consistent life according to 
this belief. He was a man of higii and hon- 
orable principles, was possessed of superior 
business qualifications, and was held in great 
regard by the entire community. His widow 
is still living, at the age of seventy-two years. 
To their forty-four years of married life, she 
brouo-ht every sweet and noble attribute to be 
found in a Christian wife and mother. This 
union was blessed by birth of six childien: 
Mary is the widow of Timothy Jenkins, who 
died July 24, 1882; they had four children 
born to them: Ella, Anna, Lloyd and Blanche; 
Hannah is the second child, and Thomas, the 



BIOGRAPHICAL HliTORY. 



2J1 



tliird-born, died at the age of twenty-two 
years; John and Samuel are botli farmers by 
occupation; the latter was married December 
22, 1886, to Miss Elsie Gear, a daughter of 
William and Fidelia Gear, honored and re- 
spected residents of La Crosse county; three 
children have been born to them: Ella, Edna 
and Elsie; Sarah is the youngest child of our 
subject and wife. 

Mr. Jones was a man of intense energy and 
zeal, and gave a wonderful impetus to those 
enterprises to which he offered support. It is 
to such men that the present generation is 
deeply indebted for the advance of civiliza- 
tion and the great possibilities of the future. 



it'-toi^ 



■«l*>^^ 



ffOHN KOLLEE, grocer.— A careful re- 
view of the business houses of La Crosse 
develops the fact that the grocery estab- 
lishment of M. & J. Koller takes rank with 
any like establishment in the city, and that 
business is conducted on straightforward and 
conservative principles. Their stock embraces 
every commodity comprehended in the terms 
fancy and staple, imported and domestic gro- 
ceries, and their annual sales are very large. 
John Koller was born in Kipley county, In- 
diana, but he came with his parents to La 
Crosse in 1868, and began working in his 
father's store, of which he is now joint pro- 
prietor. At the age of twenty-one he began 
business for himself, but after his father's 
death, in 1869, he clerked in the store of his 
mother. 

He was married June 4, 1889, to Miss 
Margaret Weber, daughter of Nicholas and 
Elizabeth Weber, residents of La Crosse, 
where the father died in 1884, at the age of 
about sixty years, and the mother is still liv- 
ing. To Mr. and Mrs. Weber nine children 
were born, of whom Mrs. Koller is the second. 



She has borne her husband two children: 
Helen and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Koller 
are members of the Catholic Church, and in 
his political views he is independent. In all 
his relations with his fellow men, Mr. Koller 
has borne himself with dignity and honor, 
and no establishment in La Crosse is more 
worthy of patronage than the grocery firm 
of M. & J. Koller. 

LBERT P. CLARK, senior member of 
the firm of Clark & Clark, liverymen, 
328 South Fifth street, was born in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, January 7, 1858. His 
parents, Peimel L. and Martha L. (Kimball) 
Clark were natives of New York and Maine 
respectively, both being of English descent. 
They reared a family of three sons and two 
daughters: Mary E. married J. C. Saupie, a 
merchant of La Crosse; Florence became the 
wife of Joseph Morley and resides at Neills- 
ville, Wisconsin; Charles married Miss Jennie 
St. John, and is a resident of Alden, Minne- 
sota; he is station agent at that point, and 
owns a large farm adjoining the town; Will- 
iam died in childhood; Albert P., the subject 
of this notice, is the second-born. He attended 
the public schools of this city and during his 
childhood had the misfortune to lose the 
sio-ht of one eye; this retarded his progress 
in school, and in fact materially changed his 
plans for future work. Ilis Urst experience 
in business on his own account was in 1880, 
when he engaged in buying and shipping 
horses; he carried on this business for three 
years, and was then appointed a member of 
the police force of this city. His father was 
Chief of Police for seven years and he served 
on the force one year and a half. In 1885 
he began buying and shipping live-stock and 
carried on an extensive trade in this direction 



292 



BIOQBAPBICAL BISTORT. 



until 1888. meeting witli marked success. 
In the summer of 1888 he purchased a half 
interest in the livery business, in which he 
is now engaged, being associated with his 
cousin, Frederic Clark. Their stable is one 
of the best equipped in the city. They own 
twenty-two line horses and a large number 
of fine buggies and carriages. 




•^«:- 



jICHAEL KOLLEK, of the firm of 
M. it J. Koller, grocerymen of La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, was born in Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, September 24, 1851, to Michael, 
Sr., and Christina (Hafienbreitl) Koller, the 
former of whom came from Germany with 
his family in 1845 and settled in Cincinnati. 
h\ this city he first worked in a star candle 
factory, and later began handling vegetables, 
which business he was following at the time 
of his removal to Ripley county, Indiana, in 
1850. He there settled on a farm and was 
an honest and industrious tiller of the soil, 
and, like the majority of Germans, succeeded 
in accumulating a comfortable competency. 
In 1868 the family came to La Crosse, Wis. 
cousin, and in the same year established the 
business which is now conducted by his sons, 
Michael and John. Uy courteous treatment 
of their patrons, and from the fact that they 
keep a large and very choice selection of 
groceries, they have built up an extensive 
trade which is constantly on the increase. 
Both partners have had long experience and 
possess excellent facilities, infiuential con- 
nections and an intimate knowledge of the 
wants of the trade. 

The subject of this sketch was married 
January 27, 1885, to Miss Mary Kindbam- 
raer, daughter of Peter and Katharine Kind- 
hammer, who still reside in Germany. Mrs. 
Koller came to America in 1884, and was 



here married. Michael and John's sisters 
are married as follows: Posa, wife of Joseph 
Delfinich; Dora, wife of A. Semsch; Ida, 
wife of Henry Will; and Clara, wife of John 
Stanek. Mr. and Mrs. M. Kollei- have two 
children, Herman and Louie. Mr. and Mrs. 
Koller are members of the Catholic Church. 
Mr. Koller is independent in politics and 
generally votes for the man he considers best 
adapted to the office. The Koller brothers 
are shrewd and successful business men, and 
are in every way worthy the confidence of 
the people. 

fOIIN KAU, president of the West La 
Crosse Lumber Company. — The situa- 
tion ol La Crosse with reference to the 
lumber trade of this section has given the 
city an importance in this branch of business 
exceeded by that of no other industry, and 
one which has added in a large measure to 
her coininercial reputation. The mention of 
this firm in lumber and building circles car- 
ries with it, for certain reasons, a prestige 
and confidence seldom enjoyed by any firm, 
and this is owing to the j)luck, business 
capabilities and integrity of its members. 

Mr. Kau was born in Wiirttemberg, Ger- 
many, March 19, 1828, but in the fall of 
1852 landed at New York city, and later set- 
tled in Wooster, Ohio, where lie was engaged 
in rope-making for four years, having learned 
the art in his native land. In 185(3 he went 
to Galesburg, Illinois, where he opened a 
rope factory and ran it for twelve years, 
or until 1867, when he removed to La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, and opened a mercantile estab- 
lishment, which business he followed until 
1890, with very good success. In the last 
mentioned year he became president and 
treasurer of the West La Crosse Lumber 



BIOGBAPniCAL HISTORY. 



293 



Company, and although their sales were very 
large in 1890 the low water of 1891 was 
much against them. Mr. llau was one of 
La Crosse's most able Aldermen for fourteen 
or fifteen years, and served two years as City 
Treasurer; was also president of the Council 
in 1886 and acting Mayor. He was also 
County Supervisor for one term, and has 
always had the confidence of tlie people, as 
his official career shows. 

His marriage to Miss Sebelia Merc was 
consummated December 7, 1852, in Wooster, 
Ohio, to which place she came from Ger- 
tnany the same year of her marriage. They 
have two children: John R., Jr., who is 
secretary iu a mill, was married to Miss 
Lydia Alder, by whom he has three children, 
Freddie, Bertie and Edie; and Mary, wife of 
John Thoeney, a stone-cutter and contractor 
of La Crosse. She died in 1882, at the age 
of twenty-eight years, two children, William 
and Charlie, surviving her. Mr. Rau is a 
member of the L O. (). F., of which order 
he is one of the oldest members of the city, 
and he usually supports the principles of 
Democracy. With his quiet, unassuming 
manners, strict integrity and fine business 
qualifications, be has succeeded in building 
up an extensive and lucrative patronage, and 
he is well known and a great favorite among 
his cotemporaries. 

His parents, Caspar and Susanna Rau, 
eanie from Germany to La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
in 1874, after a short stay in Galesburg, Illi- 
nois. While visiting his son Jacob in La 
Crosse, in 1857, he was taken ill and died, at 
the age of sixty-three years, the mother of 
the subject of this sketch, whose name was 
Anna, having died when lie was four years of 
age, and was buried in Germany. Of eight 
children born to them, all died in early child- 
hood but three. Daniel came to this country 
with his father, but at the end of six years 



returned to Germany, where he yet lives. 
John Rau has one brother who was a resident 
of La Crosse for thirty years, but is now a 
resident of Wycoff, Minnesota. Mr. Rau's 
father was first married in 1826, and his wife 
bore iiim seven children, his union with his 
second wife resulting in the birth of one 
child. He has been a member of Deutscher 
Verein for over twenty-five years. 



tOUIS RUNCKEL, a successful druggist 
of La Crosse, is a native of Germany, 
born in Eckelshausen, on the river Lahn, 
in the province of Hesse Nassau, April 12, 
1857. He is a son of George and Christina 
(Mengel) Runckel, who were also born in 
Germany; his father was an official of the 
German Government, serving in the Forestry 
Department, and his birthplace was Fridberg, 
near Frankfort-on-the-Main; tliemothercame 
from Berleburg, Westphalia. Louis Runckel 
had grown to the age of fifteen years before 
he took up the study of pharmacy, serving as 
apprentice three years, after which he passed 
an examination as assistant. Then he was 
prescription clerk at diSerent places, and 
next extended his pharmaceutic and other 
studies at the University of Giessen. His liter- 
ary education was received in the public schools 
of his own country, and when he took up his 
professional work he entered the University 
of Giessen, from which he was graduated, 
receiving his diploma from the Pharmaceutical 
and Medical DepartmentofhisState. In 1866 
he determined to come to America, and after 
arriving he settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin. 
One year later he established himself in the 
drug business which he has conducted with 
that intelligence wiiich has brougiit success. 
He is thoroughly trained in all the details of 



294 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



pliarinaey and chemistiy, and, therefore, com- 
petent in his profession. 

Mr..Runckel was united in marriage in 
La Crosse, to Mrs. Minnie Mceller, nee Fici<er, 
a native of Saxony, and a daughter of Will- 
iam and Johanna (Schaettler) Ficker, who 
are also natives of Saxony. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Rnnckel have been born two sons: Carl and 
Louis. By her former marriage Mrs. Rnnckel 
had three children: Adolph Moritz, of 
Winona, Minnesota; Olga, wife of William 
Fosc; and Adelbert Mosller, a member of 
the Wisconsin Bank Note and Lithographing 
Company. 

Our subject is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen, and of the Ger- 
mania Society. He has won an enviable 
reputation in business circles, and is worthy 
of the confidence reposed in him. 



jUROFESSOR EDWARD SCHEUFLER, 
M professor of music at La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, is anotlier of the many promi- 
nent citizens of German nativity, liis birth 
occurring January 23, 1852, and is the sou 
of John and Johanna (Burschel) Scheufler, 
both natives of Germany, where they passed 
their entire lives. The father was a teacher, 
and was principal of the public schools in 
Gudensberg, province liessen Nassau, having 
a life position. He died before his time for 
a pension. He was also organist in the prin- 
cipal church of the city, and an excellent 
musician. Professor Edward Scheutler took 
his first lessons in music trom him, but sub- 
sequently took lessons from Professor Will- 
iam Yolkniar (known throughout the entire 
musical world), in piano and organ playing 
and in harmony. He then went, to Stuttgart, 
studying at the Conservatory under the best 
professors at that place, and in 1871 came to 



America, locating first at Wiieeling, West 
Virginia, where he remained until September 
9, 1800. He then came to La Crosse, and 
took charge of the Deutscher-Verein Society. 
He also trains the boy choir in Christ's Epis- 
copal Church, is giving music lessons, and is 
one of the important acquisitions to the city. 
He was married on the 16th of June, 1874, 
in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Miss Matilda 
Tiemanti, daughter of Henry and Sophia 
Tiemann, and a lady of refinement and intel- 
ligence. Her parents were also natives of 
Germany, but came to this country thirty-tive 
years ago. and located in Wheeling, where 
their children were born. One daughter, 
Mary, became the wife of L. J. Bayha, 
cashier of the German Bank of Wheeling; a 
sou, Charles, is deceased, and William is now 
a resident of Wheeling. Professor and Mrs. 
Scheufler are the parents of three interesting 
children: Carl, Harry and Lulu. Mr. Tie- 
mann died in 1883, at the age of eighty- live 
years, but Mrs. Tiemann is still living, and 
makes her home with the Professor and his 
wife. She is now seventy- three years of age, 
and has reached the acre when tenderness, 
respect and reverence are due, and all of these 
she receives fiom those with whom she lives. 
Professor and Mrs. Scheufler are members 
of the Luthern Church, prominent members 
in society, and have many sincere friends. 
Professor is a member of Teutonia Lodge 
No. 3, A. O. U. W., of La Crosse, and takes 
little interest in politics, voting for the man 
and not for the party. The Wheeling Intel- 
ligencer of September 9, 1890, says: "Profes- 
sor Scheufler came to Wheeling nineteen 
years ago, and has won his way into the 
hearts of his fellow countrymen by his genial 
manlier, upright conduct and zeal in the ad- 
vancement of the singing societies under his 
charge. He has been director of the Ger- 
mania since 1874, and of the Mozart and 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



295 



Beethoven since 1884. Besides these duties 
lie was organist in the St. Jacob Church 
three years, Zion Church seven years, and 
St. John's Church seven years. St. John's 
Church T)resented him with a very handsome 
gold enameled ring, set with diamonds, and 
passed resolutions regretting his departure." 



fOSEPH ElESE, a popular business man, 
cigar manufacturer, and leader of the 
Gateway City Band, at 1109 South 
Fourth street. La Crosse, Wisconsin, was 
born in Austria January 26, 1852. and is the 
elder of two children. Frank, the other son, 
married, and in August 1887, went to Wash- 
ington State, where he resides at the present 
time. He owns a farm and deals in stock, 
but in connection is also engaged in the real- 
estate business. He has traveled a great deal, 
is genial and courteous, and has many warm 
friends. The parents of these boys, Frank 
and Anna (Wanner) Riese, were both natives 
of Austria, and the father was a prosperous 
farmer. The latter came to America in 1864, 
bought about 200 acres in La Crosse county, 
and is residing here at the present time. He 
sold 120 acres of the original tract. Mr. 
Riese is an excellent farmer, strictly honest 
and upright, amj keenly plive to the best in- 
terests of the farm. His wife died when but 
thirty-two years of age. Joseph Riese 
worked on his father's farm during his boy- 
hood, and was in his thirteenth year when he 
came with him to America. At the age of 
eighteen he began learning his trade, and has 
followed this ever since, starting his business 
in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in the year 1870. 
He has resided in this city ever since, and, on 
an average, manufacturesabout 200,000 cigars 
annually. He employs about five hands at 
present, but sometimes employs about a dozen 



or more. His work gives a high degree of 
satisfaction, for he adheres strictly to just 
methods, handles only reliable stock, and 
produces nothing liut lirst-class goods. Mr. 
Riese studied music in Austria, beginning in 
his ninth year, and has been leader of the 
Gateway City Band for more than twelve 
years. He is a natural musician and plays 
on all the instruments in the band, besides 
several others. He can compose music, and 
has some very excellent pieces of his own 
execution. He has arranged for a number 
of concerts. He is as efficient in vocal as 
instrumental music, and his band is one of 
the best in the State, receiving frequent calls 
i'or discoursing music at fairs, conventions, 
funerals and gatherings. He is a useful man 
in his calling, is progressive in his views and 
well to the 'front in all enterprises for the 
good of the city. 

Mr. Riese was married JNovember 17, 1873, 
to Miss Katie Eiden, of La Crosse county, 
and this union has been blessed by the birth 
of five children: Joseph P., assisting his 
father in the manufactory; Emma; Lena, 
died at the age of ten years; Emaline and 
Katie. Mr. Riese io a member of the L O. 
O. F., and the Sons of Hermann. In the lat- 
ter organization he has held nearly all the 
offices. He is also a member of the Concordia 
Aid Society, the Germania Musical Society, 
and is a member of the Board of Trade. He 
is an esteemed and valued citizen. 



►>^f. 



rt<-«o. 



fAMES H. McDERMOTT, manager of 
the La Crosse branch of the Independent 
Oil Company, located on Third street. 
La Crosse city, Wisconsin, was born in the 
Keystone State, Lycoming county, July 21, 
1862. Lie is the son of Joiin and Catherine 
("Downs) McDermott, natives of the Emerald 



206 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Isle, who are now living in Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania. The parents came to this 
country when young, were married here, and 
here the father has followed his trade, con- 
tractor on stonework, up to the present time. 
He and wife are now about fifty years of age. 
Of the four children born to this union, all 
live in Pennsylvania except James H. The 
latter, the eldest of the family, was educated 
in the common schools of Pennsylvania, and 
when ten years of age began working with 
the present company, and the Standard Oil 
Company in different places in Pennsylvania, 
Dakota, and Minnesota, being with the latter 
company in Dakota and Minnesota. He is 
well posted in all the details of the business, 
and spent several years with one of the re- 
fineries at Chester, Pennsylvania. He came 
to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and opened out the 
present business in 1890, for the Independent 
Oil Company. Previous to this he had re- 
sided at St. Paul for five years, and was also 
on the road for several years. He has had 
experience in all departments of the oil busi- 
ness, first in the oil department, then in the 
office, and afterwards on the road as salesman. 
Ho began business in La Crosse in September 
1890, and this has been steadily increasing 
until it forms now one of the growini; enter- 
prises of the city. There are ten employees, 
and they do business in Wisconsin, Minne- 
sota and Iowa. The home office is in St Paul 
and branch offices are in La Crosse, Waterloo, 
Iowa, Minneapolis and Duluth, besides 
numerous agencies established in Dakota, 
Michigan and Iowa. They have sale stations 
also, some of the latter in both North and 
South Dakota. 

Mr. McDermott was married November 
10, 1888, to Miss Rose Mulhollard, daughter 
of Joht) Mulhollard of Watertown, Dakota. 
The father was hotel proprietor in his town 
but sold out and is now in the real estate 



business. He is City Assessor of his town. 
His six children are grown to mature years. 
To Mr. and Mrs. McDermott have been born 
three children: Leah and Leal (twins) and 
Mary Ellen. Mrs. McDermott is a member 
of the Episcopal Church. She was formerly 
a teacher of established reputation, and is a 
lady of intelligence and refinement. A.lthough 
quite a new accession to the business circles 
of La Crosse, Mr. McDermott is well versed 
in his business, and stands high socially and 
morally among a large and increasing circle 
of acquaintances. For want of time he takes 
very little interest in politics. 



,0N. THEODORE RODOLF, one of the 
early settlers and a highly respected 
citizen of La Crosse county, died at his 
home in La Crosse, February 12, 1892. He 
was a native of Switzerland, born in the can- 
ton of Argovia, October 17, 1851. He de- 
voted his earlier years to acquiring an educa- 
tion, and was a student in a college of Aaran 
the capital of his native canton, and also in 
the University of Zurich. His parents, Fred- 
erick and Emerencia Rodolf, emigrated with 
their family to America in 1833; the father 
died of yellow fever soon after landing in 
New Orleans, and in 1834 the mother with 
her children removed to Wisconsin, and set 
tied on a farm in La Fayette county. There 
was a family of nine children, seven of whom 
are now deceased. In 1840 Theodore Rodolf 
went to Mineral Point, where he engaged 
in the mercantile business, and also dealt in 
the products of the lead mines. Thirteen 
years later he came to La Crosse, where 
he assumed the duties of Receiver in the land 
office by appointment of President Pierce. 
He held this position by reappointment of 
President Buchanan until 1861. After that 



BIOGRAPDICAL HISTORY. 



297 



time he was largely engaged in insurance 
and real-estate operations. While a resident 
of Mineral Point he was prominently iden- 
tified with all the puT)lic movements ot that 
city. He was a member of the Boai-d of 
Supervisors of La Crosse county four years, 
and was ciiairinan of the Board for one year- 
He was Mayor of the city in 1868 and 1870, 
and a member of the Legislature during 
the same years. He received the Democratic 
vote for Speaker the second term, but was 
defeated, the Republicans being in tlie ma- 
jority. He was Democratic candidate for 
Presidential Elector at large in 1864, and 
the same party's candidate for Elector in the 
sixtli district in 1868, the Republicans in 
both cases being in the ascendant. He was 
also Democratic candidate for State Senator 
in 1876. He was a life-long Democrat, was 
one of the leaders in Western Wisconsin, and 
was well known throughout the State. He 
was a prominent member of the L 0. O. 
F., and in 1875 he was Grand Master of the 
State. He represented the Grand Lodge of 
the State at the meeting of the Grand Lodge 
of the United States held in Philadelphia 
in 1876. 

Mr. Rodolf was reared in the Reformed 
Church of Switzerland, but was never identi- 
fied with any religious body in America. 
He was married in 1839 to Miss Marie 
Ann Thomas, of New Orleans, and to them 
were born twelve children, five of whom are 
now living. Four died within as many weeks 
of diphtiieria. Theodore F., the eldest son, is 
now deceased. The others are: Julia; Emily, 
wife of William Servis; Edward G. ; Cora 
M., wife of Mayor Copeland; and Stella, 
wife of B. F. Bowen, of Orlando, Florida. 
Mr. Rodolfs illness began with injuries 
received from a fall on the steps leading to 
the Batavian Bank. After this accident he 
never recovered his health, and died February 



12, 1892 after a long illness. The City 
Council attended his funeral in a body, and 
drafted resolutions of sympathy and respect. 
The mayor's chair was di-aped in mourning, 
and the pall-bearers, six in number, were all 
ex-mayors. During all the years of his resi- 
dence in La Crosse county, he left an indeli- 
ble impress upon the growth and progress 
of the most worthy enterprises of the com- 
munity. 



"' ' "4"! ' ' ! ' a^" -^ 

PETTEL BROS., photographers. La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. — The last few years 
have wrought wonderful changes for the 
better in tlie artist's and photographer's art, 
and those citizens of La Crosse who have not 
had their portraits taken are much behind 
the times. There is perhaps no establish- 
ment in the city that shows more conspicu- 
ously therapid development and improvement 
of the methods of producing portraits, than 
that known as Spettel Bros. A. F. Spettel 
is a native born resident of La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, his birth occurring August 7, 1866, 
and is the S'tn of Joseph and Mary Spettel, 
the father a native of Germany, and the 
mother of Dayton, Ohio. Joseph Spettel, 
who was a ship builder, came to America in 
1861, and followed his trade in New York 
for a short time. Subsequently he was in 
Milwaukee for a year and then went to Day- 
ton, Ohio, where he married. Durina tiie 
war he traveled all through the South in tlie 
employ of the United States, repairing boats, 
and after cessation of hostilities returned to 
Milwaukee, where he resided for several 
years. He then came to La Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, and has been a resident of that city for 
the past twenty-six years. He is now fifty- 
nine years of age and is retired. The mother 
is fortv-nine years of age. Their children 



298 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



are named in the order of their births as fol- 
lows: Clement, senior member of the firm of 
Spettel Bros. ; A. F. ; Ida Lizzie, one of the 
leading clerks in the Trade Palace, where she 
has been for the past four years; Leo, Ma- 
mie Carrie and Millie; the last four are 
attending schools. Mr. A. F. Spettel, a mem- 
ber of the firm, has been engaged in photog- 
raphy since the age of seventeen, and has 
traveled in this business over a great many 
State?, getting different views in different 
localities, and has made a study of life sized 
portraits. After traveling for two years he 
embarked in this business with his brother 
Clement, under the firm title of Spettel Bros. 
Their business has increased rapidly and they 
have opened a gallery on the South side, that 
they may the better take care of their increas- 
ing business. It is the finest gallery in the 
city of La Crosse. They at first commenced 
business on a small scale, but built on a sure 
foundation, and their present work and in- 
crease of business shows the wisdom of the 
plan. Their work compares most favorably 
with any in the State, and, as before stated, 
they have a gallery in both North and South 
La Crosse, to accommodate their constantly 
increasing business. The <jalleries are well 
located for their business, and most efficient 
service is rendered in every department. The 
Spettels are members of tlie Catholic Church, 
and one of the city's most enterprising citi- 
zens. Clement Spettel, senior member of the 
above mentioned firm, was born in Dayton, 
Ohio, September 7, 1864, and came with his 
parents to La Crosse when but a year old. 
He started in the portrait work with L. E. 
Meason, of La Crosse, and worked there for 
four and a half years. He then went to work 
in North La Crosse for himself, 1886, and has 
followed this business since. At the end of 
one year his business had increased to snch 
an extent that he had to call on his brother, 



A. F., for assistance. Clement Spettel is one 
of the finest operators and retouchers ever in 
the city of La Crosse. He has made it a 
constant study for years. He has visited 
studios in the East and South to make his 
studio one of the finest in the land. 



^> l ' l '> l ' ^ -^ 



O. HUNT, who has for many j-ears 
I'. I)een a trusted employe of the railway 
* mail service of the United States, is a 
native of the State of New York, born in • 
Cattaraugus county, October 24, 1852. His 
father, A. O. Hunt, Sr., was a native of Ver- 
mont, and emigrated from that State to New 
York, where he engajjed in the lumber busi- 
ness. He remained there, devoting his ener- 
gies to the enterprise, until 1854, when he 
came to Sauk county, Wisconsin; here his 
business was in a mercantile line, and he met 
with gratifying success. Throughout all his 
career he was honored and respected for the 
strict integrity of his dealings. He was a 
man of rare force of character, and his many 
good deeds attest the usefulness of his life. 
He was born September 10, 1809, and died 
February 15, 1877. He was twice married, 
and of the first union si.\ children were born, 
three of whom are living: Henry C, mem- 
ber of the State Legislature, is a resident of 
Keedsburg, Wisconsin; he served four years 
in the late war as a member of an Illinois 
regiment, and pai-ticipated in several of the 
most important battles of the conflict; politi- 
cally he affiliates with the Democratic party, 
but was elected from a district pronouncedly 
Republican; he is engaged in the general 
mercantile business, and is married, his wife's 
niaiden name being Mary E. Smith; Albert 
C. was color- bearer of the T^ourth New York 
Artillery, and served from the beginning to 
the end of the struggle; he married Miss 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



299 



Sarah Hunt, and is now a resident of Vir- 
ginia, engaged in the hardware business; and 
Helen, wife of Mr. Macumber, of Boston. 

Of the second marriage the subject of this 
notice is the only surviving child. At the 
age of sixteen years he began clerking in a 
general store, and afterwards became a mem- 
ber of the party that surveyed the Giand 
Rapids & Indiana Railroad through Michi- 
gan. When this work was done he secured 
a position as bookkeeper for Rudd & Green 
at Rudd's Mills, Monroe county, Wisconsin, 
and remained there seven years. At the end 
of this period a new experience awaited him 
on the Pacific coast; there he spent one year 
on a ranch, returning home on account of 
illness. He then ressumed the business he 
had left, with the same firm, continuing in 
their employ until J nly 4, 1879, when he 
was appointed to his present position, which 
he has tilled faithfully and acceptably "through 
all the different kinds of weather and admin- 
istrations." His first run was between La 
Ci'osse and Chicago, on the Chicago, Milwau- 
kee & St. Paul Railroad, but at the present 
time his run is between Winona and Chicago. 
Thirteen years of service have tested his abil- 
ity, and the honor and integrity of his pur- 
pose have not fallen short of his mental 
capacity. He has been promoted to the 
highest point attained in this branch of the 
Government service. 

Mr. Hunt was married September 21, 
1877, to Miss J. R. Barstow, a daughter of 
William and Mary E. Barstow, of Reeds- 
burg, Wisconsin. The father died March 9, 
1883, aged sixty years, and the mother passed 
away September 29, 1877, aged fifty-three 
years. Mr. and Mrs. Barstow arc the parents 
of four daughters: Cornelia, wife of George 
Benedict; Nellie, wife of Joe Denning; 
Martha, widow of Hannibal Ayres, and Mis. 
Hunt. Mr. Hunt takes an active interest 



in political questions. He is a natural me- 
chanic, and does remarkably fine work in 
wood; he also has a decided taste for natural 
history, and has made a fine collection of 
specimens. At one time he held the office of 
Town Clerk, was station agent, telegraph 
operator, and a member of the Board of Edu- 
cation. He has always enjoyed the highest 
respect and esteem of the community in 
which he lives. 



►4WI- 



H^alflLUAM GALYIN, traveling auditor 
w®fl of the Northern Pacific Railroad, came 
i^^j to La Crosse in 18G9, and has been a 
resident here ever since. He first saw the 
liglit of day in Galena, Illinois, April 9, 1847, 
and his parents, D. and Bridget Galvin, were 
natives of Ireland. The father was engaged 
in buying grain, held a number of ofiices in 
Galena, and was extensively known. He was 
hard of hearing and was killed by the cars 
when crossinor a railroad track. He was born 
in the year 1802, and came to America in 
1838. He was straightforward, honest and 
upright in all his dealings, and many public 
trusts he had held were kept with the most 
scrupulous fidelity. He was president of the 
Board of Education, and was an important 
factor in educational affairs. He died in 
October, 1884, and was a prominent member 
of the Catholic Church, as was also his wife, 
who died November 2, 1886, when seventy- 
two years of age.- William Galvin is the 
oldest living child born to his parents; then 
Katherine, wife of T. L. McDermit, of Ga- 
lena, Illinois; and then D. J., who resides in 
Jamestown, North Dakota, and who married 
Miss Catherine Calahan. Our subject was 
educated in Galena, Illinois, and commenced 
for himself on the Southern Minnesota Rail- 
road. When the system was bought out he 



300 



BIOGRAPUTCAL HT STORY. 



still reniaineil in the employ of the same 
road, having been with the same for about 
twenty years, and filling almost all the posi- 
tions up to the one he now holds. He first 
commenced as expense-bill clerk, and was 
agent for l.a Crosse station just preceding 
his present appointment. lie is one of the 
county's best citizens, and takes an interest 
in whatever promises good for his commu- 
nity, lie was married on the 15th of De- 
cember, 1873, to Miss Margaret A. Manning, 
daughter of Thomas and Mary Manning, of 
La Crosse. The parents were natives of 
Ireland, but came to this country when 
young. The father was engaged East in the 
grocery business. lie died when forty-two 
years of age, but his widow is still living, 
and is seventy-five years of age. They had 
si.\ children, three still living: Thomas, of 
La Crosse; Elizabeth and Mrs. Galvin. Mr. 
(ialvin is a Democrat in politics, and a mem- 
ber of the Knights of Honor. Mr. and Mrs. 
Galvin are niemljers of the Roman Catholic 
Church. 

W. IlEYDON. cooper.— Among the 
standard and leading establishments of 
^^ the city of La Crusse, Wisconsin, is 
the coopering establishment of Mr. Heydon, 
the manager of the La Crosse barrel factories 
of Messrs. Doud, Sons &, Co. The factories 
are at Winona, Mankato, Stillwater, Duluth 
and West Superior, and stave factories are at 
Rudolph and Pittsville, Wisconsin. The 
goods are guaranteed and standard with the 
trade. Those dealing with Mr. Heydon will 
get advantages not duplicated elsewhere, for 
the machinery in use is of the finest and most 
modern make; the goods can be made at less 
cost than at many other places, and for this 
reason can be sold at very reasonable prices. 



Mr. Heydon was born in Onondaga county, 
New York, April 17, 1828, to Miles and Be- 
linda (Symonds) Heydon, tlie former a native 
of Connecticut, who came to New York when 
about twenty-one years of aije, and there fol- 
lowed farming throughout the remainder of 
his life. He was a soldier in the war of 
1812 for several months, and die! at about 
the age of si.xty years, his wife having 
passed from life many years before. Their 
union was blessed in the birth of five sons and 
four daughters, seven members of which 
family grew to maturity and four are now 
living: Leonard; Parker; E. W., the subject 
of this sketch; and John, all of whom are 
living in Western New York with the excep- 
tion of E. W. The latter was educated in 
the public schools of New Y'ork, and in the 
State of his birth learned the details of fann- 
ing and the cooper's trade. With the desire 
to better his financial affairs he came West 
September 5, 1853, and nntil 1857 was a 
resident of Lockport, Illinois, but from Trem- 
pealeau county, Wisconsin, he came to La 
Crosse about twelve years since and has since 
conducted a farm as well as his cooperage 
establishment. While in Trempealeau county 
he was a school official and was an important 
factor in the educational affairs of his com- 
munity. 

In February, 1864, he enlisted in tlie Union 
army in Company I, Thirty sixth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, and took part in tlie 
battle of Petersburg, which lasted several 
months, and later took part in the deadly 
charge at that place. He held the rank of 
First Lieutenant on entering the service, and 
later was promoted to the rank of Captain. 
He was detailed on the start to gather about 
him some sixty men who were at home on 
furlough, and after doing so reported for duty 
at Alexandria, Virginia, to General Briggs. 
He was honorably discharged in January, 




?.=J^. f/^^?^^^^. 



BIOGHAPBIGAL HISTuRY. 



301 



1865, on account of disability and returned 
home, but for some time previous to doing 
so assisted in the pay rolls. Since the war 
he has given his attention to his trade and 
has done vpell, being now one of the wide- 
awake men of La Crosse. He is a member 
of the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. He takes 
considerable interest in politics and votes the 
Republican ticket, but lias never put forward 
his claims for political pieference. He is a 
worthy and industrious citizen, and in the 
liighest degree honorable in his business 
transactions. In his business he goes on the 
principle that it is the cheapest to buy the 
best, make the best, and sell the best that 
the trade can afford. 

September 22, 1857, he was married, in 
Trempealeau county, to Miss Gertrude Doud, 
daughter of Chauncey and Sarah (Comstock) 
Doud, both natives of Jefferson county, New 
York, moving afterwards to Michigan in 
1836, having been married in New York two 
years earlier. They resided in Michigan 
until 1842, then moved to Kendall county, 
Illinois, to Lockport, Will county, of the same 
State in 1849, and to Wisconsin in 1857, 
landing in Trempealeau county on the 22d 
of May. The father was a farmer, but al- 
ways followed coopering. He now resides in 
Winona, Minnesota, at the age of eighty- 
three years, his wife having died May 13, 
1887, aged seventy-seven years. To this 
couple eight children were born, two of whom 
died in irifaucy: Roice resides in Winona, 
Minnesota, his first wife beino; Iowa Batch- 
elder, and his second, Jesse Muir; Anna 
(Mrs. Heydon); Anna, widow of Abner Har- 
ris, resides in Winona; Marietta (deceased); 
George (deceased); Maria Louisa, wife of 
George M. Brush, resides in Minneapolis; 
Cornelia L., widow of Fred Bonner, keeps 
house for her father, and George S., of 
Winona, married to Josie Newell. Mr. and 

21 



Mrs. Heydon are the parents of the following 
children: Clarence R., an engineer and ma- 
chinist; Harry E. has charge of a cooper 
shop at Mankato, Minnesota. His wife is 
Zoe Nimock, and their two daughters are 
Grace and Blanche; Gertrude D. is a teacher 
in the schools of La Crosse, and takes rank 
with the progressive and successful teachers 
of the county', and Lottie is fitting herself for 
a teacher in the Normal School of Mankato, 
Minnesota. Altliongli the Heydons are not 
members of any church, they usually attend 
the Universalist Church. 

L. JENKS, a lumber merchant of La 
Crosse and an honored pioneer of the 
* county, owes his nativity to Lyme, 
Grafton county, New Hampshire, the year 
of his birth being 1837. His parents, John 
and Marinda (Cook) Jenks, were also natives 
of the Granite State, where the father fol- 
lowed farming. He was an industrious, up- 
ritrht and honorable citizen; his death 
occurred in 1869, at the age of si.xty-tive 
years; his wife passed away in 1883 at the 
age of seventy years. Of the ten children 
born to them, six are still living, and two 
sons and a daughter are in the West. C. L. 
Jenks came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1856, 
settled in La Crosse, and there has resided 
ever since, surrounded by many warm 
friends. He began the battle of life for him- 
self working by the day in the woods and on 
the river, driving and contracting and raft- 
ing; he has made the most of the opportuni- 
ties that have presented themselves to him, 
and is now the owner of a wholesale and re- 
tail lumber yard; he also owns a commodious 
residence on Seventh street, which is very 
complete in all its appointments. 

Mr. Jenks selected his wife in the person 



303 



nioaiiAPiiiCAL HfSToiir. 



of Miss Harriet Dalton, daughter of John E. 
Dalton, M. I)., and tiieir nuptials were cele 
brated in 1861. Dr. Dalton was a graduate 
of Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, and 
began the practice of his profession in Mar- 
tinsville, Clinton county, Ohio, and later 
located in New Vienna, Ohio. In 1851, 
durii g the excitement over the gold dis- 
cover}' in Calif()rnia,he journeyed to that State, 
going overland, and walked more than three- 
fourths of the distance. The company was 
orcjanized at St. Louis, and made what is 
now Kansas City, Mo., their meeting point; 
from this place an immense train of ox teams 
and wagons started for the gold "diggins." 
Much sickness prevailed during the journey, 
which required six months for its accom- 
plishment, and the Doctor was kept "on the 
go," now in advance, now in the rear part of 
the train; thus it was that most of the jour- 
ney for him was made on foot. He remained 
in California three years, but during that 
period gave most of his time to his profes- 
sion, lieturiiing to Clinton county, Ohio, 
he continued his practice until 1858, when he 
removed with his family to La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, but after a few years retired. He 
was a very successful physician, a ripe scholar 
and a leader in the profession of medicine. 
He died in 1887, at the age of eighty-seven 
years; his wile died in 1884, aged three 
score and ten years. Both were honored 
members of the Universalist Church. Dr. 
Dalton was widely known, and it was said 
that he had not an enemy in the world. He 
was born in Warner, New Hampshire, and 
his wife was a native of Claremont, New 
Hampsliire. Their children, five in number, 
are all living and are honored residents of La 
Crosse county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jenks have a happy home 
which has been blessed in the birth uf six 
children: Ellen, wife of Abram James, 



resides in La Crosse and is the mother of two 
children, Grace and May; Charles is foreman 
in the rafting business with his father; his 
wife's maiden name was Lizzie Mathewson; 
John has charge of the lumber yard in North 
La Crosse; he married Miss Anna G. Paul; 
Albert is at work in the yard, and William 
and Louis are pupils in the public school. 
Mr. Jenks is an ardent Itepublican and has 
always manifested a lively interest in the 
welfare of his party and its general success. 
He and his wife are numbered among the 
esteemed citizens of La Crosse county, as are 
also his children and their families. 



> 



fIL LIGHTBODY, LaCrosse, Wiscon- 
sin. — Few, if any, among those en craijed 
** in the real-estate and insurance business 
in this city maintain as high a reputation for 
integrity and reliability as Mr. Lightbody, 
whose office is located at No. 107 North 
Fourth street. He was born in Oneida 
county, New York, July 25, IS-tO, and his 
father, Archibald Lightbady, was a native of 
Scotland. The mother, whose maiden name 
was Angeline Prentiss, was a native also of 
Oneida county. New York. Archibald Light- 
body and family came to Wisconsin in 1852, 
settled in Calumet county, and there the 
father followed his trade, that of mechanic. 
He died in that county in 1873, when sixty- 
one years of age. He was a prominent mem- 
ber of the Congregational Church, and the 
mother, who is still living and resides in La 
(Jrosse, is an esteemed member of the sauie. 
She is now about seventy-four years of age. 
J. H. Lightbody, the eldest of live children, 
commenced business for himself in a print- 
ing-office at Fonddu Lac, Wisconsin, and the 
last year was publisher of the Fond da Lac 
Commonwealth. After this he spent ten 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



303 



years in New York city, in the mercantile 
business, closed out in 1871, and then came 
to Wisconsin, where he was in the employ of 
the Singer Manufacturing (Company, having 
charge of one of their offices at Madison, 
Watertown and La Crosse. He continued 
with this company for fourteen years, and in 
1887 engaged iu his present business, which 
he has followed ever since with good success. 
In lire insurance he represents the United 
States of New York city, and the Meelianics' 
of l^'hiladelphia. He also deals in real estate, 
has an extensive business, and has his full 
share of the trade. 

Mr. Lightbody is married and has fonr 
children: Archie, in the employ of Hodges 
& Hyde, as stenographer and correspondent; 
Herbert, wlio is employed by Stultz & Schick, 
as an architect; and Martha and James, aa:ed 
respectively nine and fonr. Mr. and Mrs. 
Lightbody are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church, and in politics the former is a 
Republican. 



C. TECHMER is a manufacturer of 
corn meal, graham flour, and ground 
Tfsii® feed, and dealer in grain, grass seed, 
baled hay and straw, white lime, plaster of 
Paris, cement and adamant plaster, in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, is thoroughly imbued 
v^ith enterprise and public spirit, both of 
which attributes are essential for the welfare 
of man's business and for the good of a city. 
He was born in Germany, October 6, 1856, 
to A. and Mary (Eichler) Techmer, who came 
from their native land to America in 1869, 
and took up their residence in La Crosse, of 
which city they are still honored residents. 
The father served in one of the German wars 
for three years, and by trade is a carpenter. 
Of eleven children born to them, seven are 



still living, and all reside in La Crosse, with 
the interests of which place they have 
thoroughly identified themselves. H. C. 
Techmer began business for iiimself in 1883, 
opening a feed store, which caught fire and 
burned to the ground in 1887. It was called 
the La Crosse Milling Company. Mr. Tech- 
mer has now the largest business of the kind 
in the city, and his annual yearly profit is 
large and eminently satisfactory. 

He was married June 6, 1888, to Miss 
Laura Bosshard, daughter of Jacob and 
Susannah Bosshard of La Crosse, who are 
well-to-do and highly respected citizens. 
They were born in Switzerland, but have been 
residents of America for about twenty five 
years past. Their family consists of fonr 
children. Mr. and Mrs. Techmer's union has 
been blessed in the birth of one child, a bright 
little daughter, Leona. Mr. Techmer is a 
member of the German Lutheran Church, 
and is one of the most enterprising business 
men of the city. He favors and lends a help- 
ing hand to all worthy movements which con- 
duce to the prosperity of the city and county; 
is a law-abiding citizen whose career has been 
above reproach. 



'^^uzruv- 



-l/irtro^^^ 



UHLMAN & GASS, manufacturers 
of galvanized iron cornices and window 
caps, tin, slate and sheet-iron roofing, 
occupy a prominent place in commercial cir- 
cles in La Crosse county. The firm is com- 
posed of Adolpli F. Kuhlman and Anthony 
Gass, of whom brief personal mention will 
be made. 

Anthony Gass was born in the city of 
Chicago, Illinois, April 30, 1856, and is a 
son of Matthias and Catharine (Beurle) Gass. 
The father was a native of Batzendorf, Alsace, 
and the mother came from Heidenheim, 



304 



BIOOHAPIIICAL IIISTORT. 



Germany, the village being located in Wiirt- 
embiirg. Matthias Gass emigrated to Amer- 
ica when a young man, and located in 
Chicago, where he was married. In 1866 
he removed with his family to La Crosse, and 
iu 1876 went to Buffalo county. Wisconsin, 
where he now resides. lie and his wife had 
born to them a family of four sons and four 
daughters, three sons and two daughters 
surviving. 

Our subject grew to manlmod in this city, 
and learned the trade of I in -sheet and metal 
worker. In 1885 he formed a partnership 
with Mr. Kuhlman for the purpose of carry- 
ing on the business on a more extensive plan. 
They liave been connected with the construc- 
tion of the Funk buildings, the Zelsler 
Brewery plant, Doerre's building. Bliss & 
Sell's block, Canterbury block, St. Joseph's 
Church tower, and the Adoration chapel. 

Mr. Gass was married in this city to Miss 
Louisa Berg, a daughter of Christian and 
Kunigunda Berg, natives of Wiirtemburg 
and Bavaria, respectively. lie is a member 
of the society of St. Boniface, of St. Joseph's 
Casino, and of the La Crosse Diocesan Life 
Insurance Company. 

Adolph F. Kuhlman was born near Marl- 
gaerten on the Ileisen, in the kingdom of 
Hanover, Germany, June 11, 1836, and is a 

son of John Ikrnard and (Burlage) 

Kuhlman; the father was a farmer l)y occu- 
pation. In 1854 Adolph came to America, 
landing in the city of Boston; there he spent 
two years, coming at the end of that time to 
Dubuque, Iowa. He lived in the latter place 
for about eighteen years, and there learned 
the trade of a sheet-metal worker and tin- 
smith, lie subsequently spent some time in 
Winneshiek county, Iowa, and also at Grand 
Haven, Wisconsin. In 1882 he came to La 
Crosse, and since that time has been a con- 



spicuous iigure in commercial and building 
circles. 

He was united in marriage to Miss Eva 
Weber, in Winneshiek c(junty, Iowa. Mrs. 
Kuhlman is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
is a daughter of parents of Bavarian birth. 
()i this union one son and three daughters 
have been born: Ottilia, a sister in the Con- 
vent of St. Francis of Rose, Alma; Eva and 
William. The parents are communicants of 
St. Nicholas' Roman Catholic Church Mr. 
Kuhlman belongs to St. Alphonsns' Roman 
Catholic Benevolent Society, of Dubuque, 
Iowa, and to the La Crosse Diocesan Life 
Insurance Company. Both members of tiie 
lirm of Kuhlman & Gass are active workers 
in the Builders' E.vchange of La Crosse. 

fOHN KAHLER, foreman of the car- 
pentry department of the shops of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway 
Company at La Crosse, was born in Milwau- 
kee, August 28, 1858, a son of Charles and 
Magdalena (Stork) Kahler, the former a 
native of Saxony and the latter of Darmstadt, 
Germany, who came to America in their 
young days. The father was a car-repairer 
in this country. After his marriage, in Mil- 
waukee, he came to La Crosse, upon the 
completion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul Railway to this point. They reared 
four sons, namely: August, who is now en- 
gaged in stock ranching in Idaho; William, 
car-repairer in Minneapolis; Charles, a miner 
in Idaho; and the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. Kahler learneil the carpenter's trade, 
entered the railroad shops here, and since 
1885 has served in his present capacity, for 
which he is so well adapted. He is a mem- 
ber of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, 



BWGBAPHIOAL BISTORT. 



305 



and is now serviug his first term as Super- 
visor of the Fifteenth Ward of La Crosse. 

He was married, in this city, to Miss 
Amelia, daughter of John Brinkrnan, and 
and they have two sons and four daughters, 
namely: Lizzie, August, Lillie, Minnie, Ida 
and William. 

fACOB HAHN, Secretary of the La 
Crosse Board of Public Works, was 
born in Geoghr, Prussia, near the city 
of Cologne, December 11, 1850. He is a 
son of John and Anna Sophia (Capellan) 
Hahn, natives of Prussia, who emigrated to 
America in 1857, and located at La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, in April of that year. Both 
passed the remainder of their lives in this 
city. The mother was married before her 
union to John Hahn, and had two daughters: 
Catherine became the wife of William F. 
Gohres, and died in early womanhood ; Mary 
S. married John O'Neill, and now resides in 
North La Crosse. Henry and another son 
died in infancy. Jacob received his educa- 
tion in the conimon schools of this city, and 
was also a student in the parochial school 
under the jurisdiction of the Franciscan 
Sisters of Perpetual Adoration; he was grad- 
uated from the La Crosse Commercial Col- 
lege, and embarked in business on his own 
account in partnership with John O'Neil; 
they carried on a prosperous grocery trade 
until 1876, when he bought Mr. O'Neil's 
interest and continued the business alone 
until 1884, when he sold out and retired 
from active pursuits. At the end of two 
years he engaged in the hardware trade, 
the firm being Hahn & Butsch; this rela- 
tionship existed two years, at the end of 
which time he disposed of his interest, and 
then established himself in trade alone. He 



is still conducting the business, and has a 
wide patronage of the best class of citizens. 

Mr. Hahn has served two terms as a mem- 
ber of the Common Council, and in 1891 he 
was elected a member of the Board of Public 
Works, and by the board was chosen sec- 
retary. 

He was married October 3, 1877, to Miss 
Theresa Schafiermeyer, a native of Minnesota; 
of this union seven children have been born: 
the eldest, Mary, died in infancy; Mary S., 
Henry H., Annie Sophia, Peter, John and 
Joseph. Mr. Hahn is a member of St. 
John's Society, and was its first president. 
He belonors to the Washington Hose Com- 
panj. No. 2, of the City Fire Department. 
He and his wife both belong to St. John's 
Itoman Catholic Church. 

Li his present official capacity Mr. Hahn 
has been of great service to the city, and has 
made the most of his opportunities to ad- 
vance her interests. 



J. KELLY.— The Board of Public 
!L Works of La Crosse, Wisconsin, con- 
® sists of Edmund J. Kelly, President, 
Jacob Hahn, Secretary, and W. H. Tarbox. 
This board has control of all public works, 
and is empowered to make all contracts for 
the construction of bridges, walks, sewers, 
lighting of city buildings, etc. The wagon 
and foot bridge recently contracted for by 
the city is the largest on the Mississippi 
river except at St. Louis. The city has 
twenty and a half miles of water mains, and 
a little more than fifteen miles of macadam- 
ized streets. Three city buildings are being 
constructed in 1891: the city hall, at a cost 
of $40,000; a schoolhouse in the Tenth Ward, 
at a cost of $9,000, and an addition to the 
schoolhouse in the Sixth Ward, at a cost of 



?06 



nWGRAPHIG.lL HISTORY. 



$7,000. The city water system pays a good 
revenue over and above cost of operating, 
and tlie water supply is very superior. 

Mr. Kelly is a native of Brownsville, Min- 
nesota, horn July 24, 1S57, and is a son of 
E. D. and Mary (Frawiey) Kelly, natives of 
Ireland; the parents emigrated to America 
in their youth, and weie married at Steuben- 
ville, Ohio, in 1852. Edmund J. was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Brownsville, 
Minnesota, and was graduated in 1875. He 
then engaged in teaching, and followed the 
profession about nine months. In 1877 he 
came to La Crosse, and embarked in the 
grocery trade, and afterward was employed 
by AVilliam Haynes in the retail grocery 
trade. For one year he was billing and en- 
tering clerk in the wholesale house of J. J. 
Hogan, and in 1882 he opened a grocery 
and provision store on his own account; this 
lie conducted until the spring of 1891, when 
he closed out the business. 

In the spi-ing of 1885 the people of La 
Crosse testified to their confidence in Mr. 
Kelly by electing him a member of the Com- 
mon Council; lie served in this capacity for six 
years, and in 1891 he was selected a member 
of the Board of Public Works for a term 
of four years; he was immediately made 
president of the board. 

Mr. Kelly was united in marriage, June 
16, 1885, to Miss Mary Kcaveny, a native of 
Ireland, who was brought by her parents to 
America when she was three years of age. 
Three children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Kelly: Mary, Edmund J., and Harriett, 
all of whom are living. Mr. Kelly is a 
member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 
and is county delegate of the order; he be- 
longs to the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin, 
an insurance association, of which he is 
firancial secretary for this city; he is a mem- 
ber of the Third Regiment of Wisconsin Na- 



tional Guards, Company B, in whicli he is 
serving his fourth year. He and his wife 
are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, 
of which he is financial secretary. 

E. I), and Mary (Frawiey) Kelly reared a 
family of three sons and two daughters: 
James, Daniel M., Johanna, Elizabeth, and 
Edmund J.; the eldest sister, Johanna, mar- 
ried Thomas Blake, and resides in San Jose, 
California; the brothers are residents of La 
Crosse, while Elizabeth lives with her father. 
The mother died when our subject was a lad 
of seven years; the father married a second 
time, and is again a widower. 



IIOMAS H. SPENCE, wholesale and 
{1. retail dealer in drugs, paints, oils and 



m 



glass, occupies an important position in 
commercial circles in this city, and is entitled 
to more than a passing mention. He is a 
native of the State of AVisconsin, born in 
AYaukesha, August 3, 1851, and is a son of 
Thomas and Jane (Leslie) Sjience. His 
parents were born near Belfast, Ireland, and 
emigrated to America about the year of 1845 
or 1846; after spending some time in Brook- 
lyn, New York, they came to Wisconsin, and 
settled at AA'^aukesha. In the latter years of 
his life, Mr. Spence was connected with the 
real-estate and loan business; he is a man of 
excellent education, and in his younger days 
taught school and served as a minister of the 
gospel. 

Thomas II. Spence grew to manhood in 
AVaukesha, and obtained a fair education in 
the common schools. At the age of thirteen 
years he was apprenticed as a drug clerk in 
the store of 1. M. AA^iite, where he remained 
seven years; during this time he acquired a 
thorough knowledge of the retail trade in all 
its details, and in March, 1871, he came to 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



307 



La Crosse to take charge of the store of John 
S. Lester & Co. He managed this business 
three years, at the end of which time he pur 
chased the stock, and has since maintained 
the high reputation of the house. His whole- 
sale trade extends throughout Wisconsin, 
Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota, over which ter- 
ritory he has two traveling salesman. 

Upon the organization of the State Board 
of rharniacj in 1882, Mr. Spence rendered 
most efficient service in perfecting the plans 
of that body, and served as its president for 
two years, his period of service covering six 
years. His quarter of a century's experience 
in the profession has well qualified him for 
tlie responsible position he tills, and his care- 
ful and correct habits of tilling prescriptions 
has won the contidence of a wide circle of 
physicians. His wholesale establishment at 
No. 119 North Front street is a three-story 
building, and the retail trade is carried on at 
No. 303 Main street, in a spacious and well- 
lighted room. 

The business has increased rapidly, sixty 
per cent, of the growth being in mail orders, 
showing that the reputation of the store is 
reaching far .beyond local circles. A large 
business is done in Parry^s family medicines, 
which are prepared and sold exclusively by 
him; he also owns the "White Beaver's" 
popular medicines. Success is the Just re- 
ward of the persevering industry and high 
and honorable dealing of such men as Mr. 
Spence. 

He was married at Portage, "Wisconsin, to 
Miss Ada Wyckoff, a native of Pennsylvania, 
a lady of clever literary attainments, a gradu- 
ate of Elmira College, New York, and a 
daughter of Samuel and Angeline (Burchard) 
Wyckoff. One son has been born of this 
union, Elbert Wyckoff. 

Mr. Spence is a stockholder of the Inter- 
State Fair Association and of tiie La Crosse 



National Bank. He is one of the incor- 
porators of the Jobbers and Manufacturers. 
Union of La Crosse, and has been Treasurer 
of the Royal Arcanum several years. 



A'-- 



t-8->=-^^ 



I^GID HACKNER has been a residentof 
the United States since 1880, and is one 
of the most enterprising and prosperous 
citizens of La Crosse county, Wisconsin. He 
was born in the village of Fordheim, on the 
river Schwarzach, in the Kingdom of Bavaria, 
December 27, 1856. His parents, John and 
Crecentia (Kapfer) Ilackner, were also natives 
of Germany; the father died in 1879; he was 
a farmer by occupation. Our subject passed 
his youth in his native village, obtaining a 
good education in tlie common-schools, which 
was supplemented by a collegiate course at 
Eichstadt. He then began to learn the trade 
of altar-building, and for this purpose spent 
two years in the art schools of Munich, study 
incr drawing and wood-carving. He worked 
at his trade in different cities in his native 
country, and in October, 1880, he emigrated 
to America, coming almost immediately to 
La Crosse. Here he has been prominently 
ideutitied with the building interests; he 
employs twenty-three skilled workmen, and 
does an annual business of $15,000. 

Mr. Hackner was united in marriage at La 
Crosse, to Miss Julia Kracklauer, a native of 
Freistadt, Germany, born January 2, 1857, 
and a daughter of Paul and Katrine Krack- 
lauer. Mr. and Mrs. Hackner are the parents 
of three sons and four daughters: Lizzie, Ju- 
lia, Katie, John, Annie, William and George. 
They are both members of the Catholic 
Church. Mr. Hackner belongs to the St. 
Boniface Society, to the Catholic Knights of 
Wisconsin, to the Diocesan Life Insurance 
Company, and to the Casino. He is also an 



308 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



active member of the Board of Trade of La 
Crosse. 

In 1882 Mrs. Hacklier, inotlier of onr sub- 
ject, came to America, and makes lier liome 
with her son, the Kev. Willebald Ilackuer, 
priest of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Churcli 
&i Fountain City, Wisconsin. 



|MIL TRAUGOTT MUELLER, secre- 
tary and treasurer of tlie G. Heileman 
J>rewing Company, was born in the 
city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, January 5, 
1858, and is a son of Traugott and Emma 
(Raseman) Mueller, natives of Chemnitz, 
Saxony. The parents were married in the 
"Fatherland," and emigrated to America 
about the year 1852. The father was a 
baker by trade, and carried on this businecs 
after settling in La Crosse, until the time of 
his death, which occurred September 13, 
1869. His remains were interred with all 
the honors of the Deutsche Verein, of which 
he had been a member for many years; he 
was a charter member of the La Crosse or- 
ganization. He was also a member of the 
Lutheran Church. The family consisted of 
two sons and two daughters: Frances M., 
Emma, wife of Matthias Keller; Otto, a 
surveyor and draughtsman; and Emil Trau- 
gott, the subject of this notice. 

Mr. Mueller received a good education in 
the common schools, which was supple- 
mented by a thorough commercial course. 
At the age of fifteen years he took charge of 
the books and did general clerking at Green- 
wood, Wisconsin, where he remained four or 
live years. He then returned to La Crosse, 
where he clerked until 1881, accepting in 
tliat year a position as assistant manager and 
bookkeeper of the Heileman Brewing Com- 
pany. In 1884 he took the general manage- 



ment of the business, and under liis wise 
direction the establishment has increased its 
output to 21,000 barrels per aiunm. He is 
one of the most active members of commer- 
cial circles, and has always given a cordial 
encouragement to those enterprises which 
have had for their object the best interests of 
tlie community. He is a member of the 
Deutsche Verein, and enjoys the friendship 
of a very wide circle of acquaintances. 

Mr. Mueller was married in this city to 
Miss Louisa Heileman, a daughter of Gott- 
lieb Heileman, whose history appears else- 
where in this volume. Of this union four 
sons and a daughter have been born: Walter, 
Alfred, Erwin, Otto and Jennie. The parents 
are worthy and consistent members of the 
Lutheran Church. 



OTLIEB HEILEMAN, deceaeed, was 
born in Germany, January 6, 1824, and 
was a son of Casper and Fredericka 
(Meyer) Heileman, both of whom died in the 
" Fatherland." They had a family of eight 
children, four sons and four daughters; two 
sons and a daughter are all that survive. 
Mr. Heileman emigrated to America in 1852, 
and for a year resided in Philadelphia; thence 
he went to Milwaukee, and there formed a 
partnership with Gotlieb Meyer, one of his 
own countrymen. They carried on a bakery 
for five years, and at the end of that time 
Mr. Heileman came to La Crosse and em- 
barked in the brewing business with John 
Gund. This relationship existed fourteen 
years, when Mr. Gund left the business on 
Third street; Mr. Heileman, however, con- 
tinued to manage the business until his 
death, which occurred February 19, 1878. 
He built an extensive establishment on Third 
street, and the business conducted there gives 
employment to a large number of men. 



BICGBAPHIVAL HISTORY. 



309 



Juue 28, 1858, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Johanna Bantle, a daugliter of Lud- 
wig and Cathrina (Sige!) Bantle, natives of 
the same German province. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bantle had a family of five sons and three 
daughters, Mrs. Heileman being the fourth 
in order of birth. The father died at the 
age of seventy years, and the mother at the 
age of sixty-one years. Jacob, tlieir oldest 
?on, is deceased, but the others are all living, 
and citizens of the United States. Mrs. Heile- 
man came to this country in 1852, and spent 
four years with lier brothers in New York; 
thence she went to Milwaukee, where she was 
married. Mr. and Mrs. Heileman are the 
parents of eight children: Louisa, wife of 
E. T. Mueller; Lena married D. Reinns, and 
is the motiier of one child, Charlotte; Emma 
is the wife of George Zeisler, a brewer of 
La Crosse, and they have a family of four 
children — Georgia, Ida, Emma and Henry; 
Minnie married William Linker, and their 
only child, Alfred, died at the age of nine 
months, in 1891; Paulina is at home; Henry 
is vice-president and sujierintendent of the 
Heileman Brewing Company; Ida and Jen- 
nie are also at home. The mother and chil- 
dren are all members of the German Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Heileman was a man of getiial 
manner and kindly disposition, winning many 
friends. He lived a quiet, contented life 
with his wife and children, and enjoyed the 
coniidence of all who knew him. 



^^ 



[HEODORE KIENAHS is engaged in 
one of the most delightful as well as 
profitable occupations, that of a florist. 
He is a native of the country that has pro- 
duced some of the most successful gardeners, 
born at Sterlitz, Prussia, thirty miles north 
of Berlin, September 17, 1859. His parents, 



Heinrich and Fredericka (Jaricho) Kienahs, 
emigrated to America in 1866, and located in 
La Crosse where they now reside. They 
have reared a family of one son and three 
daughters: Theodore, the subject of this 
biographical sketch; Mary, wife of Anton 
Kroll of Shelby township, La Crosse county; 
Line, wife of Otto Dimmler of Eau Claire, 
Wisconsin; and Annie, wife of William H. 
Luening of La Crosse. 

Mr. Kienahs received his education in the 
common-schools of La Crosse, and in early 
youth began the study of the occupation of 
his father who was also a florist. He has 
been very prosperous in this enterprise, and 
has contribute 1 his share to the development 
and extension of the trade. He is a mem- 
ber of the German ia Society, and of the 
Board of Trade of La Crosse. 



^ 



fjjROF. AUG. FR. SOBOTKA, the prin- 
cipal teacher in the St. Wenceslaus' 
School, was born at Polna, Bohemia, 
August 10, 1859, and is the only child of 
Frank and Louisa (Fiala) Sobotka.also natives 
of Polna, Bohemia. The father was a farmer 
and market gardener, and later added a meat 
market to his business; he died of cholera in 
1866, but his wife is still living, and resides 
in her native land. Professor Sobotka was 
educated in his own country; he first entered 
a school at Olmutz, where he pursued the 
lower studies, as a class-mate of Rev. Father 
Rynda, the present pastor of St. Stanislaus' 
Bohemian Church, St. Paul, Minnesota. He 
spent four years in the seminary for teachers 
at Troppan in Silesia, from which institution 
he was graduated in June, 1878. October 
28th of the same year he was employed as a 
teacher at Lubna, Bohemia, and remained 
there until April 13, 1880, when he went to 



810 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Geisshiibel, Bohemia, where he taught until 
August 4, 1884. In that year he emigrated 
to America, landing in the city of New Yoriv. 
From that time until April, 1888, lie was em- 
ployed in St. Stanislaus' School at St. Paul, 
Minnesota, and also served the church of the 
same name as organist. He came to La 
Crosse in 1888, and was installed as teacher 
in tlie school above mentioned; he is also 
churcli organist. He received his musical 
education at the seminary in Troppan, the 
capital of Silesia, making himself a master 
of both vocal and instrumental music, lie 
has a larcfe class in music to which he can 
devote only his evenings. He is Notary Pub- 
lic, represents some of the leading insurance 
companies of the country, and acts as corres- 
pondent of Consul H. Claussenius of Chicago. 
Professor Sobotka was united in marriage 
November 13, 1884, to Miss Mary Pojman, a 
native of Polna, Bohemia; they have had 
born to them four children: August, Mary, 
and Louisa are living; Emanuel died in St. 
Paul. The parents are communicants of the 
Roman ('atholic Church. The Professor is 
president of the Second Bohemian Roman 
Catholic Union of the State of Wisconsin; 
he is also a member of the order of Bohemian 
Knights, and St. Wenceslaus' and St. John's 
Societies of La Crosse. 



'l/m^-^ 



-•>-T>'l/2/(^— ><— ^< 



[EORGE S. NICHOLS, captain and 
pilot on the Mississippi river, was born 
at Galena, Illinois, in 1855, to George 
C. and Mary A. (Payne) Nichols, the former 
of whom was born in England and at the age 
of seven years became a sailor boy. After 
remaining on the ocean for a number of years 
he came to Galena, Illinois, some time in the 
year 1835, and engaged in river navigation, 
soon l)ciiig prf)moted to the position of pilot. 



He was in La Crosse in 1838, and was one of 
the Government employes wlio moved the 
Indians from La Crosse to a point on tiie 
Minnesota river, after which he was employed 
for a number of years on Government snag 
and other boats in improving the navigation 
of the iiortiiern portion of the Mississippi 
river. He took the only i)oat to Bhick River 
Falls that was ever taken to that place and 
navigated the Mississippi river until 1883, 
when he retired. He was considered one of 
the best pilots on the river, and was thor- 
oughly trustworthy and capable. He is now 
residing at West Salem in his si.xty-seventh 
year of age, content to rest upon the laurels 
he has won, and in the enjoyment of a fair 
income, the result of many years of toil. 
George S. Nichols spent his youth in attend- 
ing the public sciiools of his native town, and 
the first work he did in the way of earning 
his own living was as a farm hand in 1873. 
In 1878 he went to work on the river and 
learned piloting under the able instruction of 
his father, which business has been his chief 
means of livelihood ever since. He has been 
remarkably successful in this line of work 
and for the past eight years has been in the 
employ of one firm, which fact speaks in elo- 
quent terms as to his efficiency and reliabil- 
ity. He was married in 1874 to Miss Har- 
riet J. Lawton, daughter of Jacob Lawton, of 
Carthage, Illinois. A family of three chil- 
dren have blessed their union: William, 
Maud Evangeline and George, all of whom still 
remain under the shelter of the parental roof. 
Amid the active duties of his career he has 
found time to cultivate the finer and gentler 
feelings and in his private and domestic rela- 
tions, he has exemplified the character of a 
true and good man. He and his family are 
attendants of the Baptist Church, and he is 
one of the men who is working to bring 
Wisconsin into the line of Republican prin- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STOUT. 



311 



ciples. Genial and hospitable in his inter- 
course with those around him, he has a host 
of warm friends and his career tluis far in life 
has been above reproach. 



fDlN J. OYEN, one of the rising young 
business men of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
is an American by adoption, his native 
country being Norway, where he was born 
May 21, 1865. He is a son of Lars and 
Anna (Seillstad) Oyen, who were also natives 
of Trondjem, Norway, Mr. Oyen is by trade 
a gilder and modeler, and whose ancestors 
for many generations had inhabited Vaage; 
they were an agricultural people. In 1870 
the family of our subject emigrated to Amer- 
ica, and after their arrival in the United 
States located at Madison, Wisconsin, where 
the two sons and three daughters grew to 
maturity. Feter A. remained in tlie old 
country and attended college, passed examina- 
tion, and is a candidate for a professorship in 
the State Geological Department of Norway. 
Odin J. received his education in tiie common 
schools, and at the age of fourteen years be- 
gan the study of his profession, that of a 
decorator. He spent six years in Madison, 
and then went to Cliicago for the purpose of 
taking an advanced course; he became a stu- 
dent in theArt Institute and during the time 
spent in this excellent school made three 
prize drawings. 

In February, 1888, he came to La Crosse 
and established himself in business, which he 
has conducted with marked success. He is a 
master of his art, and has accomplished most 
gratifying results. Among the buildings on 
which he has been employed, may be men- 
tioned the United States Government Build- 
ing, the Theater, the La Crosse County Court- 
house and many private residences. He is 



an active member of the Builders' Exchanore, 
one of the largest and most prosperous soci- 
eties of the city. He also belongs to the 
Norden Society and to the Board of Trade. 
The Inter-State Fair Association is another 
organization, which has received from Mr. 
Oyen a liberal support. He is a man of 
sterling traits of character, and is well worthy 
of the confidence reposed in by the entire 
community. 

fA. GROSS, contractor and builder, oc- 
cnpies a prominent position among the 
'^ members of his craft, and is entitled 
to more than passing mention in this record of 
the lives of the men who have aided in the de- 
velopment of the industries of La Crosse 
county. Frederick A. Gross was born in the 
city of Flatow, Prussia, December 3, 1863, and 
is a son of Frederick A. and Amelia (Schutz) 
Gross. His fatlier was a brick manufacturer 
in early life, but devoted his latter years to 
agricultural pursuits. He and his wife reared 
a familj' of three sons and four daughters. 

In 1882, Frederick A., Jr., emigrated to 
America; he was educated in his native 
country, and there acquired a thorough 
knowledge of the carpenter's trade. The first 
year of his residence in the United States 
was spent in Tomah, Wisconsin, and in 1883 
he came to La Crosse. One year later he 
embarked in the business which he has con- 
ducted so successfully, and with such gratify- 
ing results. He has made for himself a 
reputation as a trust-worthy and capable 
builder, and has established a reputation for 
high and honorable dealing. He erected the 
business block of M. Fnnk, corner of Fourth 
and Pearl streets, and a handsome residence 
for tiie same gentleman; he built the Chicago. 
Burlington & Northern car shops, Chicago, 



313 



BIOGRAPUWAL BISTORT. 



Burlington & Northern passenger depot at 
Dubnque, the schoolhouse in the Tenth Ward, 
and the approach to the La Crosse bridge 
spanning the Mississippi river at tliat point, 
at a cost of $60,000; tliis last is a very tine 
piece of work aud reilects great credit npou 
Mr. Gross. He has now a contract for build- 
ing a $30,000 residence for N. B. Hoi way. 

He was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
Gruber, a native of La Crosse and a daughter 
of John and Barbara Gruber, natives of 
Bavaria, Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Gross 
have been born two sons and one daughter: 
Alma, Frederick, and William. The parents 
are members of the German Methodist 
Ciiurch, Mr. Gross being a member of the 
board of trustees of Zion Methodist Episco- 
pal Cliurch. Mr. Gross is also a member of 
the La Crosse Board of Trade. 



[YRON DE FORCE, West Salem, Wis- 
consin, one of the successful educators 
of the county, is a native of La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, his birth occurring June 
19, 1869, and the son of J. Porter De Force, 
who was born at North East, Pennsylvania, 
in 1841. In 1856 the father removed to La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, where iie worked at the 
carpenter trade until 1862, wlien, tilled with 
a patriotic desire to aid his country, he en- 
listed in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, fol- 
lowing the fortunes of that regiment through 
its four years' service. In December, 1862, 
while participating in the battle at Vrairie 
Grove, he was slightly wounded, a ball from 
the enemy grazing his cheek. Returning to 
La Crosse at the expiration of his service, he 
again resumed his work as a carpenter and 
builder. 

In 1868 he was united in marriage to Miss 



Emily C. Berg, daughter of Andrew and Anna 
Berg, who were natives of Sweden, both born 
about the year 1831. The fruits of this union 
were live children, Byron being the eldest. 
The others are: J. Elmer, died in 1876; 
Katie, residing with her mother, and our sub- 
ject; Charles E., died in 1879; and Carrie 
M., also living with her mother. In 1872 
Mr. De Force with his family moved to San 
Joaquin county, California, and there he re- 
sided until his deatli in 1885. Afterwards 
the mother and children returned to LaCrotse 
county, Wisconsin, locating at West Salem, 
where the mother bought a lot aud built a 
house with the money she secured as widow, 
from Lodge No. 108, A. O. U. W., of Lodi, 
California, being beneficiary of the late Mr. 
De Force. She now has a pleasant and com- 
fortable home for herself and family, and is 
aided in her support of the children by her 
son Byron, who works on the farms in the 
summer and teaches during the winter 
months. The latter, on the 24th of May, 
1889, became one of the charter members of 
the W. J. Phillips Camp, No. 48, Sons uf 
Veterans, and was elected Captain of the 
camp two terms in succession. This year he 
is Captain of the camp. He was appointed 
Aid-de-Camp on the staff of the Colonel 
commanding the division, and was Assistant 
Division Inspector in 1890. He inspected 
the Robert Hughs Camp at La Crosse in that 
year, and was sent to Dodge county in Sep- 
tember, 1891, to organize a camp at that 
place. He has not missed a single meeting 
of his camp since its organization. He was 
a delegate to the Division Encampment at 
La Crosse in 1891. Mr. De Force and his 
sister Kate are members of the Congrega- 
tional Church of West Salem, but the mother 
is a member of the Lutheran Church. In 
politics he is a Republican. He is one of 
the active young men of the village, being 



BTOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



313 



foremost in all enterprises that are for the 
benefit of the town, especially patriotic 
measures. 

»--f*>«->— 



|OBERT STOGDILL, who has retired 
■| from active business pursuits, is one of 
La Crosse county's most substantial 
citizens, and since his residence here, which 
began in 1873, he has been identified with 
the most progressive elements of the com- 
munity. He was born in Westchester county, 
New York, June 21, 1817, the son of Henry 
and Cornelia (Ingersol) Stogdill, natives of 
Connecticut and New York respectively. 
The father was a shoemaker by occupation, 
and he served as a soldier in the war of 
1812-, he died January 10, 1871, at the age 
of seventy-six years. In his religious belief 
he was inclined to the Quaker faith. His 
wife died December 26, 1869, at the age of 
eighty-one years. They had a family of 
three children: Robert, the subject of this 
notice, is the oldest; William H., and Har- 
riet, who died at the age of five years. The 
paternal grandfather, Robert Stogdill, was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served 
through the seven years under General Mont- 
gomery, and later under General Putnam; 
his wife, Sarah Stogdill, drew a pension from 
the Government for a number of years; her 
death occurred at the age of eighty years. 
Their daughter, Sarah Rowell, who was born 
in 1800, is still living, in Connecticut; Mont- 
gomery, born in 1805, resides in Newark, 
New Jersey. 

Robert Stogdill, the subject of this notice, 
has been a resident of La Crosse since 1873, 
as before stated. He was united in marriage 
April 26, 1840, to Miss Mary Gibson, a 
daughter of John and Mary Gibson, natives 
of England. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson emi- 



grated to America in 1823, and settled in 
New York city; the former was a blacksmith 
by ti-ade. He died in 1838, at the age of fifty 
years. The wife passed away in 1832; her 
illness was cholera, and continued from 11 
A. M. to 7 p. M. They had a family of five 
children, two of whom survive, Mrs. Stogdill 
and a sister, Miss Sarah A. Gibson, who re- 
sides in Greeley, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. 
S'ogdill have no children but an adopted 
daughter, Grace Bnrnham Fassett, a grand- 
niece of Mrs. Stogdill. 

At the early age of twelve years Mr. Stog- 
dill started out in life for himself, and soon 
evinced an aptitude for business operations 
which assured his success in the commercial 
world. He was first employed in a tobacco 
and cigar factory, and there acquired a full 
knowledge of the business. He went to New 
York city, where he worked at his trade, and 
subsequently carried on a prosperous busi- 
ness. Attracted by the healthful climate of 
La Crosse, he located here, and is regarded as 
one of the most estimable gentlemen. He is 
a member of the Masonic orde^r, and takes an 
interest in local politics, now serving as 
Supervisor of the Eighth Ward. 

fOHN HALVE RSON, a valued employe 
of the Mons Anderson Company, of La 
Cros.^e, was born in Norway, July 10, 
1825, a son of Halver and Pernilla Johnson. 
The father was a farmer by trade, and passed 
his life in his native land. The mother after- 
wards emifirrated to America in 1846, witli 

o 

her three daughters, Mary, Sarah and Jane, 
and her son Gilbert, and died at her daugh- 
ter's home in Vernon county, Wisconsin, at 
the advanced age of eighty-six years. Tliey 
had a family of six children, five of whom 
are living. 



314 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



John Ilalverson came tu America in 1848, 
landing in New York, July 5. In his own 
country he had learned the wagonmaker's 
trade, iive years as an apprentice, he to fnr- 
nisli his own clothes and washing, and had 
thoroughly mastered every detail of tlie busi- 
ness, and began at once to work in this line, 
excei)t only one week's rest with his mother 
and relatives in Dane county, Wisconsin. 
After his removal to Rock county he settled 
in Janesville, and there went into a wagon 
shop. He remained there until October, 
1851. Desiring to secure some land, he 
came to La Crosse county and selected a 
tract in Barre township, in May, 1851, and 
afterwards donated the land oti which Barre 
Mills is located. He erected a house on this 
land, to be occupied by his mother and 
brotlier. 

Having secured the land, he again turned 
ills attention to his trade, which he followed 
in La Crosse until 1854. Business became 
so dull at that time that he was obliged to 
al)andon his vocation and go to his farm. 
He sold his shop and the lot on which it 
stood to a Mr. Jenkins, of Bangor. From 
this time until 1860 he was absorbed in agri- 
cultural pursuits, and was succeeding well, 
when a misfortune in the shape of an injury 
to his back, from heavy lilting, overtook 
him. 

He disposed of his farm and secured a 
position with the Mons Anderson Company, 
entering their employ November 13, 1860. 
This relationship has been most satisfactory 
to all parties, and its long duration is evi- 
dence of the stanch fidelity of both employer 
and employe. 

While a resident of Barre township Mr. 
Halverson filled many of the local offices. 
He was Assessor two years. School Clerk for 
the same length of time. Treasurer of the 
township one year, and was a member of the 



Board of School Trustees. The county was 
then thinly settled, the houses in the town- 
ship not numbering above one dozen in May, 
1851, but increased considerably by fall. 

Mr. Halverson was married in Dane 
county, Wisconsin, March 25, 1852, to Miss 
Cornelia G. Hanson, a daughter of Kitl 
Hanson, now deceased. Her inoliier's maiden 
name was Dagne, and she is living, at the age 
of ninety years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Halver- 
son are members of the Norwegian Lutheran 
Church. Mr. Halverson is an ardent sup- 
porter of the principles of the Republican 
party, and is a loyal citizen of the country of 
his adoption. 

^^!^jRS. L. RENNER.— For quiet, com- 
fortable, home-like surroundintrs and 
superior bill of fare at moderate 
prices, the popular hotel, conducted by Mrs. 
L. Renner, is one of the best stopping places 
in La Crosse. Mrs. Renner is one of the 
pioneer settlers of this city, locating here in 
1861, and is the widow of Louis Renner, who 
was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1832. 
Mr. Renner came to the United States in 
1845, remained in Waverly, Ohio, until 1851, 
when he came to La Crosse nnd engraged in 
the grocery business on Main street. He 
was married to Miss Julia Dirarael, who was 
of German descent, her parents having spent 
their entire lives in that country. Mr. Ren- 
ner remained on Main street nue year and 
then built a hotel on F^ront street vvliere he 
remained nine years. He then sold out and 
built the present Bark Hotel in 1882. This 
he conducted successfully until his death in 
1889, of enlargement of the heart. Lie was 
a man universally respected, and in his death 
the county lost one of its best men. He was 
a good husband and a kind and loving father. 



BlOORAPniGAL HISTORY. 



315 



His marriage resulted in the birth of five 
children: Emma, Ida, Anna, Julia and 
Minnie, all with the mother in the hotel. 
When Mr. Renner came to La Crosse he had 
very little capital, but he had the push and 
energy to accomplish what he undertook and 
succeed in making a home for himself and 
family. He was a United Workman, and in 
politics was a life-long Democrat. The fam- 
ily are members of the Lutheran Church. 
Mrs. Renner and daughters still continue the 
hotel business, and they are meeting with 
well deserved suci-ess. 

fEORGE ATKINSON is a real estate 
agent at 431 Main street, La Crosse, 
Wisconsin. He is reliable in all his 
dealings, prompt, honorable in carrying out 
his undertakings, and lie has deservedly se- 
cured the confidence and favor of the public. 
He was born in Somerset county, Maine, Oc- 
tober 14, 1831, but his father, Christopher At- 
kinson, was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia. 
He remained in the State of his birth until 
he was thirty years of age, then went to 
Maine and began following his trade of hat 
maker. He was a strong Abolitionist and 
voted the Democratic ticket until the nomi- 
nation of Fremont, when he and his nine 
sons cast their vote for the brave "path 
finder," and they have continued to affiliate 
with the party of which he was a member, 
ever since. He and his sons voted for 
Franklin Pierce for President, and while on 
a visit to a sister at Fredericksburg, Virginia, 
during Pierce's administration, he called on 
the President and informed him that he and 
his eight sons had voted for him, but did not 
divulge the fact that it was the last Demo- 
crat he should ever vote while slavery 
existed, but such proved to be the case. He 



came to Baraboo, Wisconsin, witii his family, 
in the fall of 1856, and in that town made 
his home until his death, which occurred in 
his ninety-eighth year, in 1872. His widow 
survived him until 1877, dying at the age of 
eighty-four years. They were members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church and reared 
a large family in that faith. Of fourteen 
children born to them all lived to njature 
years. At the age of eighteen years George 
Atkinson began the battle of life for himself, 
and for a number of years during the winter 
months he worked in the pineries of Maine. 
Upon first leaving the State of his birth he 
went to Massachusetts, but after a few 
months returned to Maine and in 1856 came 
West and settled in La Crosse. He purchased 
a farm near Baraboo soon after, on which he 
lived for twelve years, and in 1870 returned 
to this city and the same year was elected 
lumber inspector, which position he held 
during Governor Washburne's administra- 
tion. His next move was to West Salem, 
but after five years spent in tilling the soil 
he returned to La Crosse, which place has 
since been his home. He is now one of the 
popular business men of the city, and is held 
in high esteem by his numerous friends and 
patrons. He was one of the ''boys in blue," 
enlisting in Company M, First Heavy Wis- 
consin Artillery, in September, 1864, and 
his command relieved a regiment of heavy 
artillery at Alexandria, Virginia, a New 
York regiment. This command left for the 
front 2,200 strong, and returned with only 
eighty men. At the end of eighteen months 
Mr. Atkinson's regiment was mustered out 
of the service in June, 1865, and although 
his will was good his flesh was weak and he 
returned home much shattered in health and 
unable to do a full day's work. He weighed 
175 pounds on entering the service and 125 
pounds when he returned home. Wliile 



316 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



holding the poisition of Alderman of La 
Crosse, he resigned this office to ^o to West 
Salem, where he lived several years, closing 
his business there in 1879. He was married 
March 7, 1857, in Vermont, to Miss Amanda 
Withani, a native of Maine, whose father was 
from Hartford, Connecticct. He is now a 
resident of Concord, Maine, and is eighty- 
one years of age. He was formerly a farmer 
and sawmill operator. His wife was buried 
in 1881 at the age of seventy-five, at Port- 
land, Maine. Three of the nine children 
born to them are still living: Melissa Tlioinp- 
6on, who resides near Bismarck, Dakota; Olive 
Dickinson, of Boston, Massachu.-etts, and 
Mrs. Atkinson. Tlie latter has borne her hus- 
band three children: Frank, married to 
Emma Miner, and a resident of La Crosse, 
has betn engaged in fariring and is the 
owner of a fine farm in Minnesota, which is 
rented; he is the father of a little daughter, 
Geneva; Alice is the wife of C. W. Sprague, 
was married in April, 1891, and is a resident 
of Tacoma, Washington ; and Nettie, who is 
the wife of C. W. Isham, of La Crosse, by 
whom she has two promising children: 
Helen and Woodard. Mr. Atkinson is a 
member of the G. A. U., and his wife 
belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps. They 
are highly respected and worthy people, and 
have taken an active interest in that which 
pertains to the welfare of the county. 

— ~^'»*?-^»-*J^*'-*" 

fRANK E. NICHOLS, of the C. H. 
Nichols Lumber Company, was born in 
Madison, Wisconsin, August 10, 1845. 
His parents, C. M. (a native of New York) 
and Jane M. (Eilkins) Nichols, came to Madi- 
son at a very early <;ay, where the father em- 
barked in the mercantile business, which he 
followed until he came to La Crosse county 



in the fall of 1852. At that time Onalaska 
was as large as La (!!ros8e, and it was indeed 
thought that the former place would be the 
main city. Mr. Nichols opened a store there 
and started a mill at tiie same time, and was 
successful in running both. Haviri": been 
well educated and a school-teacher, he was 
here placed in charge of all the schools in the 
vicinity. He had also studied with a view 
of becoming a physician, but he afterward 
ascertained that his health would not permit 
of such exposure as that calling would entail, 
and he held various offices, and was a man of 
affairs, well and favorably known. 

The mill he sold out to his sons about 
187G; his store he had disposed of many 
years before, and during the remainder of his 
days he lived a retired life. He died in 1877, 
at the age of sixty-four years; his wife died 
just two years previously. They had seven 
children, four of whom died young: the other 
three are Frank E., our subject; Mrs. Fannie 
I'ooler, of Onalaska, and Fred, born April 5, 
1855, and died in 1885. By a former mar- 
riatre, however, Mr. Nichols had had four 
children: George and Charles, both deceased; 
Mary, wife of George Dresbach, both of 
whom also are deceased; and Jane, wife of 
Charles Conway, living at Dresbach, Minne- 
sota. 

Mr. Nichols, the subject of this sketch, 

began the lumber business at the age of six- 
teen years, and has followed it ever since, 
with signal success, although he has been 
burned out several times. At the age of 
twenty-one years he became a partner. The 
first lumberman of Onalaska was C. M. 
Nichols, and when Frank E. became a part- 
ner, with a one-third interest, the firm name 
became C. M. Nichols & Co.; when the father 
died the firm name was changed to C. U. 
Nicliols & Co. ; and a few years ago it was 
changed to a stock company, and the style 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



317 



(changed to tlie C. H. Nichols Lumber Com- 
pany; have been incorporated lor fonr years. 
This is the oldest lumber company on Black 
river, building the first mill in the>e parts. 

Their mill does the largest business of all 
in Onalaska, employing on an average a 
hundred men in summer and al)ont 125 in 
winter. They have about 100,000,000 feet 
of standing lumber, which will be work for 
the mill for the next eight years. The lum- 
ber business has made La Crosse, Onalaska 
and other points along the river. 

Mr. Nichols was married November 26, 
1874, to Miss Dora Green, daughter of J. H. 
and Louisa (Sinkhoif) Green, natives respect- 
ively of Norway and Germany. Tliey have 
live children, namely: Charles Mason, who 
died at the age of two years, in 1877; Dora 
Nell, Raymond Eugene, Frank, Plato and 
Reese Haskell. The family are members of 
the Episcopal Church at Onalaska. They 
built their house of worship and deeded it to 
the village. The father and his family are 
also members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Frank E. Nichols and the other voters of the 
family take little interest in politics, but 
atKliate with the Democratic party. 



fAMES SYKES, an early settler and suc- 
cessful farmer of Farmington township, 
has been a resident of La Crosse county 
since 1849, and is entitled to a space in this 
record of Wisconsin pioneers. He is a native 
of England, born near Manchester, March 30, 
1821, a son" of James and Sarah (Shaw) 
Sykes, natives of the same country. Our 
subject spent his youth in service in a cotton 
factory. He was married February 27, 1841, 
to Miss Rebecca Broad bent, a playmate of 
his childhood and a daughter of Benjamin 
and Sarah Broadbent. Mrs. Sykes is one of 

22 



a family of twelve children. Her parents 
emigrated to the United States, and settled 
in Green county, Wisconsin. After coming 
to this country, Mr. Sykes spent some time 
in the East, and was a resident of Philadel- 
phia for eight years. When he came West 
he made the journey by water the greater 
portion of the way, and spent his lirst winter 
in Green county, Wisconsin. In 1849 he 
took up a Government claim in Farmington 
township, La Crosse county, and worked in 
the woods throush the first winter. Li the 
spring of 1850 his wife and four children 
came to the frontier, and for two years they 
lived on this claim. Mr. Sykes then sold 
out to John Kendrick and improved another 
farm, which he disposed of in 1857; he then 
settled on the land he now occupies. The 
winter of 1858-'59 he spent in the far West, 
as Kansas was then called, engaged in hunt- 
ing and trapping. 

During the civil war Mr. Sykes enlisted 
in the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
Eagle Regiment, Company I, and served 
from September 22, 1861, for a period of 
two years; at the end of that time he was 
discharged on account of disability. 

Mr. Sykes has added to his fartn as his 
means have permitted, until now he owns 
400 acres, improved with every modern con- 
venience; his buildings are substantial; he 
has one of the best equipped sorghum mills 
in the county, and is surrounded with all the 
comforts of modern ingenuity. 

Our subject and wife are the parents of 
eight children, four of whom were born in 
Pennsylvania, and four in Wisconsin: Sarah 
F. is the wife of Chester Andrews, a farmer 
of Farmington township; William is a resi- 
dent farmer in the State of Washington; 
Martha A. wedded Alex. Burr, and resides 
in Minnesota; Rebecca C. became the wife 
of Alex. Clark, and died March 9, 1887; 



318 



BIOGliAPniCAL HISTORT. 



Jolin H. died in Washington, December 16, 
1889, leaving a widow and two cliildren; 
Eunice A. is the wife of Samuel Clark, who 
is engaged in farming in Nebraska; and 
James L. resides on the old homestead, mar- 
ried Stella, dangliter of L. Frank, by whom 
he has one daughter, Olive. 

Mr. Sykes is an ardent Republican, and 
has lield several of the townsliip offices. He 
is a member of Nelson Quiggle Post, No. 233, 
G. A. li. He and his wife belong to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, of North Eend. 
They have seen many privations and hard- 
ships since coming to Wisconsin, but they 
have received a well-merited reward; Mrs. 
Sykes was strong and robust in her earlier 
days, and assisted her husband in every way 
possible; she raised potatoes, which she sold, 
and purciiased their first cow witli the pro- 
ceeds of the sale; she also worked witli iiiin 
in the woods, proving herself a most wortliy 
helpmeet. Tliey are of a kindly, hospitable 
disposition, and are among the most highly 
respected pioneers of the county. 



fOHN ANDERSON.— To this gentleman 
belongs the distinction of being the first 
Norwegian settler in La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, he havinir located here in 1849. 
Mr. Anderson was born in Norway, January 
10, 1822, son of Andrew Johnson and Mary 
(Olson) Anderson. He attended school until 
he was si.xteen years of age, after which he 
learned the carpenter's trade and for some 
years worked at it. At the sige of twenty- 
eiiiht he was united im marriaore with Caro- 
line Olson, who was born and reared in Nor- 
way, daughter of Ole and Retsy Olson. 
Mrs. Anderson's parents came to this country 
in 1855, passed the retnainder of their lives 
in La Crosse county, and died here. 



In 1849 Mr. Anderson sailed from Cliris- 
tiania to New York, landing at the latter 
place after a voyage of eight weeks. From 
New York he went direct to Ruflalo, and 
from there came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
thence to La Crosse county, by ox team. 
This was before there were any railroads in 
Wisconsin. Mr. Anderson came alone to 
this country, and the following year was 
joined by his wife and liis parents. La 
Crosse at that time contained only a few 
houses, and a trading post kept by John Levy. 
Mr. Anderson's first home here was a log 
cabin, which subsequently gave way to his 
present resiuence, a frame house, 18 x 26 feet, 
with an addition 16 x 16 feet. He has a good 
barn, 30x50 feet. Other improvements on 
his farm are a modern windmill, cribs, fences, 
etc., and everything about the premises indi- 
cate tliritt and prosperity. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson seven children 
were born. Of these four have passed away, 
viz.: Anton, who died at the age of twelve 
years; Clara, at eight years; Ottilia, at 
eighteen months; and Julia, at the age of 
thirty-two years. Julia was the wife of John 
E. Olson. She left a family of four chil- 
dren, namely: Clara, Anna, Jennieand Lottie. 
The three living children are as follows: 
Mary, wife of Andrew Ofstedahl, a Norwe- 
gian and a prominent man of La Crosse 
county, has seven children: Jnlien, Allida, 
Clara, Mathias, Arthur, Royna ami Lydia; 
Ellise, wife of John Olson, a merchant of 
Milton, North Dakota, has three children: 
Oscar, Clarence and Ruth; and Nettie, wife 
of Otto Krogrstad, a drugtjist of Grafton, 
North Dakota. They are the parents of two 
children: Lottie and Nora. 

During the many years of his residence 
here Mr. Anderson has been identified with 
the best interests of the county. He believes 
in theadvancem.ent of education, good morals 



BIOOBAPHWAL HISTORY. 



319 



and religion, and his influence has ever been 
exerted with the best elements of the com- 
munity in which he resides. 

Such is a brief review of one of the well- 
known early settlers of La Crosse county. 



AVID BROWN, a prominent and 
wealthy citizen of Farmington town- 
ship. La Crosse county, Wisconsin, flrst 
identified himself with the interests of this 
section of ihe country in 1856. 

Mr. Brown was born in Germany, April 
13, 1826, son of Christian and Katharine 
(Notter) Brown. His parents were born, 
reared, educated and married at Wittenberg, 
Germany. His father was an expert wheel- 
wright. He died on the sea, and had valuable 
tools that were lost. The mother came to 
America, and her death occurred at Oualaska, 
Wisconsin, in December, 1888. Ten chil- 
dren were given to them, of whom live are 
now living, namely: Katharine Spring, of 
Onalaska; David, John, a lumber merchant 
of Buffalo, New York; Fred, foreman of Is- 
land Mill at Onalaska; William, foreman of a 
mill at Hannibal, Missouri. 

David Brown received a fair education, 
attending school until he reached his four- 
teenth year. lie then learned the trade of 
millwright and made himself master of the 
business in all its details. In 1848 he bade 
adieu to his native land and came to America, 
first locating in Philadelphia. We next find 
him in New Jersey, where he worked one 
year at his trade. Later, he operated mills 
in the woods of Pennsylvania, and in 1856 he 
came to La Crosse county, Wisconsin. He 
built the first steam sawmill at Onalaska, 
having brought the machinery for it from 
Philadelphia. Onalaska at that time con- 
tained only about five or six houses. A year 



later Mr. Brown went to New Amsterdam, 
where he was in business for three years. 
He operated a mill and built a house there. 
From that place he went to Bostwick Valley, 
where he ran a flour mill two years. At the 
end of that time he traded his mill for the 
farm he now owns, which was then unim- 
proved. In 1883 he went to La Crosse, and 
in that city built a house and engaged in 
business. Soon afterward, however, he re- 
turned to the old homestead. Here he owns 
440 acres of fine land, well improved. His 
house is 18 x 30 feet, with an L, 16 x 24 feet, 
all a story and a half, and a kitchen, 14 x 14 
feet. He has two barns. One is 42 x 56 
feet in dimension, with stone basement, and 
the other is 18 x 24 feet. His granary is 18 
X 22 feet; crib, 18x24 feet; and shop, 12 x 
20 feet. He has a modern wind pump, and 
has the water piped across the road to a large 
tank. Indeed, everything on this farm is 
arranged with reference to convenience, and 
he has all the latest improved machinery for 
conducting agricultural pui-suits in the most 
approved manner, his machinery embracing 
everything from a hoe to a threshing-machine 
and being valued at $2,000. 

Mr. Brown was married, June 17, 1851, to 
Hortense Huber, who has shared his joys and 
sorrows for the past forty years, and who has 
done her part in bringing about their present 
prosperity. She was born in Austria, August 
15, 1832, daughter of Joseph and Theresa (Ab 
ner) Huber. The former died in Germany and 
the latter came to America, and departed this 
life in La Crosse, aged eighty-two. Mr. and 
Mrs. Brown have had eleven children, and all 
are still living save three. Their names are 
as follows: Ed. C., of Shelby township. La 
Crosse county; David, Jr., of Onalaska; 
Charles L. C, also of Onalaska; Lewis L., 
who has been a mail-carrier in La Crosse for 
six years; Leonard W., who lives on the old 



BIOORAPnWAL niSIORY. 



farm, was married July 23, 1889, to Agnes 
Ellens, of Minnesota, and has one child, 
Rosa Anna; and Henry, P'rank J. and Anna 
K. are at home. Those deceased are Minnie, 
their second child, who died at the age of 
fonr years; Mary, the tilth-born, died at the 
age of eleven years; and Johnny, the youngest, 
was ten years old when he died. 

The home farm is being alily conducted by 
the three youngest sons, who are enterprising 
and successful young men. 



"-€->^>' 



[HARLES M. SCIIAEFER, one of the 
leading contractors of La Crosse, was 
born in the city of Bonn, Germany, in 
1830. His father was a professor in the Uni- 
versity of Bonn, and there lie and the mother 
lived and died. Charles M. received his edu- 
cation in the common schools and in the Uni- 
versity. In 1848, during the Revolution, he 
left his native land and emigrated to the 
United States. He first settled in McHenry 
county, Illinois, Init remained there only 
three months; his next abiding place was 
Madison, Wisconsin, where he lived until 
1855, engaged in agricultural pursuits; he 
next moved to La Crosse, where he kept a 
boarding- liouse on State street, conducting 
this hostlery until 18G0. It was during this 
time that, moved by the German's true love 
of the art of music, he organized the first 
singing society in La Crosse. In I860 he 
moved to the town of Campbell and again 
took up farming. He was elected Clerk for 
five successive years. In 1865 he took the 
position of bookkeeper with the John Paul 
Lumber Company, continuing in that em- 
ploy until 1872. At that time an oppor- 
ttinity to go to Lansing, Iowa, as manager of 
a lumber office, presented itself, and he made 
that point his lieadquarters for four years. 



Having accumulated some capital and a rich 
fund of experience, he went into the business 
of contracting for slabs of the lumber mills 
and selling to the dealers. He is now de- 
voting his energies to contracting in La 
Crosse, and has met with gratifying success. 
Mr. Schaefer was married in 1852, at 
Madison, Wisconsin, to Miss Antoinette 
Koenig, a daughter of Lambert Koenig, a 
native of Germany, who lived and died in 
his beloved Fatherland. To Mr. Schaefer 
and wife were born five children, three of 
whom are living and all of whom are mar- 
ried and living near their father's home. 
Mrs. Antoinette Schaefer died in 1863, at 
the age of thirty-five vPat-s. Mr. Schaefer's 
second marriage occurred in 1865, when he 
was united to Miss Caroline Metcalf, daugh- 
ter of Gilbert and Almira Metcalf, natives of 
Vermont, but at the pi'esent time residents of 
Lawrence, Massachusetts. By this union live 
children were born: Charles, Henry, George, 
Florence, wife of Charles Smith, of La Crosse, 
and Ida. 

EV. FATHER WILLIAM WHITE, 

^^ the present pastor of St. Mary's Cath- 
olic Church, La Crosse, Wisconsin, w^as 
V)orn in Rutland county, Vermont. October 
9. 1850. and is a son of Owen and Elizabeth 
(McDonotigh) White. His parents were from 
Ireland, and on emigrating to the United 
States settled in Vermont, the possibilities of 
the western frontier not then being developed. 
In 1853, however, they came to Wisconsin 
and settled in Sauk county, near the little 
town of Sandusky. There were nine chil- 
dren in the family, only four of whom are 
now livintr. Two of the sons entered the 
priesthood, one of whom died in 1877. The 
latter was a graduate of Milton College, 



JBIOOBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



■A'iX 



Wisconsin, and afterwards studied law. He 
was admitted to the bar in Milwaukee, Jndge 
Arthur McArthur presiding. He practiced 
there some time with flattering success. Be- 
lieving the ministry to be his calling, he 
abandoned his profession and all that it 
promised in the way of worldly advancement, 
to prepare himself for the priesthood. He 
entered St. Francis Setninary, and after 
taking a theological course of study there 
was ordained a priest in 1870. He was as- 
signed to Mansion Parish, where he labored 
indefatigably until God called him to his 
reward. 

The mother of this family, Mrs. Elizabeth 
McDonough White, was a relative of Com- 
modore McDonough, of Lake Champlain 
fame. 

Father White received his elem.entary edu- 
cation in the public schools of Sauk county, 
and at the age of si.xteen years engaged in 
teaching, devoting himself to this profession 
for four years. At the age of twenty-one 
years he entered the State University at 
Madison, Wisconsin, and was graduated from 
that institution in 1873. Soon after this he 
decided to tit himself to enter the priesthood, 
and went to Niagara Falls, New York, where 
he began a four years' course of study in 
philosophy and theology in the Seminary of 
Our Lady of Angels. These were years of 
close application and diligent and earnest 
study, the fitting end of which was his ordi- 
nation as priest, Bishop Ryan, of Buffalo, 
New York, officiating. 

The first parish of which he had charge 
was at Ettrick, Trempealeau county, Wis- 
consin. He entered upon his duties there in 
July, 1877, and remained there until Febru- 
ary 1, 1880. During his pastorate there he 
built a church, and regularly visited the out- 
raissions of Ti'empealeau and Koaring Creek. 
In February, 1880, he was sent to Hammond, 



St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where he also 
had the mission of Wilson, St. Croix county. 
At Hammond he had charge of the Church 
of the Immaculate Conception, which pros- 
pered and grew in numbers under his care. 
These parishes now number about 1,000 
souls. 

In January, 1892, he was appointed to 
succeed Bishop Schwebach at St. Mary's 
Church, La Crosse. This congregation is 
the original Catholic society of La Crosse, 
the first services being held by the Rev. 
Father Tappert, August 24, 1855, in the 
courthouse, which was opened to him as 
well as to all other clergymen. One year 
later St. Mary's Church was dedicated, occu- 
pying the site of the present edifice, which 
was begun in 1874. Rev. Father (now 
Bishop) Schwebach came to this congrega- 
tion in 1870, and after twenty years of faith- 
ful service was succeeded by Father White, 
giving into his charge a united, intelligent 
congregation of 800 souls. The people of 
the church will find in their new pastor not 
only a zealous churchman, but a citizen in- 
terested in public affairs, and well informed 
as to current events. He has brought with 
him a valuable experience gained in other 
fields of labor, and througn his efforts the 
church has much to hope, much to attain. 



^ 



^ 



iPHRAIM STEVENS has resided in La 
Crosse county since 1855, and is entitled 
to more than passing mention in this 
record of the leading citizens and pioneers. 
He was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts, 
November 16, 1828, and is a son of Timothy 
and Eliza (Stimson) Stevens; his father was 
also a native of Massachusetts and a soldier 
in the war of 1812; his paternal grandfather, 
Ephraim Stevens, was born at Holden, Mas- 



323 



BIOGRAPHICAL U I STORY. 



sachnsetts, and served in the war of the 
Kevolution. Tiinotliy Stevens and wife reared 
a family of six sons and six daughters; one 
son died at Andersonville while in the service 
of his country; tiie father was a farmer by 
ocenpation, and in politics was a " Jackson 
man." In liis reliiJioiis faith he adhered to 
the teachings of the Congrej^ational Church. 

Our subject was reared and educated in 
Massachusetts, and in 1854 he made a jour- 
ney to the frontier, coming by the great lakes 
to Chicago, and thence by rail to Galena, Il- 
linois, and by boat to La Crosse. His brother, 
A. J. Stevens, who was at one time associated 
with him in business, was a prominent citi- 
zen of tlie county; bodied in Minnesota in 
1880. After coming to the county in 1885, 
they opened a store in the old hotel at Min- 
doro, and soon after erected a store at that 
place, which they opened December 14. 
This was the first store between La Crosse 
and Black River Falls. After three or four 
years, Ephraim Stevens sold his interest in 
this enterprise, and engaged in farming and 
stock-raising. He now owns 160 acres of 
well improved land, a good house and barn, 
aTid is surrounded with many of the comforts 
of life. 

He was married in 1865 to Miss Ellen II. 
Brown, a native of Vermont and a daughter 
of Samuel and Betsey Brown of La Crosse 
county. Of this union two daughters were 
born: Nellie, who was just entering the pro- 
fession of teaching, died at the age of nineteen 
years; Carrie M. is the wife of Oliver N. 01- 
sen, and the mother of one son, Lynn Stevens 
Olsen. The wife of Mr. Stevens was called 
from this life August 3, 1884. She was a 
woman of excellent traits of cliaracter, a 
zealous w-orker in the Presbyterian Church, 
and a faithful wife and devoted mother. 

Politically Mr. Stevens affiliates with the 
Ivei)ublican party, and is one of the active 



workers in the township; his first vote was 
cast for Fremont in 1856. In the pioneer 
days of the country wdien game was plentiful, 
there was no hunter more successful than our 
worthy subject; he has brought down many a 
deer, and was familiar with every inch of the 
country for many miles. He is a man of 
broad, progressive views, and is one of the 
most popular and Idghly respected residents 
of Farmington township. 

— — —x- ^ - : ' ' i ' ^ 



S. McARTHUR, M. D., was born in 
Holland, Erie county. New York, Oc- 
"* tober 30, 1822, and is the son of Moses 
and Mary (Salisbury) McArthur. He is one 
of the American representatives of the Mc- 
Arthur clan, the eldest branch of the great 
clan Campbell, his grandfather John McAr- 
thur having come to America in 1772, from 
Glen Lyon, Perthshire, Scotland. His early 
life was passed upon his father's farm, and at 
the age of eighteen he entered the academy 
of Aurora, New York, where he studied three 
years. He then determined to enter the 
medical profession, and began his reading 
under the preceptorship of Dr. Paul, of 
Honeoye Falls, New York. He next at- 
tended three courses of lectures at Geneva, 
New York, where lie was under the instruc- 
tion of the celebrated Dr. Frank Hamilton, as 
well as other leaders in the profession. He 
then entered Buffalo Medical College, from 
which he was graduated in 1847. He practiced 
medicine at Holland, New York, for three 
years, and afterwards at Caledonia, New York, 
for several years, but at the end of that time 
the promise of the new West made him de- 
cide to remove to the frontier, and on October 
22, 1855, he arrived at La Crosse, which has 
since been his home. In 1861 he spent sev- 
eral months in New York city, studying at 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



323 



the Long Island Hospital, and the Eye and 
Ear Intirinary. Iti 1866 he again spent 
several months there in study under the 
leading practitioners of that city. Few mem- 
bers of the profession in the West have had 
better opportunities for titling themselves for 
practice, and fevp have become more skillful. 
Dr. McArthur has a line professional library 
and constantly adds to it the standard pro 
fessional works, which are published from 
time to time. He is a close student of the 
science and keeps fully abreast with its prog- 
ress. Of late years his son. Dr. D. S. Mc- 
Arthur, has been associated witli him in 
practice. He was married January 1, 1852, 
to Miss Mary L. Dean, of Caledonia, New 
York. 



^l 



^ 



|ANIEL SEYMOUR Mc ARTHUR, phy- 
sician and surgeon. La Crosse, Wiscon^ 
sin, was born in this city March 28, 
1859, and is the son of Dr. P. S. and Mary 
(Dean) McArthur. He was educated in the 
public school of La Crosse, and graduated 
from its high school in 1887. In the fall 
of the same year he entered the University of 
Wisconsin, and in 1881 was graduated from 
that institution. He had early determined 
upon entering the medical profession, and 
having chosen his studies with that end in 
view, was well prepared at the close of his 
university course to begin his study of medi- 
cine. He entered the Rush Medical College 
at Chicago, and received the degree of M. D. 
in 1884, being valedictorian of his cla^ss. He 
then returned to La Crosse and began profes- 
sional work, being associated with his father. 
In 1888 he entered the Post Graduate Medi- 
cal College and Hospital in New York city, 
pursuing the general course, and also taking 
special instruction in diseases of the nose, 



throat and ear, giving particular attention to 
the methods of instruction in vogue in the 
various hospitals of the city. Dr. McArthur 
was married January 13, 1886, to Miss 
Eloise Johnson, a daughter of N. D. and 
Sarah (Streeter) Johnson. Her parents were 
natives of Massachusetts, their ancestors hav- 
ing settled there early in the seventeenth 
century. They have two children, Helen and 
Philip Seymour. The Doctor is a member of 
the American Medical Association, the Ninth 
International Medical Congress, the State 
Medical Society of Wisconsin, and the La 
Crosse County Medical Society. He has been 
secretary and treasurer of the County Society 
for several years. He is vice-president of 
the American ArchiElpgical Association, and 
takes great pleasure in the study. He is 
prominent in Masonic circles, being W. M. of 
Frontier Lodge, No. 45, F. & A. M., P. E. 
C. of La Crosse Commandery, No. 9, K. T., 
and Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Com- 
mandery of Wisconsin. He is also Past 
Chancellor of La Crosse Lodge, No. 27, 
Knights of Pythias. He has been visiting 
physician of St. Michael's Boys' Orphan Asy- 
lum since 1884. 



^ENRY P. MAG ILL, bank cashier.— 
The city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, is 
'^^i constantly enlarging the scope of her 
influence and the volume of her commerce 
and industries, and has need for additional 
capital and financial facilities, and this fact 
had for some time been apparent before the 
establishment of the Exchange Bank of North 
La Crosse, in the early part of the 80s. 
Established as private bank in 1884, by H. 
P. Magill, in 1889 it was incorporated as a 
State bank, with J. E. Wheeler as president 
and Henry P. Magill as cashier, and has 



334 



BIOGRAPHICAL U I STORY. 



been in successful operation ever since. H. 
P. Ma<rill is a nieml>er of the well-known 
firm of H. P. Magill ifc Burke, investment 
bankers and insurance agents, and obtained 
his knowledge of the banking business in the 
Security liank, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, 
which instiuition he entered in 1883. lie 
was born in Clark county, Ohio, but received 
his initiatory training in the public sciiools 
of La Crosse, and upon attaining a suitable 
age began the study of telegraphy, in the 
pursuit of which calling he spent several 
years in the cities of La Oosse, Mihvaukee, 
Chicago and Cincinnati. Subsequently he 
drifted into railroad contracting, which he 
followed as a business until he took up 
banking. The bank of which he is cashier 
has a capital stock of $25,000, and since its 
inception its business has been carried on 
under the most favorable auspices, and has 
had the cordial indorsement of leading tirins 
and corporations tiiat have opened accounts 
with it. Under the sound and conservative 
inanagen)ent of the president and directors 
the bank is prepared to extend every facility 
consistent with legitimate banking to its cus- 
tomers. The directors are: J. E. Wheeler, 
Mayor Copeland, C. P. Crosby, Henry P. 
Magill and N. B. Hohvay. As a member 
of the firm of Magill & Burke, Mr. Magill is 
engaged in loaning money on real estate, 
mortgages, lionils and local securities, and 
also does the largest fire-insurance business 
in the city, and by the display of faithful 
and conscientious zeal for the Ijest interests 
of his customers, he has secured a clientage 
of no ordinary character. In South La 
Crosse their business requires the constant 
attention of four clerks, and in their bank on 
the corner of Rublee and George streets, in 
North La Crosse, employment is given to 
three clerks. Mr. Magill has been deservedly 
successful in the different enterprises in 



which he has been engaged, and, as he has 
carved out his own career, much credit is due 
him for the admirable way in which lie has 
bent the force of circumstances to his will. 
He was united in marriage, October 21, 1878, 
to Miss Carrie ifoore, daughter of William 
R. Moore, of Danville, Kentucky. Mrs. 
Magill is a highly cultured and refined lady, 
and as she is the possessor of a fine contralto 
voice she is a member of one of the finest 
quartette choirs of the city, which furnishes 
the Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch with music. 
Mr. and Mrs. Magill are members in good 
standing of this church, and move in the 
highest social circles of La Crosse. Mr. 
Magill is especially well and favorably known 
in business circles, and his honor has never 
been questioned. He comes of a fine family 
and his father (of whom mention is made on 
another page of this work) Rev. Henry T. 
Magill, was an esteemed Methodist divine. 



IIIEV. HENRY T. MAGILL, deceased, 
of La Crosse, Wisconsin, who was an 
esteemed divine of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and a man of marked purity of 
character, was born in Saint Clairsville, Bel- 
mont county, Ohio, on the 16th of February, 
1881. His parents were of Scotch-Irish 
origin, and the father, Ciiarles Magill, was a 
local minister of the Methodist Church. 
They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1842, 
and there both received their titial summons. 
Rev. Henry T. Magill was educated at 
Woodward College, graduating in the class 
of 1850, and soon after entered the ministry 
in tlie Ohio conference, filling \arious ap- 
pointments in the same, notably in Zanes- 
ville and Portsmouth districts. He came to 
La Crosse in the fall of 1860, being transfer- 
red on account of his health, and filled the 






^, 



^ /^-^i.^^ (P. -P^a^A^^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8I0RT. 



325 



Methodist Episcopal pulpit in the Fourth 
Street Church for two years, the limit of 
time allowed by the church at that day. He 
was then appointed by the conference to the 
Eau Claire pulpit. He was in very poor 
health at that time and his physician forbade 
his going, but being enthusiastic in liis life- 
work he l)egan preparing to move. Wliile 
thus engaged he was taken with hemorrhage 
of the lungs, and was obliged to give up his 
ministerial duties for a time. Instead he 
went to Mindoro and engaged in merchandis- 
ing, which he carried on successfully. Three 
and a half years later his death occurred, 
May 29, 1866. "The good old Ohio confer- 
ence had few young men more noble and 
gifted than Henry Taylor Magill," writts a 
friend who had known him for years. He 
was a man of strong and vigorous mind, was 
well beloved by all iiis acquaintances, and ex- 
erted a great influence over those with whom 
he associated. 

He was married on the 18th of July, 1861, 
to Miss Abbie S. Beutley, daughter of Edwin 
S. and JM. M. Bentley. Mrs. Magill is a lady 
of culture and refinement and was a pupil in 
the seminary at Charlotteville, New York. 
She was a teacher for one year at Carlisle 
Seminary, New York State. They had five 
cliildren. Mrs. Magill is still living, and is 
an honored and respected resident of La 
Crosse city. 

^ISHOP KILLIAN CASPER FLASCH, 
deceased, was born at Retzstadt, Bavaria, 
July 9, 1831, and in 1847 came to 
America with liis father, Andi-eas Flnsch, 
who settled at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as 
one of the pioneers of the Badger State. He 
served as Justice of the Peace in Fond du Lac 
county for many years, and died there in 1869, 



a gentleman highly esteemed for his integrity 
of character. One son and three daughters 
were left to mourn his loss. The daughters 
entered the Notre Dame Convent at South 
Bend, Indiana, as nuns. The son, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, decided to devote his life 
to the churcli, and became a student at Notre 
Dame University. From there he entered 
St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, and 
graduated. He was ordained priest Decem- 
ber 16, 1859, and assigned to mission work, 
where he Avas ever active and worthy. In 
November, 1869, he returned to St. Francis 
Seminary and accepted a professorship, which 
place he tilled until failing health compelled 
his retirement. 

After a brief rest lie was assigned to active 
duty in the ministry and took charge of St. 
Mary's congregation at Elm Grove, Wiscon- 
sin, remaining there till 1875, when he again 
returned to the seminary, to fill the chair of 
theology. In 1879 he was appointed rector 
of the institution, and remained there until 
1881. August 24, that year, he was conse- 
crated Bishop of La Crosse, of which city he 
was an honored resident until his death. 

Bishop Flasch was never a robust man. 
In 1867 he had an attack of typhoid fever, 
which came very near proving fatal. His 
strong will brought him through the fever, 
and supported him through many trials. In 
May, 1891, while on a visit to New Orleans 
for the good of his health, he was taken sud- 
denly worse and never recovered. Rev. 
Father Kilian Beyer, of La Crosse went to 
Chatawa, Mississippi, and brought the sick 
prelate North. On reaching Milwaukee they 
were obliged to remain tliere several days; 
they finally reached home, however, which 
had been the great desire of the sick man 
from the time of his sudden attack. The 
struggle with death then began in earnest, 



•626 



BIOORAFHIUAL HI8T0BY. 



and terminated at 6:15 a. m., August 3, 
1891. 

Bishop Flasch was noted for his kindness 
of heart and his religious fervor. His acts 
of charity were numerous, and he was greatly 
beloved by all his church, while his exemplary 
life and great wortii won respect and admir- 
ation even from people of other creeds than 
liis own. Many of the charitable and benev- 
olent institutions which adorn and bless the 
city of La Crosse are a direct outgrowth of 
Bisliop Flasch's innate desire to " do good to 
all mankind." 

During his illness he was attended by his 
two sisters, who now live in the convent at 
Milwaukee, — Sister Killiaua and Sister Lau- 
rentia. It was most fitting that he should 
pass away in his chosen home surrounded by 
his dearest friends, in the city where he had 
accomplished his greatest work as a church- 
man and won a distinction accorded to but 
few. He was conscious to the last, his latest 
andil)le words being a whispered prayer 
coupled with tlie name of Jesus. Those 
present at his deathbed were Very Rev. 
Father James Schwebach, now administrator 
of the Diocese of La Crosse; Rev. Kilian 
G. Beyer, nephew of the Bishop; Very Rev. 
Father Vander Sanden, of St. Louis; Rev. 
Father Joseph B. Wiedmann, of St. Joseph's 
Cathedral, La Crosse; Rev. James Nevin, of 
St. Mary's Church; the two sisters of the 
Bishop and several other Franciscan sisters 
from St. Francis Hospital, La Crosse. 

The funeral of the lamented Bishop was 
one of the most imposing events in the his- 
tory of La Crosse. Archbishop Katzer and 
other notable leaders of the church were 
present. The body was consigned to its 
final resting place August 11. It is authori- 
tatively stated that 175 priests were present 
from ahnjud. The procession was headed I)y 
seven anchorites, followed in order by 109 



priests dressed in their church vestments; 
Archbishop Katzer, of Milwaukee; Arch- 
bishop Ireland, of St. Paul; Bishop Zardette, 
of St. Cloud, Minnesota; Bishop Cotter, of 
Winona, same State; Bishop Scanlan, of 
Omaha; Mon8igi)eurZeininger,of Milwaukee; 
and Very Rev. Father James Schwebach. 

At the church the e.xercises were conducted 
by Archbishop Katzer, beginning with a 
recitation of the '• Offices of the Dead," and 
participated in Uy all the churchmen. The 
service was very impressive. A guard of 
honor, composed of Division No. 1, Ancient 
Order of Hibernians, stood near the casket, 
while the officiating priestschanted the funeral 
service. Tippman's orchestra assisted in the 
rendition of appropriate music. The services 
were attended by about 3,000 people, while 
other thousands were unable to obtain even 
standing room within the church, but waited 
patiently without, equally manifesting their 
interest in the sad rites. Archbishop Katzer 
officiated at the solemn requiem mass, assisted 
by Mousigneur Zeiiiinger, Rector Reinor, of 
St. Francis, and Dr. Moes, of Ohio. This 
very impressive ceremony closed, Bishop 
Cotter, of Winona, delivered an eloquent and 
feeling sermon, in English, and with a strong 
voice which reached every corner of the vast 
auditorium. The discourse, a glowing trib- 
ute to the memory of the deceased, touched 
upon the uncertainty of earthly existence, 
the promises of life hereafter and the life of 
the de()arte<l prelate. Father Abbelen, of 
Milwaukee, followed with a sermon in the 
German language, including in his address 
feeling references to his early acquaintance 
with the deceased bishop, briefly tracing the 
career of his old-time friend fiom 1866 to the 
day of his death, and pathetically referring to 
his exceptionally devout and Christian spirit 
and his modesty in shrinking from public 
honors. He preferred, he said, to be known 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



337 



simply as " Father Flasch," and when the 
recognition of iiis superior ability forced his 
advancement first to a professorship, then a 
rectorate and finally the episcopacy, he bore 
his honors in a true Christian spirit. 

The procession to the grave was headed 
by Tippman's military band, followed by 
the uniformed Bohemian Knights, Catholic 
Knights, the Hibernians, St. Joseph's So- 
ciety, the Society of St. Boniface, and dele- 
gations from other Catholic societies of the 
city. The procession was one of the largest 
ever seen in La Crosse, and the good Bishop 
Flasch was laid to rest in a most befitting 
manner. 



^ 



^ 




j;. EMERSON, one of the most faith- 
ful and efficient employes of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Northern Kail- 
road Company, was born at New Comerstown, 
Ohio, in 1858, a son of Cabel T. and Louisa 
A. (LVeeman) Emerson. The father was a 
professor in an Ohio college, but his latter 
years were spent in the ministry of the Bap- 
tist denomination in Ohio, Illinois and Min- 
nesota. He died August 9, 1881; the mother 
is still living, and resides at Tacoraa, Wash- 
ington. O. B. Emerson obtained his educa- 
tion at Austin, Minnesota, attending school 
until he was seventeen years of age; he 
remained there until 1878, when he went to 
the Black Hills; there he engaged in driving 
a team, his route being from the Black Hills 
to Bismarck, Dakota. Li the meantime his 
parents had removed to Moorhead, Minne- 
sota, and in the spring following his residence 
in Dakota he too went to Moorhead, and ob- 
tained a position in a hardware store, where 
he was employed two years. He then took a 
position in the Great Northern freight office 
at liarnesville, Minnesota, and after one 



year's service there he entered the employ of 
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as a 
brakeman, and finally became baggagemas- 
ter. He was next engaged on the river 
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul Railroad, and at the end of two years 
he accepted a position with the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Northern Railroad Company, and 
for the past four years has been in their 
service. He is one of the most reliable con- 
ductors on this road, and is highly esteemed 
by the officials of the road. 

Mr. Emerson was married November 15, 
1887, to Miss Louisa Miller, daughter of 
A. S. and Mary Miller, of Minneapolis, Min- 
nesota. Mr. Miller is the manager of a 
large carriage-painting establishment of that 
city. In his political opinions Mr. Emerson 
is identified with the Republican party. 



AMUEL YOUNG, freight and passen- 
ger conductor on the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Northern Railroad, was born in 
Galena, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, January 
10, 1856. His parents, William and Eliza- 
beth (Adams) Young, were natives of the 
Keystone State, and the father was a collector 
for steamboats, the old "Northern Line 
Packet Company," also the '• White Collar 
Line," both extending from St. Louis to St. 
Paul. His death occurred July 5, 1874, 
when fifty-four years of age. He was an 
honorable and useful citizen, and was highly 
esteemed in all the walks of life. His wife, 
who had heart trouble, died about three 
hours after her husband's death, when but 
forty-four years of age. She possessed many 
virtues and was a loving wife and mother. 
Samuel Young, the fourth in a family of 
seven children, five sons and two daughters, 
all of whom are now living, began working 



328 



BIOanAPlIlCAL HISTORY. 



for himself as braketnaii on the St. Louis, 
Kansas City «& Northern Railroad. From 
1875 to 1879 he was brakeiuau and train 
baggageman on the same road, and after this 
he went to the Wabash between Danville, 
Illinois, and Quincy of that State, as brake- 
man for one year. He was then conductor 
on tlie Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Kail- 
road for five years, after which he came to 
Savanna, Illinois, in 188G, when the Chicago, 
Burlington & Nortiiern Railroad was build- 
ing, and has been on the same road ever 
since, serving in his present capacity. 

He was married February 18, 1880, to 
Miss Lucy Tindall, who was third in order of 
birth of four children born to Georire W. and 
Mary Tindall, honored and highly respected 
citizens of Upper Alton, Illinois. The father 
is a fruit-grower and dealer of his town. 
Their children (Mrs. Young's sisters) are 
named as follows: Sarah, a dressmaker of 
St. Louis; Maria, at home; and Alice, who 
resides in St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Young's 
union has been blessed by the birth of two 
bright children: Mary and Geoige, both 
pupils of the public schools. Mr. Young is 
a member of the O. R. C, and as a citizen, 
business man and neighlior, stands high in 
the community. He generally votes with 
the Democratic party, but is not active in 
politics. Mrs. Young is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

^^-^^ 



f BURNETT, one of the pioneers of La 
Crosse, and a man closely identified 
' with the building interests of this sec- 
tion, is a native of the State of New York, 
born in Cattaraugus county, January 27, 
1828. His parents, Davis and Elizabeth 
(Runnels) I'urnett, were both New England 
people and of English extraction. During 



the childhood of our subject they removed to 
Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where they 
passed the remainder of their days. Young 
Burnett resided at home until he was eighteen 
years of age, and then went to Licking county, 
Ohio, where he learned the trade of a carpen- 
ter and joiner. He followed this vocation 
for three years, when he became interested 
in the millwrigiit's trade, which he followed 
until 1851. In that year he went to Indiana 
and again took up the carpenter's trade, 
erecting during the summer a large seminary 
building. In the autumn of 1851 he came 
to Wisconsin, locating at La Crosse, the busi- 
ness portion of which was made up of two 
stores and a hotel. 

Mr. Burnett was married in Bucyrus, Ohio, 
iu May, 1849, to Miss Eliza Benham. Mrs. 
Burnett's home at that time was in Newark, 
Ohio; she is a native of Cliittenden county, 
Vermont, and is a daughter of Philander and 
Relief (Umphrey) Benham, natives of Rhode 
Island and of English lineage. Their ances- 
try dates back many generations in this 
country, members of the family being soldiers 
ot the war of 1812 and of the Revolution. 

After Mr. Burnett came to La Crosse he 
combined his two trades, and has assisted in 
the erection of many of the large buildings, 
mills and bridges in this part of the country. 
He has been employed in the erection of 
mills over the States of Wisconsin and Min- 
nesota. These two occupations he has made 
his life's work, and his labors have been 
crowned with success. For five years he 
gave some attention to the lumber business; 
this was during the Rebellion, and he was at 
that time located in Minnesota. In addition 
to the many houses he has erected by con- 
tract, he has built a number on his own ac- 
count, and now occupies a large brick block 
at 402 South Third street. Politically he 
affiliates with the Republican party, and has 



BIOGBAPBWAL HISTORY. 



339 



been a member of the Board of Supervisors. 
Mr. and Mrs. Burnett are the parents of 
one child, Lovej Relief, wife of John Scriver, 
of La Crosse. The family are connected 
with the Baptist Church. 



^EV. A. K. SAGEN, pastor of the Nor- 
% wegian Lutheran Church, of La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, was born in Dane county, 
Wisconsin, February 11, 1851, and is a son 
of K. K. and Mary (Burthe) Sagen. The 
father was a native of Boe, Norway, and the 
mother of Lunde, in the same country. They 
emigrated to America in 1845, and located 
in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they re- 
bided six years; at the end of that time they 
reiiio\ed to Ridgeway, Iowa county, Wis- 
consin, where tlie father died in 1861. The 
mother then went to Worth county, Iowa, 
and was living with her son at the time of 
her death in 1878. 

OF the family of nine children Mr. Sagen 
was the liftli-born; his eldest bi-other, K. K. 
Sao-en, Jr., is now Clerk of the District 
Courts in Worth county, Iowa. In 1869 he 
entered the Lutheran College at Decorah, 
Iowa, and was graduated in the class of 1874. 
He then went to St. Louis and spent one 
year at Concordia Seminary. Being depend- 
ent upon his own resources, he was obliged 
to leave school for two years, during which 
time he was employed in teaching school in 
Fillmore county, Minnesota, and in the paro- 
chial school at Decorah, Iowa. Having saved 
a portion of his earnings, he again entered 
Concordia Seminary in 1877, and was grad- 
uated in 1879. He was ordained a minister 
of the Lutheran Church in 1879 by Bishop 
V. Koren, and took charge of the congrega- 
tions in Norman and Polk counties, Minne- 
sota. He remained with this work five years. 



and was then called as assistant pastor to the 
Rev. V. Koren, near Decorah, Iowa, filling 
the appointments at Ossian, Calmar and Sta- 
vanger for a period of four years. In Au- 
gust, 1888, he became pastor of the Nor- 
wegian Lutheran Church at La Crosse, under 
the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. 

Mr. Sagen was united in marriage Decem- 
ber 13, 1875, to Miss C. A. Hegg, of Deco- 
rah, Iowa. She was born at Washington 
Prairie, Winneshiek county, Iowa, December 
16, 1855. No children have been born to 
them, but they have adopted Olga Caroline 
Andrea, who was born February 13, 1888. 

Tiie cliurch over wliich Mr. Sagen presides 
is composed of about 100 families. He 
addresses the congregation in their native 
tongue (that is the Norwegian), excepting 
every fourth Sabbath evening, when the ser- 
mon is delivered in English. During the 
summer months, when the public schools are 
closed, a parochial school is conducted in the 
church, when the Norwegian language is 
taught. This congregation is the largest and 
most prosperous one in the city, made up of 
Norwegians. Their church building is two 
stories high, and is situated on tiie corner of 
Sixth and Division streets. A Sabbath- 
sciiool, numbering 200 children, is conducted 
in the basement. The Ladies' Aid Society is 
one of tlie most zealous organizations of the 
church. 



4^ 



^ 



HARLES R. THORP, is a member of 
one of the most patriotic families of 
Wisconsin, and is a well-known citizen 
of Farmington township. La Crosse county, 
residing near Burr Oak. 

Mr. Thorp was born in Rock Island, Illi- 
nois, February 27, 1851, a son of David and 
Anna (Ilurlburt) Thorp. His father was 



330 



BIOORAPUICAL HISTORY. 



born nearOgdensbnrgh, St. Lawrence county. 
New York, and his grandfather, William 
Thorp, was a native of New Jersey. His 
maternal grandfather was Dr. Jonathan Hurl- 
hurt, a prominent and successful physician, 
and his grandmother Hurlburt was before 
her marriage a Miss Eaker. David Thorp 
and Anna Hurlburt were married in Ohio; 
moved from there to Michigan and located 
near Paw Paw; thence to a place near Green 
Oak, Indiana; next to Rock Island county, 
Illinois; and several years later, in 18G0, 
came to La Crosse county and settled on the 
land where Charles R. now lives. They had 
ten children. One died in infancy and the 
others grew to adult age. Only three, how- 
ever, are now living: Charles R. and his two 
sisters, — Jane S. Reynolds, of Buffalo, Iowa, 
and Aurilly L. Benedict, who live on the old 
home place. Four of the sons served in the 
Union army; William H., a member of Com- 
pany F, Twenty-tifth Wisconsin Infantry, 
died at Snyders' Bluft', of disease contracted 
in tl\e service; Lewis F., a member of the 
same regiment and company, while on the 
Mississippi River between Little Rock and 
Helena, Arkansas, fell from the boat and was 
drowned in the river; John W., a member of 
the Eighth Infantry, Coinjjany I, Eagle Regi- 
ment, was killed at the battle of Corinth; and 
Simeon B., a member of the Seventh Kansas 
Cavalry, known as " Jayhawkers," made a 
brilliant record in the army, and died after a 
service of two years. Another brother was 
killed by " Bushwhackers," in Arkansas, 
about the time the war began, being shot 
through the left arm and side. William II. 
was with him at the time, but made his es- 
cape to the North. Tiie father of this family 
was a carpenter and chairmaker by trade. He 
was once a Whig, but later a Republican. In 
religion he was a member of the Methodist 



Church. Both parents were highly esteemed 
and respected by all w^ho knew them. 

Charles R. Thorp was nine years of age 
when they moved to La Crosse county. Here 
he grew up and received iiis education. In 
1S77 he went to Colfax county, Nebraska, 
and the following year to Buena Vista county, 
Iowa, where he remained four years engaged 
in farming. He then returned to this county 
ar.d has since resided here. 

At the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Thorp 
was united in marriage with Mary W. Isbell, 
who was born at Elizabeth, in Jo Daviess 
county, Illinois, daughter of W. H. Isbell and 
Emily F. (Endicott), his wife. She was reared 
and educated in her native county. Her 
fatlier came to La Crosse county in 1872. 
Mr. and Mrs. Thorp have eight children, 
viz.: Boon A., John W., Roy F., George W., 
Edith E., Charley E., Mary E. and Florence 
O. Mr. Thorp owns an eighty-acre farm and 
is comfortably situated. In politics he is 
Republican. 

■ ... .. ^ . : it ; ' gi" " 



fOIIN KENRICK is one of the old set- 
tlers atid a highly respected citizen of 
La Crosse county. He was born in North- 
amptonshire, England, August 4, 1813, and 
is a son of Buxton and Hannah (Ross) Ken- 
rick. His father was an English gentleman, 
and he was reared and educated according to 
the standard of that station. At the age of 
sixteen years he sailed to the East Indies, aiid 
for several jnontiis he was in Calcutta. In 
1834 he emigrated to America, and settled 
in Essex county. New York, on the border of 
Lake Champlain; there he lived for ten years, 
and in 1844 pushed out to the frontier, set- 
tling in Walworth county, Wisconsin; this 
he made his home until 1853, when he came 
to Farmington township; previous to this. 



BIOOBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



331 



however, he had lived for a short time in 

Hock county, where he had followed farming. 

He boiiffht a tract of land in Farininarton town- 
ee ^ 

ship, which he improved and where he resided 
until 1891, disposing of the property at that 
time and going to Mindoro, where he owns 
one of the nicest of homes. 

Mr. Kenrick has been twice married ; at the 
age of twenty-five years he was united to 
Miss Clara Coman, in Essex county, New 
York. Two children were born to them: 
Henry, a re^ident of Farmington township, 
and Antoinette, wife of Josiah L. Pettingill, 
of La Crosse. The mother died in 1843. It 
was in February, 1866, that Mr. Kenrick was 
married to Mrs. Mary L. Post, widow of 
Joseph T. Post; by her former marriage she 
is the mother of four children: Calista, wife 
of William Atwater and mother of three 
children; Sheldon S., of La Crosse; Marcus 
and Ogilvie, who also reside in La Crosse. 
Joseph T. Post died April 27, 1863, aged 
forty-eight years; he was a native of Madison 
county. New York. Mrs. Kenrick's maiden 
name was Leet, she was born August 28, 
1819, and is a daughter of John Sheldon and 
and Caroline (Stimson) Leet, natives of Con- 
necticut and Massachusetts respectively. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Kenrick are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he 
has been steward for many years. In his 
political convictions lie adheres to the princi- 
ples of the Republican party. He is a man 
of great integrity of character, and is worthy 
of the place lie occupies in the community. 



*°^" gi ' S " I ' ,^" -^ 

lANIEL SHANE, of section 15, Burns 
township, was born in Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, November 29, 1830, a 
son of George and Mary (Giger) Shane, both 
also natives of Pennsylvania. The father 



was a son of George Shane, a native of Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania, and a soldier in 
the Revolutionary war, being a driver of an 
ambulance waeon. He was a tailor bv trade, 
was the owner of saw and flouring mills, and 
also owned and operated several large farms. 
Our subject's parents had six children, four 
of whom still survive, viz.: Daniel, our sub- 
ject; William of Burns township; Tiiomas 
of Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and Mary, the 
wife of Orlando Brown, also of Buffalo county, 
Wisconsin. One daughter, Rebecca, died in 
Pennsylvania in 1854, at about the age of 
twenty years. 

The subject of this sketch learned the car- 
riagemaker's trade in Pennsylvania, at which 
he worked for seven years, atid during two 
years of that time he was employed by Dun- 
lap & Co., of Philadelphia. He came West 
in the fall of 1855 and purchased 200 acres 
of land where he now lives, on which he set- 
tled in May, 1856, and to which he has since 
added until he now owns 320 acres. He is 
one of the priucipal stockholders and incor- 
porators of the Burns Cheese Manufacturing 
Association, of which he is the business 
manager. The Victory was built in 1874 by 
Joseph Hauton, who operated it two years 
and then sold to the present incorporated 
company. 

Mr. Shane was married March 24, 1857, to 
Anna M. Melick, a nativeof Columbia county, 
Pennsylvania, and daughter of Peter Melick, 
now deceased. They have nine children, 
namely: Forest D., a resident of Hamilton 
township, married Cora Vanwaters; Rebecca, 
the wife of William Bradley of West Salem; 
Orpha J., the wife of Eugene W. Richards, 
of West Salem; Ulysses G. married ElBe 
Sibley, and lives near Aberdeen, South Da- 
kota; Mary, the wife of Frank Bowles, of 
Hamilton township; George, of West Salem; 
Bertha, Robert and Clyde, at home. Mr. 



332 



BiOGRAPaiCAL HISTORY. 



Shane lias held the office of Justice of tlie 
Peace and Town Chairman several years. 
His wife and several children are members of 
the Methodist Church, and he also gives lib- 
erally to the support of the gospel. Politic- 
ally he affiliates with the Republican party. 



-^■^^yzn/l- 



'^/l/m^^ 



>,IKAM P. LAN PH ERE, the villasre 
blacksmith of Mindoro, Wisconsin, is 
one of the early settlers of La Crosse 
county, and a veteran of the late war. 

He was born in Potter county, Pennsyl- 
vania, October 18, 1842, son of Maxson and 
Eunice (Parinenter) Lanphere, natives of 
Rhode Island. The Lanpheres traced their 
ancestry back to the English. Grandfather 
Jonathan Parmenter was a son of a Revolu- 
tionary soldier who lived to be 103 years 
old. Maxson Lanphere and his family came 
to La Crosse county in 1853 and settled in 
Burns Valley. The mother departed this 
life in 1886, aged eighty-two years. The 
father is still living and resides at Shamrock, 
Jackson county, Wisconsin, lieing now in his 
eighty-seventh year. They had a family of 
ten children, all of whom arrived at adult 
age. viz.: David. Harriette, Lovina, Lncinda, 
Amy, Maxson, Eunice, Margaret, Hiram and 
Martha. Hiram was a lad of twelve years 
when they came to this country, and here he 
grew up and was educated. In August, 1864, 
he enlisted his services for the protection of 
the Union, becoming a member of Company 
E, Third Wisconsin Cavalry. He was hon- 
orably discharged June 19, 1865, at Benton 
liurracks, Missouri. During the most of his 
service he was in Missouri and Arkansas. 
Returning to Burns Valley he remained there 
some time, and in 1872 went to Modena, 
Buffalo county, where he was enoraaed in 
work at the blacksmith trade until 1879. 



That year he returned to La Crosse county 
and located at Mindoro. Being an expert 
workman he has all he can do, and from 
morning till night the ring of his hammer is 
heard. 

In October, 1868, Mr. Lanphei'e wedded 
Olive Draper, who was born in New Hamp- 
shire. Her father, John Draper, was among 
the early settlers of Burns Valley, and served 
during the late war as a member of the Third 
Minnesota Infantry. In this county she 
grew up and received her education. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Lanphere have been born six 
children, viz.: Minnie, wife of John Dorcas 
of Burns Valley; Nellie, Carrie, Melvin, 
Alice and Vernie. 

Mr. Lanphere is an enthusiastic Republi- 
can and a charter member of Nelson Quygle 
Post, No. 233, G. A. R. He has served in 
various offices in the post. Is also a member 
of the Modern Woodmen. He is a man of 
strong physique and is in the prime of life. 
Fraidv and jovial in manner and honorable in 
all his business dealings, few have a larger 
circle of friends than he. 

-— ^ "^'j i ' t ' ^ 



fVRON II. DAVIS, deceased, was a man 
of exceptionally fine business qualifica- 
tions, and as such was prominently 
identified with tlie development and growth 
of La Crosse. He was born in Canada, jnst 
over the line from Vermont, and in sympathy 
and interests was a citizen of that State. 
About the year 1844, when a youth of eigh- 
teen years, he left home to try his fortune in 
the " Wild West," and he often entertained 
his friends with a graphic description of his 
trip from Buffalo to Chicago by way of the 
Great Lakes, and his experiences in securing 
employment among a strange people. At 
the age of twenty he found liimself in Galena, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



333 



Illinois, and was engaged in various pursuits 
until the breaking out of the civil war. As 
a personal friend of Generals Grant, Rollins 
and Smith, he spent some years in the army, 
frequently in tiie thick of the fight. 

In 1866 lie came to La Crosse, and was 
connected with the firm of Davis, Medary & 
Hill, which purchased the leather and saddlery 
and hardware business of Grant, Burke & Co.; 
this firm was afterwards changed to Davis & 
Medary, and they erected the La Crosse tan- 
nery; the business was finally merged into a 
stock coinpimy (Davis, Medary & Platz Com- 
pany), and Mr. Davis retained a large amount 
of stock. He was elected vice-presideiit of 
the Batavian Bank upon its organization, an 
office he held at the time of his death; he was 
also president of the tannery company already 
mentioned, at the time of his death. In 
1886, at the age of sixty years, he retired 
from active business pursuits, and was so 
situated as to fully enjoy the remainder of his 
days in the reward that honesty, industry and 
strict integrity had won. Upright in all his 
dealings, he demanded of every one, with 
whom he had business relations, the same 
compliance with what he regarded as legiti- 
mate commercial methods. 

While manifesting a marked interest in 
local and national affairs, he would never con- 
sent to fill an official position within the gitt 
of the people. He had many warm ])ersonal 
friends, and enjoyed his association with them 
in a most genuine and hearty fashion. When 
he passed from this life to the reality of the 
beyond, he was truly mourned by the entire 
community. The directors of the Batavian 
Bank and also the La Crosse Club met and 
adopted resolutions of respect and expressing 
the deep loss sustained in the death of this 
most estimable citizen. 

Mr. Davis was married to Miss Mary Sale, 
and to them were born two children: William 



G. and Walter S.; these two young men 
compose fhe firm of Davis & Co., who con- 
duct a wholesale and retail cigar and tobacco 
business in La Crosse; the business has been 
established about fifteen years; this firm suc- 
ceeding that of Matt Weix; they are doing 
an excellent business, and have extended their 
trade through Wisconsin, Minnesota and 
and Northern Iowa. 



""I* ^ '* ' * l '"" 



fHxVKLES H. NICHOLS, president of 
the C. H. Nichols Lumber Company, 
was born in Williamson, Wayne 
county. New York, August 26, 1831. His 
parents, Colonel Charles Marion and Jane E. 
(Casey) Nichols, were from Auburn, New 
York. The father, a merchant, and a man 
of some prominence in business, was a friend 
of William H. Seward. The family moved 
to Michigan, locating at Kalamazoo, where 
Mr. Nichols continued in mercantile busi- 
ness for a number of years, and it was while 
living there that he received the title of 
Colonel from Governor S. T. Mason. 

He moved to Wisconsin some time before 
1850, settling in Dane county; and he opened 
a store in Madison and a farm at Cottage 
Grove. Charles was employed in the store. 
His elder brother, George, was a civil engin- 
eer and located at St. Paul, where Charles 
went in 1851, and retuained two years. 
George died there, at the age of twenty-one 
years, of quick consumption. Colonel Nichols 
removed to Onalaska in 1852, and with a 
partner began lumbering, under the firm 
name of Nichols & Tompkins. Charles 
went there and in 1853 was employed as 
clerk for the boom company existing there 
at that time. He continued with them until 
he was of age, and thenceforward he was with 
his father until the latter retired. About 



^3 



334 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



1857 they purchased the Royce & Boyce 
mill, and made lumber there for nearly fif- 
teen years. In 1871 Colonel Nichols sold 
the business to his son Charles and his son- 
in-law, Frank Pooler, givinu; them each 
$10,000 and lendinfr them jointly $20,000. 
This, perhaps, put a rather high valuation 
on the property at that time, but it was au 
established business with an exceptionally 
good site. The business was profitably con- 
ducted in this form until 1887, when the C. 
H. Nichols Lumber Company was organized. 

Mr. Nichols, our subject, was married, 
June ly, 1859, to Miss Helen M. Farrand, 
daughter of William and Ruby Farrand, 
natives of New York, who came to Onalaska 
in 1857. Mr. Farrand, also a lumberman, 
was well and favorably known; he died 
August 12, 1868, at the age of sixty-four 
years. Mrs. Farrand is still living, with 
powers of body and mind quite well pre- 
terved, at the age of seventy-nine years. Of 
their eight children, three are living, viz.: 
Charles, a lawyer of Onalaska; Mrs. C. H. 
Niciiols; Ira, who married Miss Lizzie Fahey, 
and resides at Galesville, Trempealeau county; 
t«o children died in infancy; Henry R. died 
at the age of fifteen and a half years; James 
Crouger, the second son, died at the age uf 
fifty-two years; he married Emeline Aiken, 
who now resides at Onalaska; Esther, the 
third in the family, married William A. 
Thayer, and died July 16, 1887. 

Mr. Nichols first found it necessary to 
spend the winter in the South in 1881, and 
for four years spent the cold months at 
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, or at Mineral 
Wells, Texas. Then he spent a winter or two 
in New Orleans, but traveled about some, 
and, being pleased with the situation at 
Eustis, Florida, bought laud there, built a 
pretty cottage, setting the grounds cut to 
fruit and ornamental trees. But his throat 



trouble increased, and he went to Chicago 
for treatment; but failing to receive benefit 
he went to Columbus, Ohio, in the spring of 
1891, and dieil there October 28, following. 
The body was brought home and buried 
November 1, with solemn Masonic rites. 
The deceased was a member of the Episcopal 
Church. He was a thoroughly good Chris- 
tian, had many friends and but few, if any, 
enemies. The Nichols lumber firm built the 
Episcopal Church at Onalaska. 

Mrs. Jane Conway, wife of Charles Con- 
way, at Dresbach, Minnesota, is a sister of 
the deceased; and another sister, Mary, mar- 
ried George Driesbacii ; both are now deceased. 



AMES HENRY, Jr., turnkey of the La 
Crosse county jail, was born in the city 
of Chicago, Hlinois, December 9, 1845, 
and is a son of James and Martha (Hare) 
Henry, natives of county Antrim, Ireland. 
The parents were reared in their native land, 
arid they were married in April, 1839. Soon 
after this event they set sail for America, the 
trip being their bridal tour. They had little 
of this world's goods, but were blessed with 
good constitutions, loving hearts and willing 
hands. They landed in the city of Quebec, 
and proceeded thence to Montreal, where 
they spent the first summer; Mr. Henry was 
employed at farm work the first year of his 
residence here, and then went to Burlington, 
Vermont, where he was engaged at work in 
the round-house for three years, Frank 
Stevens being head manager of the railroad. 
Upon leaving Burlington, he came West and 
located in Chicago, then a slushy, swampy, 
village; he was employed in that place three 
years, working in the machine shops which 
he helped build. It was in 1860 that he 
came to La Crosse county and settled in 



BIOGRAPniOAL HISTORY. 



335 



Farmington township, where he became the 
owner of 720 acres of land. He applied 
himself diligently to agricultural pursuits, 
tilling the soil and raising and feeding live- 
stock, and his efforts were crowned witl' suc- 
cess. Mrs. Henry is cue of a family of four 
daughters and two sons, none of whom ever 
came to America, and only two of whom 
survive, John and Betty. Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry have a family of five children: Edward 
is logging on Black river-, he married Anna 
Gorton, and to them were born two children, 
Mary E. and Winifred; the mother died in 
1891, aged twenty-six; before her marriage 
she was a teacher, and was an ornament and 
honor to the profession; Martha is the wife 
of William Quinn, and resides in North La 
Crosse; they have two children living, 
Maude and May; Maggie lives in Chicago, 
with a cousin; Anna married Yevan Fuller, 
proprietor of the City Hotel, La Crosse. Mr. 
and Mrs. Henry are highly respected citizens, 
and are fully deserving of all the honors 
accorded the pioneers of the county. 

James Henry, Jr., attended school at 
Stevenstown, La Crosse county, and when his 
school days were ended he devoted his ener- 
gies to agriculture. He was united in mar- 
riage, November 28, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth 
Quinn, a daughter of James and Susan Quinn, 
of Ettrick, Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, 
where they are well and favorably known; 
they have reared a family of three sons and 
four daughters. After his mai-riage to Miss 
Quinn, Mr. Henry removed to La Crosse, 
where he has since resided. For five years 
he was policeman of the city, doing faithful 
service and keeping ati excellent reputation, 
in fact placing himself in the front ranks of 
the city's guardians. In 1888 he was ap- 
pointed sergeant of the police, and held that 
office three years, giving a high degree of 
satisfaction. In 1891, August 15, he was 



appointed turnkey of the county jail, and is 
maintaining the high standard he has already 
established. Politically he affiliates with 
the Democratic party, and takes an active 
part in its movements. 

He and his wife are the parents of two 
children: Gertrude and James. The family 
belong to the Roman Catholic Church. 

AVID H. YONKER is the efficient 
freight conductor on the South Minne- 
sota branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad. He was born in Seneca 
county, Ohio, May 6, 1850, to Peter and 
Sarah (Hemming) Yonker, the former of 
whom was a successful farmer of Seneca 
county for a number of years, and afterward 
followed the same occupation in Wyandotte 
county, five miles from Sandusky city. While 
crossing an iron bridge, spanning the San- 
dusky river, with a loaded wagon, the bridge 
gave way, precipitating Mr. Yonker, his 
team and load to the bottom of the river, 
which fortunately happened to be at low 
water. The horses were but little injured, 
but one of the iron arches of the bridge fell 
across Mr. Yonker's body and pinned him to 
the ground. A plowman near by came to 
his relief and succeeded in lifting off the 
arch, which afterward proved too heavy for 
two strong men to move. Mr. Yonker re- 
ceived such severe injuries that they resulted 
in his death at about the age of fifty-two 
years. This occurred in the year 1857. He 
was a consistent member of the United 
Brethren Church, and was a man universally 
esteemed. He left a family of six children, 
of whom the subject of this sketch was the 
fifth. He and a sister, Mrs. Amanda Smith, 
wife of Francis Smith, of Fostoria, Ohio, are 
the only ones now living. The mother is 



336 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



still living in Fostoria, in the seventy-eighth 
year of her age, and is remarkably well pre- 
served, both mentally and physically. 

David n. Yonker attended the public 
schools of Ohio in his youth, and assisted 
Lis parents on the farm, remaining with his 
mother until he was al)ont twenty-two years 
of age. In 1872 he came West to Minnesota, 
and after some time spent in farming he 
beujan dealing in grain at Hrownsdale, for 
Fountain & Peterson, and was afterward with 
Ilod^es it Hyde, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
for three years. He then began braking on 
the railroad, and at the end of two years was 
promoted to conductor, whicli position he has 
held for four years, giving good satisfaction. 
While buying grain he served for several 
years as Justice of the Peace, serving, also, 
for some time, as school director, his influ- 
ence in that direction being used for good in 
the community where he resided. He was 
married in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, No- 
vember 30, 1S76, in Fountain, Minnesota, to 
Miss Sylvia Long, daughter of John and 
Mary Long, natives respectively of Pennsyl- 
vania and Ohio, and the parents c>f nine 
children, of whom Mrs. Yonker is the fifth. 

Mr. Long removed to Minnesota about 
1855, and there died on the l.jth of August, 
1848, at the age of sixt^'-three years, of 
rheumatism of the heart. His widow is 
still living in Hamilton, Minnesota, and is 
sixty eight years of age. The union of Mr. 
and Mrs. Yonker has been blessed in the 
birth of two children: Charles F. and Archie 
H. Mr. Yonker is a member of the A. F. 
& A. M., the K. of P., and the O. K. C. He 
takes no interest in politics, but generally 
supports the man whom he considers best 
fitted for the oftice. The Yonkers are of 
German extraction, and the town of Yonkers, 
New York, was named in honor of this 
family. Mrs. Yonker was a teacher prior to 




her marriage, as were also two of her sisters. 
She is a refined and cultivated lady, and her 
parents are well connected on both sides. 
Mr. Yonker is public-spirited in his views, 
and is in every way a worthy and respected 
citizen. 



S. THOMAS, one of the faithful and 
■HIM^B trusted employes of the Chicago, 
l^"^s#i* Burlington & Northern Railroad 
Company, at La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born 
in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1845, the son 
of William and L aira (Norris) Thomas; the 
fatlier was of Welsh descent, and the mother's 
ancestors landed on Plymouth Rock. William 
Thomas was a brassmolder bj' trade, and 
had charge of the Armstrong Brass & Iron 
Works at Armstrong, Pennsylvania, for many 
years. He removed to Bnshnell, Illinois, in 
1857, and there purchased a farm which he 
cultivated until 1S61. He then engaged in 
buying live-stock for the Government, and 
continued in this business until the time of 
his death, which was the 2d day of September, 
1864; he was fifty-live years of age; his good 
wife followed him one year later on the sauie 
date. W. S. Thomas received his education 
in the public schools of the Keystone State 
and at South Bend, Indiana. When only 
sixteen years of age he responded to the call 
of his country, and went out in defence of 
her Has, enlisting in the Sixteenth Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, and served with his regi- 
ment until it was mustered out at the close of 
the war; he participated in all the engage- 
ments of his regiment, was with Sherman ou 
his march through Georgia to the sea, and 
back to Washington, where he took part in 
the Grand Review in 1865. When peace 
was declared, and the pursuits of civilization 
once more claimed his attention, he entered 



BIOGBAPHl GAL III STOR 7. 



387 



the employ of the Hannibal & St. Joe Rail- 
road Company, and since that time has been 
in the service of the Northern Missouri, 
Kansas City & Council liiuffs, Wabasli, 8t. 
Louis & Pacific and Central Pacific. From 
1881 to 1888 he was in the mountains with 
the Shackelford and Garrett exploring and 
prospecting party, traveling from the Black 
Hills down into Mexico. He has been run- 
ning an engine on the Chicago, Burlington & 
Northern Railroad from this city, since his 
return from the prospecting expedition. 
Politically lie is a stanch Republican, zeal- 
ously supporting all the measures of that 
body. 

Mr. Thomas was married at Oshkosh, Wis- 
consin, to Miss Katie Keelej, daughter of 
James and Julia Keeley, of Fond du Lac 
county, Wisconsin; Mr. Keeley was one of 
the prominent farmers of that county; his 
death occurred in 1863, at the age of forty 
five years; his wife survived him until 1889, 
when she, too, passed away, at the age of sixty 
years. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas has been 
born one child, Laura. Mrs. Thomas and her 
parents are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church. Mr. Thomas is a member of John 
Flynn Post, G. A. R. 



►-»»|^.-(j 



♦S^ 



(RCHIBALD E. BOLEY, deceased, was 
one of tiie prominent business men of 
La Crosse, Wisconsin for many years, 
and was the eflticient bookkeeper for C. L. 
Coleman. He was born in Mahoning county, 
Ohio, April 6, 1846, from which place he re- 
moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and about 
1870 took up his abode in the city of La 
Crosse. Soon after his arrival in this city he 
secured the position of bookkeeper with Mr. 
Coleman, with whom he remained until his 
death. He was faithful and conscientious in 



the discharge of his duties, an upright citi- 
zen, a social and agreeable comj)anion, and in 
his family he was ever kind, thoughtful and 
considerate. He was faithful in his friend- 
ships, and as a citizen commanded respect 
from a wide circle of friends. He is one of 
the men to whom is due a great deal of credit 
for the uplniildiiig and progress of the city, 
and will long be remembered as one of its 
most enterprising and upright citizens. In 
the early part of the civil war he served for 
about one year, but being greatl}' troubled 
with asthma he was discharged at the end of 
nine months. He had acquired a tine practi- 
cal education in the Pittsburg Business Col- 
lege, became an expert at bookkeeping, and 
was considered a well posted man on all sub- 
ject£. He was an able financier and owned 
as many as eleven houses in the city of La 
Crosse, all valuable pieces of property which 
became the property of his wife at his death. 
He was in every way a public-spirited man, 
and although his heart was willing, his flesh 
was weak and the duties laid upon his shoul- 
ders proved too much for his strength, and 
he, after a severe struggle, at last laid down 
the burden of lite. 

He was married December 29, 1884, to 
Miss Emma L. Small, daughter of John G. 
and Emeline Small of Boston. Mrs. Boley 
was born in Maine, and is a highly cultured 
and refined lady, fitted to shine in any society. 
She was a teacher in the public schools of La 
Crosse for four years, but was herself edu- 
cated in the high school of Cambridge, 
Massachusetts. She came to La Crosse on a 
visit to a sister, Mrs. W. A. Anderson, and 
at once engaged in teaching, having had an 
experience of some four years in Maine, near 
Portland. Her mother died many \'ears since 
and iier father in Cambridgeport in 1883. 
Mrs. Boley bore her husband two children: 
Harry E., and Charles S., both bright and 



338 



JilOORAPniGAL ni^TOHY. 



promising lads. Mrs. Boley is a member of 
tiie CoHgregational Cliurcli. Her husband 
usually voted with the Kepublicau party. 



^bCAR IIOUCK, druggist.— A reference 
to the drug trade of La Crosse suggests 
at once the house of which Mr. Houck 
is the |iroprietor, which is one of the best 
and most popular establishments known in 
the trade. The stock carried is a large one, 
embracing all kinds of drugs and chemicals, 
as well as a complete assortment of medicines, 
jierfumes, toilet requisites and physicians 
supplies, making a specialty of prescriptions. 
The establishment is located at 1353 Cale- 
donia street. Mr. Houck was born in Nor- 
way, April 21, 1860, of which country his 
parents, Dr. Ove Gulberg and Anna Hoegh, 
were also natives. The father was a head 
physician for lepers for three or four hospi- 
tals, but was cut down in the prime of life 
in 1862, at the age of forty-eight years. His 
widow still survives him and is a resident of 
her native land. To them a family of eight 
children were born, live of whom came to 
America: Dr. Knut and Carl came to this 
country and to La Crosse, in 1869, and Oscar 
came to this city in 1878. 

He at once became an apprentice in a drug 
store with H. Heyerdahl on Third street, 
with whom he remained as a clerk for one 
and one-half years. He then took charge of 
a drug store in Blair, and two and one-half 
years later he entered the Philadelphia Col- 
lege of Pharmacy, which he attended two 
sessions, succeiding which he remained in 
that city as assistant chemist in the Franklin 
Sugar Refinery; at the end of that time he 
returned to La Crosse and established himself 
in the Northern portion of the city where, in 
1886, he opened a small drug store at 1115 



Caledonia street, under the lirm name of 
Oscar Houck & Co., his brother being a silent 
partner, until 1889, when Oscar purchased 
the entire stock and a year and a half later 
moved into his present establishment. Mr. 
Houck is a Democrat politically, and socially 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias. 

In 1889 he was married to Miss M. R. 
Piper, daughter of Thompson F. and Julia 
E. Piper of Bedford, Pennsylvania. She 
graduated from the Woman's Medical College 
of Philadelphia, in the class of 1887, and has 
since been one of the leading medical practi- 
tioners of North La Crosse. 

[APTAIN GOTTFRIED LANGSTADT, 
commercial traveler in clothing and a 
prominent citizen of La Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Nehiein, Westphalia, 
Prussia, October 18, 1835. He is the lifth 
in order of birth of nine children born to 
Nathan and Henrietta (Gotschalk) Lang- 
stadt, both natives of Prussia, in which 
country they passed their entire days, the 
father dying in 1856 at the age of fifty-six, 
and the mother in 1886 at the age of eighty- 
seven. Of their large family, eight children 
are yet living, and four sons and one 
daughter are in this country. 

Captain Langstadt secured a common- 
school education in his native country and at 
an early age learned the trade of harness- 
maker and upholsterer. This he followed 
in Prussia, and in 1861 he sailed for Amer- 
ica, landing in Baltimore, Maryland, in July 
of that year. He remained in that city just 
twenty-four hours, then went to Milwaukee, 
thence to West P>end of this State, and there 
engaged in the harness- makers business until 
October 15, 1861, when he came to La 
Crosse. Here he followed the same business 



BIOaRAPSICAL HI8T0ET. 



;i30 



for Pfifiier until November of that year, when 
he enlisted in defense of liis adopted country, 
in Company H, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, 
and remained in the same until cessation of 
hostilities. lie enlisted as a private and was 
promoted through the different grades until 
he held the rank of Captain. He took part 
in the western campaign, was with General 
Grant at Vickshure. and General Sherman 

IT) 

in his march to Meridian, Mississippi, and 
has often conversed with those generals. He 
participated in the battle of Champion Hill, 
Cotton Plain, Vicksburg and the capture of 
Arkansas Post. He went with Sherman to 
Meridian, an then his regiment was sent to 
Texas. He was sligiitly wounded once, was 
never taken prisoner although he had many 
hair-breadth escapes, and discharged his 
duties faithfully as a brave and patriotic 
soldier, as is evinced by his frequent promo- 
tions. He draws a pension and richly 
deserves it. 

Returning from the war he clerked for 
eight or nine years for a firm in Buffalo, and 
was then on the road for eight years. After 
this he changed to another firm in Buffalo, 
worked for them four years, and then was on 
the road selling clothing for C. Summerfield, 
of Chicago. He has been with this firm 
for about three years, has been unusually 
successful, and his services are appreciated, 

Mr. Langstadt was married on the 15th 
of March, 1866, to Miss Lena Coleman of 
Vicksburg, whose acquaintance he had 
formed while in the siege of Vicksburg. 
They were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
are now the parents of three bright boys: 
Nathan, Albert and Otto. Nathan manages 
the store for Morris & Co., clothing mer- 
chants of La Crosse, and Albert and Otto 
are electricians in A})pleton, Wisconsin. Mr. 
and Mrs. Langstadt hold membership in the 
Jewish Church. Mr. Langstadt is a member 



of the G. A. R., and in politics he is inde- 
pendent. He has been very successful in 
business, and with his established habits of 
industry, good management and economy, is 
well calculated to succeed in any business in 
which he may engage. He has ever been 
honest and upright, and as a patriotic busi- 
ness man he holds the respect of the com- 
munity in which he is known. He has been 
a hard worker, has struggled against the 
many difticulties which beset his way, and 
by diligent application has accumulated a 
comfortable competence. His nicely located 
liouse gives evidence of the comfort that will 
attend his declining years. 

>^^,^ 

EORGE D. WRIGHT, one of the lead- 
ing business men of La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, is engaged in dealing in flour, 
all kinds of feed, farm machinery and car- 
riages, and is conducting an extensive busi- 
ness at 221 Pearl Street. He was born at 
Milton, R.ock county, Wisconsin, November 
28, 1848, to George A. and Elizabeth (Gar- 
rison) Wright, who were born, reared and 
married in York State, the father being a 
tiller of the soil. His uncle, William Anson 
Wright, was Adjutant General for the State of 
New York for a number of years. George 
Anson Wright, the paternal grandfather of 
the subject of this sketch, took part in the 
war of 1812, as did also the maternal grand- 
father, Ezra Garrison, the latter of whom was 
a pensioner until his death. George A. Wright, 
the father of George D., came to Wisconsin 
in 1845 and settled near Milton, where he 
farmed. In 1850 he moved to Cottage Grove 
in Dane county where, in addition to man- 
aging a farm, he conducted a hotel. Later 
he removed to Madison, where he lived 
a retired life which terminated in 1876 



340 



BIOGRAPHIOAL BISTORT. 



at the age of fifty-nine years. lie was 
well known and lii<jlily respected for his 
many worthy qualities. His wife ilied in 
1856, a devout member of the Baptist 
('hurch. George I). Writfht is tiie third of 
nine children, and before the age of fifteen he 
left home and the school he was attending to 

o 

enlist in Company B, First Wisconsin Cav- 
alry, and his first battle was fought at Hop 
kinsville, Kentucky. He was also at Selma, 
Alabama, West Point, Georgia, finishing up 
with the capture of Jefferson Davis, receiv- 
ing a part of the reward offered for his appre- 
hension. General Wilson ordered eighty 
men from the First Wisconsin Cavalry, at 
Macon, Georgia, to strike the trail of the 
rebel fugitives who were presumably on 
their way to St. Mark's, Florida, and struck 
the trail at Green River, Georgia, at the end 
of twelve days. On the morning of May 
10, 1865, notwithstanding the disguises to 
which Mr. Davis resorted — a woman's circu- 
lar cloak and shawl — he aroused suspicion by 
unluckily forgetting to remove his spurs 
wliich protruded from under the waterproof, 
and was accordingly captured. A short time 
previous to the capture Mr. Wright heanl 
Mrs. Davis say to her husband, "Don't irri- 
tate the Yankees, President;" to which he 
replied: "I might as well surrender here and 
meet my fate now as at any time.'' Post- 
master-General Reagan and General Cobb 
were captured at the same time. They were 
placed in a wagon under strong guard and 
taken to Macon, Georgia, the trip occupying 
two days, and from there were sent to Wash- 
ington. Mr. Wright, with his regiment, 
was then ordered to Nashville, where he was 
mustered out of service. Ail of this occurred 
prior to Mr. Wright's seventeenth birthday. 
He stood the hardships and weary marches 
of the service quite well and was wounded 



only once — a flesh wound which he received 
at Selma. 

Upon iiis return home he began the study 
of architecture at Madison, which he com- 
pleted at the end of three years. In 1809 he 
went to Clarksville, Iowa, where he tauirlit 
school one term, then engaged in contracting 
and building. In 1870 he moved to New 
Richmond, St. Croi.x county, Wisconsin, and 
followed teaching, contracting and building 
until his marriage, October 19, 1881, to Miss 
Rose E. Hughs, daughter of John Hughs, of 
Waukesha, Wisconsin. Their home has been 
brightened by the birth of three children: 
Frank W., Cora E. and Olive M. Mr. 
Wright is Adjutant of Wilson Colwell Post of 
the G. A. R. of La Crosse. As a business 
man he has shown sound judgment, and his 
affairs are now in a flonrishiu'' condition. 
His establishment is first-class of its kind, 
his patronage is deservedly large, and he is 
one who would add prestige to any com- 
munity. 

^ • 3"i - |" •■" 



tAWRENCE CORDELL, manufacturer 
and wholesale dealer in rubber stamps, 
stencils, etc. His business is one of 
those trades which, more perhaps than any 
other, finds its patrons in all branches of em- 
ployment, and ii a necessary coinplemjnt of 
them all. Mr. Cordell was born in Hamilton 
county, Indiana, May 31, 1859, to Andrew 
and Ureka Cordell, who were born in Sweden. 
They removed from their native land to To- 
ledo, Ohio, then to Indiana, where the father 
followed his trade of carpenter and builder 
from 1853 until his death at 1 o'clock on the 
morning of New Year's day, 1871. His age 
was fifty-five years. He was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church of which his wife, who 
survives him at the age of sixty-nine years, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



341 



also belongs. Siie resides in St. Paul, Minne- 
sota, with her daughter, Mrs. Gottschammer, 
who is the wife of Silas Gottschammer, a boot 
and shoe merciiant. To Andrew Gordell and 
his wife the following children were born: 
Amanda, wife of Thomas B. Cook, a farmer 
of Tipton county, Indiana, by whom she has 
three children; Edward, witli C. Gotzian & 
Co.; Lawrence; and Julia, now Mrs. S. J. 
Gottschammer. Four children died in early 
childhood. 

Lawrence Cordell was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Indiana and liis first work for 
himself was as a clerk in a liardware store in 
Red Wing, Minnesota. After remaining 
there five years and two years in Minto, Da- 
kota, two in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and 
five years in La Crosse, Wisconsin, he, in 
1888, started in the business in which he is 
now engaged. They have succeeded in estab- 
lishing a connection of much importance, 
which is increasing day by day. In addition 
to manufacturing rubber stamps, stencils, 
fishing-rods, models, novelties, etc., they are 
the agents for the Union bicycle, and make 
a specialty of repairing bicycles. 

He was married February 22, 1882, to 
Miss Carrie Lowater of Red Wing, Minne- 
sota, in which place she was a successful 
teacher in the public schools for one year. 
She has borne Mr. Cordell one child: Ava. 
Mrs. Cordell's father was E. P. Lowater, who 
died in 1888, the maiden name of her mother 
being Jennie Mclntire, who resides in Red 
Wing, Minnesota, and is sixty-three years 
of age. Mr. Lowater was one of the leaders 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church of that 
city. He was a native of Canada and his 
wife of New Hampshire. Mrs. Cordell was 
educated in Red Wing and Tilden Seminary 
of New Hampshire. Mr. Cordell is Chief 



Ranger in the secret order of Foresters, but 
is not active politically, voting for the man 
he considers best fitted for the ofiice. 



■^%- 



fUDGE HENRY M. SAFFORD, de- 
ceased. — Among the professional men 
of La Crosse, Wisconsin, wlio have 
passed away, none were more favorably 
known, perhaps, than Judge Safford. He 
was born at Cambridge, Vermont, May 14, 
1826, to Oel and Louisa (Parker) Safford, 
who were also natives of the Green Mountain 
State. The father was a farmer and merchant 
by occupation, and in disposition was quiet 
and unobtrusive, though an honorable and 
far-seeing business man. He commanded 
the respect and good will of a large circle of 
acquaintances, and was much beloved and 
revered by his own family. He was born 
October 14, 1794, and died April 28, 1861. 
Emerson O. and the Judge were their only 
children. The former was born in 1824, and 
died February 18, 1889. 

Judge Safford came West in 1870, having 
received a good education in Cambridge and 
Johnston, completing a thorough academic 
education. He read law under Salmon 
Wires, of Johnston, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1844. He at once began the practice 
of his profession at Hyde Park, and later at 
Kichford, Vermont, and at the latter place 
he was Customhouse Officer for several 
years, but conducted his law practice at the 
same time. He came to La Crosse in 1870 
and opened an office, having for his partner 
J. A. Kellogg. He was thoroughly versed 
in the details of his profession, and his 
papers were made out with such precision, 
correctness and absolute adherence to the 



342 



BWGRAPaWAL n I STORY. 



technicalities of the law, that the shrewdest 
lawyers could pick no flaw in thetn. He 
practiced law in La Crosse until his death, 
and gathered about him a large clientage. 
He was appointed District Attorney to iill a 
vacancy, and was afterwards elected to the 
otKce, his ability being thus recognized. He 
also filled the office of Justice of the Peace 
for ten or twelve years, and was appointed 
Police Justice also to fill a vacancy, being 
elected to this position for a term of three 
years at the expiration of his first term. He 
gave the best of satisfaction in every position 
he filled, and everybody knew liim as a man 
of warm heart and strict integrity. His 
nature was so sympathetic that suffering 
humanity was the liberal sharer of his 
bounty, and people in all walks of life were 
proud to be called his friends. He carried 
sunshine and good cheer wherever he went, 
and he possessed the kindliest sentiments 
and the broadest charity. He was absolutely 
incorruptible in his public life, and was 
always guided by an enlightened conscience, 
and was likewise true and faithful in his 
friendships. He was not much of a politi- 
cian, but he acted with tlie Democratic 
party. His death, which occurred February 
17, 1891, was deeply lamented by all. His 
funeral services were conducted by Rev. 
Cheney, who paid an eloquent and glowing 
tribute to his many virtues. 

Judge Salford was married January 18, 
1849, to Miss Caroline E. Wadsworth. daugh- 
ter of David and Caroline (Metcalf) AYads- 
worth, of Cambridge, Vermont, both of 
whom have been dead for many years, the 
mother's deatii occurring three months after 
the father's. They were each aged seventy- 
three years, and celebrated tlieir golden wed- 
ding the year before their death. 



" Fifty years togetber, husband and wife; 
Fifty years together, in the path of life; 
Fifty years together, stemming the tide; 
Fifty years togetlier, happy groom and bride. 
Fifty years together, each faithful and true; 
Fifty years togetber, there they vow anew; 
Fifty years togetber, and the rest of the way 
Ever proved to them a bright, golden day." 

The home of Judge Safford was blessed in 
the birth of four children: Caroline Louisa, 
who died at the age of three years; Henry 
Eugene, who died at the age of sixteen 
years; Eldora L., an intelligent young lady, 
who is at home; and George W., who died 
at the age of seven years. 

fOHN LANGDON", deceased, formerly of 
the firm of Langdon & Goodland, pork- 
packers, was born in Exeter, Devonshire, 
England, January 8, 1830, a son of John 
Langdon, Sr. He came to the United States 
in 1854, and until 1866 was engaged in busi- 
ness in Milwaukee; then came to La Crosse 
and engaged in pork- packing, which business 
occupied his attention while he lived. The 
firm name was first Langdon & Goodland (a 
sketch of Mr. Goodland appears elsewhere in 
this volume), but in 1872 it was changed to 
Langdon, Goodland & Co., and continued 
such until 1879, when Mr. Langdon con- 
ducted business alone. Since his death, 
which occurred January 8, on his fifty- 
seventh birtiiday, the firm name has been 
Langdon & Boyd, Mrs. Langdon retaining 
her husband's interest. 

Mr. Langdon was married in 1850, at St. 
Mary Archer's Church, Exeter, England, to 
Miss Susan Sparks, who died March 5, 1863, 

leavinor him with two children to care for: 

o 

Florence Elizal)eth and Amy Kate. His 
second marriage was in Milwaukee, to Mrs. 
Anna Boyd, widow of Andrew Boyd and 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



343 



daughter of Frank Wills. She became the 
mother of three children by her first husband: 
Joseph, Andrew and Isabel, and bore Mr. 
Langdon two children: John Edwin arid 
Maria Wills. 

John Langdon was a man of fine business 
qualifications, was well known in the com- 
mercial circles of La Crosse county and was 
an earnest member of the Episcopal Church. 
He was honored with the office of Alderman 
of the city for one term, but had little taste 
for official life, although his duties were per- 
formed with accuracy and ability. He was 
personally one of the most popular of men 
and he was respected and esteemed hy all 
who were so fortunate as to enter the wide 
circle of his friendship. He lived a blame- 
less life and his death was universally re- 
gretted. 

--^/^^-^^¥^'^/^^ 

|EORGE McMillan, secretary and 
treasurer, general manager and super- 
intendent of the La Crosse Gas Light 
Company, was originally from Canada, his 
birth occurring July 25, 1844. His parents, 
Daniel and Isabella (Southerland) McMillan, 
were natives also of Canada and the father's 
business was lumbering and farming. The 
latter came to the States in 1867, and here 
his death occurred on April 8, 1868, at the 
age of fifty-one years. Mrs. McMillan is 
still living; is sixty-eight years of age and 
enjoys good health. They reared twelve chil- 
dren, of whom George McMillan is the eldest. 
The latter was educated in the public 
schools of Canada, and, like many other 
young iuen who afterward became prominent 
in business circles, he commenced teaching 
school in his native country. Not liking 
this business he followed farming for a year 
and then embarked in his present business. 



He spent part of a year in the surveyors' 
otfice of H. L Bliss previous to this, and then, 
in August, 1870, engaged with the La Crosse 
Gas Light Company, as before mentioned. 
He has since been with the same company 
and has met with a success simply commen- 
surate with the abilities he has displayed 
and the high principles and moral business 
methods which formed the corner-stone of his 
earlier career. The company conduct one of 
the leading industries of the city and its in- 
dividual members are men of enterprise and 
means. It was organized March 19, 1863, 
and its capital stock is now $150,000. Eight 
men are employed all the time and sometimes 
many more. The president is Mr. James 
Vincent, and Mr. McMillan fills all the other 
offices. He also fills the same positions in 
the La Crosse Brush Electric Light & 
Power Company that furnishes the arc lights 
over the city. The capital stock of this is 
$80,000. Hon. J. J. Hogan is vice-president. 
Mr. McMillan was married June 21, 1871, 
to Miss Nettie Hofstetter, daughter of Dr. 
J. J. Hofstetter of Lyons, Iowa, and sister of 
Dr. George Hofstetter, a practicing physician 
of Lyons, Iowa; Leo Hofstetter, a farmer at 
Green Island, near Iowa, and Bruno Hofstet- 
ter, who died at the age of twenty-three. 
To Mr. and Mrs. McMillan were born three 
children: Mary S., Daniel G. and Nettie. 
All the family are members of the First 
Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. McMillan 
has been elder and trustee for about twenty 
years. Socially he is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. Frontier Lodge, No. 45; is 
a member of the chapter and commandery, 
and is Worthy Master in the blue lodge. 
He has been, since its organization in Febru- 
ary, 1884, president of tlie Provident Loan 
and Building Association. Although not 
much of a politician he advocates the princi- 
ples of the Democratic party. He is a prom- 



y44 



Bl OORA I'UIVAL UISTOR 7. 



inent factor in La Crosse enterprises and 
encourages by liis influence and financial 
support any undertaking for the upbuilding 
of the best interests of tlie community. He 
is recognized as a man of wortii and strict 
integrity. 



fOSEPII A. GOODLAND, a prominent 
and influential l)usiness man and vice- 
president of the La Crosse Packing & 
Provision Company, was born in England, 
November 20, 1833. His parents, William 
and Abigail (Sharman) Goodland, were also 
natives of England and there passed their 
entire lives, he dying in 1869, at the age of 
seventy-two, and she in 1889 at the age of 
eigtity-four. The father was a coal merchant, 
handling coal, salt, drain-pipes, tiles, etc. He 
and wife were members of the established 
Chu)-ch of England and he was warden for many 
years. Of the nine children born to this union 
tour are still living, one besides our subject re- 
siding in Appleton, Outagamie county, one is 
in New Zealand,- and the other in England. 
Joseph A. Goodland came to Milwaukee in 
1853 from his native country, and followed 
tlie I)usiness of pork-packing in that city. 
This he continued there until 1860, when he 
came to La Crosse and followed the same busi- 
ness until 1889, when he engaged with the 
La Crosse Packing & Provision Company. 
This is one of the prominent and important 
industries of the city, and the successor of the 
La Crosse Abattoir. It employs a great many 
hands and distributes a large amount of 
money to the operatives. It also gives a 
home market to the farmers for their stock, 
thus rendering a mutual service. 

Mr. Goodland selected as his companion in 
life Miss IVFary Ileal, dangliter of George and 
Mary Heal, and the nuptials were celebrated 



on the 19th of September, 1865. Mr. and 
Mrs. Heal were natives of England. The for- 
mer died in 1886, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. The latter died in England. They were 
the parents of six children, all daughters, and 
only one (Mrs. Frank Harrison), besides Mrs. 
Goodland, now in this country. Mrs. Har- 
rison and her husband reside in Milwaukee. 
Mr. Goodland's home has been cheered by 
the birth of four children: James (deceased); 
Anna, still in the home circle; Emma died 
at the age of seven and a half years; and 
William Sharman died at the age of two 
years. Mr. and Mrs. Goodland are worthy 
and exemplary members of the Episcopal 
Church. Mr. Goodland takes little interest in 
politics but generally votes for the man 
instead of the party. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. He is a man of unques- 
tioned business qualifications, and in his 
intercourse witli others he is a<lmired and re- 
spected for his high sense of honor and strict 
integrity. 

— ^€(i:ii^-^- - 



TSTDREW BOYD is a member of the 

widely-known firm of Langdon & Boyd, 
pork-packers of La Crosse, Wis., and 
from his early youth has been familiar with 
the business. He became a member of the 
firm in 1887, which is one of the most reli- 
able and responsible houses devoted to this 
branch of commerce in the state. The com- 
pany's packing houses are very complete and 
the supervision is so perfect that it is impos- 
sible for a diseased or inferior animal to be 
entered for consumption. The firm handles 
only first-claes stock and deals extensively in 
dressed hogs, mess pork, hams, bacon, lard, 
etc. They do an extensive business in the 
surrounding cities and States, and from twelve 
to fifteen hands are kept constantly emj)loyed. 



BIOGRAPHtCAL HISTORY. 



345 



Their principal place of business is located at 
116 North Third street, and their warehouse 
and cold storage is on Sixteenth and La Crosse 
streets. Mr. Boyd is highly esteemed in finan- 
cial and commercial circles for his sound busi- 
ness principles and sterling integrity, while 
his brands of provisions have become famous 
wherever they have been used. He is a 
young man of decided intelligence, is pos- 
sessed of business qualifications of a high or- 
der, and without doubt has a bright future 
before him 

He was born in Milwaukee in 1864, to 
Andrew and Anna Boyd, the latter being 
now the widow of John Langdon. She and 
Mr. Boyd were born in Scotland; the latter 
was a sailor by occupation. He was thrown 
from the bowsprit of his vessel, in a storm 
on lake Erie, and was drowned. His body 
was never recovered. The mother came to 
America in an early day and in this country 
was married. Her eldest son, Joseph Boyd, 
died in 1884, at the age of twenty-four years. 
The daugbter Isabel is book-keeper for the firm 
of Langdon & Buyd. Andrew Boyd was edu- 
cated in La Crosse, and in his early manhood 
studied law under the tutelage of Judge H. 
M. SafFord of this city, but has never prac- 
ticed that noble profession, as his time has 
been profitably occupied otherwise. He is a 
Democrat in politics, has always supported 
the men and measures of that party, but has 
never interested himself particularly in poli- 
tics. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a 
member of the Episcopal Church. 



fILLIAM YAN ZANDT, a retired 
farmer of Hamilton township. La 
Crosse county, now residing at West 
Salem, was born in Columbia county Penn- 
sylvania, September 29, 1826, and is a son of 




David and Nancy (Perry) Van Zandt. The 
fatlier's ancestors were from Holland, and 
the mother was of Welsh extraction. They 
removed to Lake county, Ohio, and lived 
there ten years, coming at the end of that 
time to Walworth county, Wisconsin. The 
father was a farmer and followed this calling 
in Walworth county for thirty years; he 
then came to La Crosse county, where he 
passed the remainder of his days. His death 
occurred in 1884, at the age of ninety years; 
his wife passed away in 1886, at the age of 
eigiity nine years. Our subject is one of a 
family of eleven children. In his early man- 
hood he engaged in teaching school, devoting 
the winter season to this profession, and 
during the summer assisting his father on 
the farm. For five winters he taught in 
eastern Wisconsin, and then came to La 
Crosse county, where he has the distinction 
of being the first teacher outside of the city 
of La Crosse. He gained an enviable repu- 
tation in this calling, but finally abandoned 
it to crive his undivided attention to agri- 
culture. For thirty-six years he was one of 
the leading members of the farming com- 
munity of Hamilton and Burns townships, 
and did iiis share in developing the resources 
of his county. At one time he embarked in 
the mercantile trade, and was proprietor of a 
hardware store for a period of three years; 
at the end of this time, however, he disposed 
of ills interest. 

Mr. Van Zandt has been prominently 
identified with public movements in his 
township, and in politics is an ardent Re- 
publican. He has been chairman of the 
board of Burns township for six years, and 
has held the same otfice on the board of 
Hamilton township for seven years. In 
1870 he was appointed to take the census, 
and under the administrations of Grant he 
was Postmaster for a number of years. He 



346 



BIOGRAPHICAL HiaTORT. 



lias been president of the County Agri- 
cultural Society for three or four years, and 
for one year filled the office of secretary. 
He has always been a liberal supporter of 
worthy public enterprises, and takes a lead- 
ing rank among the progressive citizens of 
the county. He has always been ciiairman 
of the County Board, and was instruniental 
in having the Insane Hospital located at 
West Salem. 

He was united in marriage, in 1851, to 
Miss Lucretia Jewett, a daughter of Marcus 
L. Jewett, of McHenry county, Illinois. 
Two children have been born to them : Will- 
iam I. and Edith E. The son married Miss 
Julia Giitillan, and resides on a farm in 
Monroe county, Wisconsin; their children 
are Lucretia and Lynn; Edith E. resides at 
iiome. 

Mr. Van Zandt is a member of the Ma- 
sonic order, having joined tliat fraternity 
nearly thirty years ago. 

Marcus L. Jewett removed from McHenry 
county, Illinois, to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, 
and later to Burns, La Crosse county, where 
he died in September, 1875, at the age of 
si.\ty-nine years. Ilis wife is still living, at 
the age of eighty- three years. 



?^ 



UNCHRISTIAN KOENIG, Registrar in Pro- 
bate for the county of La Crosse, Wis 
consin. Notary Rublic, land and general 
insurance agent, was born in Cologne on the 
Rhine in Germany, October 2, 1830, to Lam- 
bert and Isabel (Rubsteck) Koenig, the for- 
mer of whom was a hotel proprietor. He 
was a soldier under Napoleon I, in 1805-'U6, 
and died in 1848, at the age of seventy-four 
years, his wife dying at the same age but in 
1867. They were members of tiie Catholic 
Church and reared a family of fifteen chil- 



dren, of wiioin Christian, two brothers and 
one sister came to America, the eldest, Joseph, 
arriving in 1849 and is now residing in 
Booneviile, Missouri. William and his 
sister, Antoinette, and Christian came in 
1851, and almost immediately took up a 
temporary location in Milwaukee. The same 
year they went to Madison, Wisconsin, and 
in July, 1855, became residents of La Crosse, 
in which city they have since made tlieir 
home. 

Christian followed different occupations 
until the spring of 1858, when lie was elected 
Clerk of the city of La Crosse, wiiich position 
he held four years, and at the same time 
worked as Clerk of the United States Land 
Office, but upon the election of Mr. Lincoln 
to the Presidency, he was deprived of this 
position. His employer was Charles S. Ben- 
ton, Registrar of the United States Land 
Office, in every way a worthy man. In 1861 
Mr. Koenig was elected Registrar of Deeds 
of La Crosse county, but at the end of two 
years emliarked in the mercantile business, 
which business he continued with fair success 
until 1869. He was then elected to tiie posi- 
tion of Clerk of the Circuit Court of the 
county, and this position filled for si.x years 
in succession, althougli the county had a 
Republican majority. Since tliat time he 
has been Deputy Registrar of Deeds, and in 
1883 he was appointed Registrar in Probate, 
the duties of which office he still ably dis- 
charges. The esteem in which he is iield by 
the citizens of the county has been clearly 
demonstrated by his continuons election to 
office, and he lias always discharged the duties 
incumbent upon the positions he has tilled 
with fidelity, care and ability. 

Miss Eliza Borghart, daughter of Peter 
Borghart of Cologne, Germany, became his 
wife October 6, 1851, previous to emigrating 
for America. They have a family of si.x 



BIOGRAPHICAL B I STORY. 



347 



children: Joseph B. died July 4, 1891, at 
the age of thirty-nine years. He ^ was mar- 
ried to Agnes Weber, by whom he became 
the father of the following children: Malinda; 
Frankie; Charlotte, the second child, became 
the wife of Frank T. Becker of La Crosse; 
Sophia; Josephine is working in a mil- 
linery establishment, and still makes her 
home with her parents; Phoebe is the the 
wife of E. H. Chandler, resides in Minne- 
apolis, Minnesota, and is the mother of one 
child, Ralph; Ida, the wife of Fred Kemnitz 
of Green Bay, has one child, Leona; and 
Charles F. is a student in the Chicago Col- 
lege of Pharmacy. Mrs. Koenig is a mem- 
ber of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Koenig 
is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which 
order he has passed all the chairs, also that of 
the Germania Society. He is one of the 
pioneer settlers of the county, who is well 
known and highly respected. Although he 
has passed through many trials his career has 
been a success, and his early hardships only 
served to broaden his mind and enlarge his 
views on all matters of general importance. 
He is well informed and ripe in worldly ex- 
perience. 




T. LOKING is one of the later acces- 
sions to the city of La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, and, being the proprietor of 
the Star Steam Laundry, he has one of the 
most useful establishments of the city. It 
is located at No. 118 South Fifth street, and 
as first-class work is turned out in the wash- 
ing and renovating of daily attire, his busi- 
ness is constantly increasing. 

Mr. Loring was born in Montreal, Canada, 
December 16, 1867, a son of Nelson T. and 
Matilda (Bauche) Loring, both of whom are 
of French extraction. They are honored 



residents of North Adams, Massachusetts, 
where the father follows the calling of a 
plumber and is engaged in laying heavy pipes 
for water, gas, etc. In Canada he kept a 
large and well-appointed livery stable. Of a 
family of fifteen children born to them, the 
subject of this sketch was the eldest, and in 
the public schools of North Adams, Massa- 
chusetts, he received his education, graduat- 
ing in 1883, thus becoming well fitted to 
enter upon an active business career. From 
his early manhood he has been familiar with 
laundry work, and it was but natural that 
when starting out in life for himself this 
should be his chosen field of operation. 
Although La Crosse has reason to be proud 
of the enterprise exhibited by her younger 
class of citizens in the different walks of life, 
few in the city combine the essentials for 
success in a higher degree than Mr. Loring. 
He brings to bear a perfect and practical 
knowledge of the requirements of the busi- 
ness in all its branches, and from his previous 
experience is intimately acquainted with the 
wants of the public. His. in age, is the 
second laundry in the city, but it is by no 
means second in the extent of its patronage, 
and those wishing first-class work will further 
their own interests by patronizing his estab- 
lishment. Mr. Loring is a member of the 
A. F. & A. M., the order of Foresters, in 
which he is Court Deputy Supreme Chief 
Ranger in and for Gateway Lodge No. 963. 
He takes no interest in politics other than 
voting for whom he considers the best fitted 
for ottice, but leans a little toward the Re- 
publican party. 

July 14:, 1887, he was married to Miss 
Esther Robinson of North Adams, Massa- 
chusetts, whose parents, William and Margaret 
Robinson, were born in England but came to 
America in 1874. Mrs. Loring was born in 
Manchester, England, and came to the United 



348 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



States with her parents, being the second of 
their niiio cliildren and the only one of the 
family in the West. Her father is a ma- 
chinist, niiikintj a sj)e('ialty of locomotive 
bnildiiio;, and has for many years worked for 
the Rliode Island Locomotive Works. One 
child has added to the happiness of Mr. Lor- 
ing's home, Amy R. Mr. and Mrs. Loring 
are members of the Baptist Church of La 
Crosse, and he is an nsher in the same. Mr. 
Loring arrived in La Crosse witli a capital of 
$L0O, May 13, 1887, with which he started 
in his life work. 

E. PHILLIPS, station agent for the 
Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, at 
' * Onalaska, Wisconsin, has had charge 
of the company's business heresince 1885. He 
was born at Mt. Pisgah, Monroe county. Wis., 
April 22, 18G1, a son of Gaines and Ruth 
(Maning) Phillips. The father was a black- 
smitli by occupation, and was among tlie 
earliest settlers of Baraboo, Wisconsin. The 
grandfather, Ross Phillips, was successful in 
business and had accumulated a consideraljle 
property, but lost it. He then moved to 
Baraboo, and followed lo:jging on the Bara- 
boo river. GaiTies Phillips teamed from 
Milwaukee to Baraboo river for several years, 
and then worked at his trade. He resides at 
Elroy, Juneau county, wjiiuh has been his 
home for more than thirty years. His son, 
S. E., passed his boyhood and youth in 
Juneau county, received his education at 
Union Centre, Wonowocand Maustoti. When 
he left school he began his career as telegraph 
operator at Winnebago, Illinois; he held 
this position for some two years, and then 
went to Woodstock, Illinois, thence to 
Kendall, Wisconsin, and later at Necedah 
Junction on the branch line, where he worked 



for eighteen months; then followed a year 
spent at VVMnona, Harvard, in the train dis- 
patcher's ofHce at Baraboo. and at other 
points on the road. In July, 1885, he was 
stationed at (.)nalaska, and for a time his 
wanderings ceased. He is a careful, thorough 
man in all his busino.-s relations, and is 
worthy tlie confidence reposed in him by the 
company. He is a member of the Brother- 
hood of Telegraphers. 

Mr. Phillips was united in marriage at 
Mauston, Wisconsin, April 20, 1881, to Miss 
Addie Newkirk, a daughter of George and 
Harriet (Hetherington) Newkirk, residents 
of Mauston, Wisconsin. Mrs. Phillips was 
born, reared and educated in Juneau county, 
Wisconsin. One child has been born to our 
subject and wife, Hazel Eleanor. 

— ^►^|->^:-^<-— — 

APTAIN FRANK I. PHELPS was 
born in Tompkins county, New York, 
July 4, 1844, a son of Whitcomb 
Phelps, a native of Vermont. The paternal 
grandfather, Simlove Phelps, was of Welsh 
origin; the mother, whose maiden name was 
Mary E. McDeavitt, was the daughter of 
Irish parents. When Captain Phelps was a 
lad his parents removed to Waukegan, Lake 
county, Illinois; later they came to Oiuilaska, 
and in these places he received his education. 
When the late civil war l)roke out between 
the North and South, although a youth, he 
enlisted in defense of his country, and did 
valiant service. April 18, 18G1, he became 
a member of the Second Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, Company B, and participated in 
many active engagements during the follow- 
ing three years; he was in the first battle of 
Bull Run, Rappahannock Station, Blackman's 
Ford, and Gainesville. Angust 28, 1862, he 
was severely wounded in the left arm by a 




Mu^tinc III IHslair. y^'AW 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT. 



349 



miiiie ball, and was taken to Doiiorlas Hos- 
pital, Washington, District of Columbia. 
Some time later he was transferred to the 
Veteran Reserve Corps, and was lionorably 
discharged April 20, 1864. He returned to 
his home, and soon was busily engaged in 
recruiting a company for the Fortieth Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry. He was elected 
Captain of Company G, and tlie regiment 
was stationed at Memphis, Tennessee, and at 
other points in the South. He was honor- 
ably discharged a second time, September 25, 
1864, and returned to Onalaska. 

When the war was ended and peace de- 
clared, the pursuits of commerce and agri- 
culture again claimed the attention of the 
country. Captain Phelps secured a situ..tion 
with 0!ie of the large lumber companie-:, and 
afterward was appointed station agent of tlie 
Northwestern Railroad at Onalaska, a position 
he tilled for six years. He was then in the 
employ of the East Fork Improvement 
Company for a period of tiiree years. 
During the administration of Fresident 
Cleveland he was appointed Collector of 
Customs for the port of La Crosse; this 
appointment was made in 1884, and 
Captain Phelps served two years, resigning 
his office at the end of that time. He has 
represented the people of his township in the 
office of Clerk, and he has also been City Clerk 
for two years; he has Iteeti trustee of the 
village, and in these various capacities he has 
conducted the affairs with excellent ability 
and good judgment. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, having joined the order 
at North La Crosse in 1876; he now belongs 
to Onalaska Lodge, No. 214, A. F. & A. M., 
of which he is a charter member. He belongs 
to Union Veteran Legion Encampment, No. 
82. Captain Phelps has the distinction of 
having been a member of the Iron Brigade, 
that went out 1,203 strong; the loss of this 



24 



brigade in killed, wounded and missing was 
900. 

Whitcomb and Mary E. Phelps, parents of 
the Captain, had born to them seven children, 
five of whom are living: Angeline, Ann, V. 
N., Frank I., Antonette. V. N. Phelps, a 
resident of Tacoma, Washington, is father of 
Truman V. Phelps, of Onalaska. The father 
of this family died in Onalaska in 1881, at 
the age of eighty-tive years; the mother died 
in 1888, aged eighty-five. The Captain is 
unmarried; he lias ever been a most duti- 
ful son, giving to his aged parents the care 
and support which their love and affections 
merited. 

fYSBERT VAN STEENWYK.— To a 
■ considerable majority of the men who 
^- have won distinction in that portion of 
our country which, a generation ago, was the 
Western borderland, certain well-defined con- 
ditions are common. Those upon whom the 
real pioneer work has fallen were endowed 
with few early advantages save the hardy 
physique and steadfast mind acquired by a 
toilsome and somewhat narrow life from 
youth up. They found their opportunities 
in the resources of the country and attained 
wealth and some measure of preferment in 
advanced life which the disadvantages of 
youth debarred them from rightly enjoying. 
Another class came into the West fresh from 
the universities, without either the physical 
endowments or mental forces essential to 
successful pioneering. The lives of many 
such were obscure, misspent even, whereas 
amid more congenial surroundings they might 
have been distinguished. The perseverance 
with which Western life imbues every man 
has inscribed a noble record of success in 
both classes, but it has been retarded by the 



yoo 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTOHY. 



slow processes of assimilation, and too often 
has not reached the development for which 
the conditions were favorable. 

In the rare cases where most of the desir- 
able influences have been combined — educa- 
tion and culture, robust physique, courage 
and a temperate habit of life — the West has 
produced men of note in the community who 
have acquired pro{)erty, fulfilled important 
trusts and rightly enjoyed ihe best gifts of 
life. 

Of this class Hon. Gysbert Van Steenwyk, 
President of the Batavian Bank of La Crosse, 
is a fit representative. A native of Holland, 
his great mistake was in not having com- 
menced his American life ten years earlier. 
Not that the time spent in the cultivated 
society of his native city, Utrecht, was wasted, 
but because so much more might have been 
added to his busy and useful career as an 
American citizen at a time when one jear 
counted as two in a man's lifetime, and in 
the opportunities afforded by the developing 
nation. 

Mr. Van Steenwyk was one of a family of 
six children. His father was a gentleman 
farmer, owning lands within ten miles of the 
city of Utrecht, and accounted a man of 
considerable means. The children bad the 
benefits of a good and thorough education, 
opportunities for culture and means sufficient 
for maintenance in the manner to which they 
were accustomed, or establishment in any 
business or profession they might select. 
The subject of this sketch was the youngest 
but one, a fister, now living in their native 
city. He was born January 30, 1814, and 
is, therefore, at this time, nearly seventy- 
eight years of age. The first half of his life 
was passed iu his native land. The Univer- 
sity of Utrecht offered educational opportuni- 
ties as good as any in Europe, and he was a 
student in that institution until the age of 



twenty-seven, although his degree in philoso- 
phy and philology was taken at the age of 
twenty-two. At sixteen, at the time of the 
Belgian Revolution, he was enrolled as a vol- 
unteer in the army of the Netherlands, serving 
two years. From 1838 to 1849, when he 
departed for America, he was a commissioned 
oflicer in the Netherlands National Guards. 
During the time he resided in Utrecht he 
lived the social life of the well-to-do of his 
native city. 

But it was not the life Mr. Van Steenwyk 
desired; it was not a life to satisfy his mind 
or employ his talents. He took up the law 
as a study, but the profession was distasteful 
to him. He could speak French and German 
fluently and read English. America had 
been an object of much study and inquiry, on 
account of its form of government and also 
because of its opportunities. Finally, in tiie 
winter of 1848, while visiting a friet.'d in a 
neighboring city, he announced his intention 
of going to the United States. The friend, 
who was a teacher of Greek and Roman liter- 
ature in a Latin school, was of the same mind, 
and they fully determined to start for the 
Western land the following spring. Another 
friend desired to join them, and on their 
embarkation in May, 1849, a fourth Hol- 
lander of some means became one of the party. 
Passage was taken in an American sailing 
vessel expressly for the purpose of acquiring 
that familiarity with the language which 
would result from hearing nothing else spoken 
during a voyage of some si.x weeks. This 
was of inestimable advantage to all, especially 
to Mr. Van Steenwyk, whose studies, rein- 
forced by practice, enabled him to converse 
readily with the people. 

The party of four spent the summer in 
New York and Newark, learning what they 
could about the country and the advantages 
offered by different sections. It was agreed, 



BlOORAPniCAL HISTOMf. 



351 



in their councils, tliat they shoukl seek a 
Western State, and furtlier, that the autiunn 
months shoukl be spent in exploring Michi- 
gan, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Early in 
September they started West. Michigan 
took up but little of their time. Riding 
through the heavily timbered country, where 
the houses found scanty room amonc^ the 
stumps, and fire had run through the woods, 
they found little to please the eye or holdout 
promises to the imuginatiou. 

Illinois was hardly more satisfactory. 
Chicago, then a town of 30,000 people, was 
attracting notice, but to the Hollanders it 
was dreary and depressing. They made a 
tour among the Northern Illinois towns and 
found much that was promising; but every- 
where they were warned not to settle anywhere 
else except where they were just then visiting 
unless they were prepared to die of fever and 
ague! So, concluding that a country where 
malaria was absent only from the immediate 
point of inquiry was hardly a sanitarium, 
they returned to Chicago and took a steamer 
to Milwaukee. 

Here the life and career of Gysbert Van 
Steenwyk began; all the years preceding 
had been preparatory, and only important for 
their iniluence upon those that followed. 
Milwaukee and surroundings, lying somewhat 
elevated, were pleasing to the eye, and the 
impression was not dispelled by a closer view. 
Nevertheless, the party desired to see the 
new towns springing up through the State, 
and as soon as possible joined in the pur- 
chase of a team and carriage, by means of 
which Racine, Kenosha, Janesville, Madison, 
Oshkosh and intermediate places were visited, 
the trip occupying six weeks in October and 
November. It is not strange that the unani- 
mous verdict of the home-seeking quartette 
was in favor of the larger town, and thither 



they returned, each to pursue his appointed 
way in life. 

Through letters of introduction and ac- 

o 

qualntance speedily made with the leading 
men of the town, Mr. Van Steenwyk was 
not long without opportunities for employ- 
ment. McGregor & Tenney, lawyers, advised 
him to enter their ofBce, but the profession 
was no more to his taste in America than in 
his native land. Mr. McGregor, who had an 
insurance agency, then proposed increasing 
the list of companies and forming a partner- 
ship in this branch, to promote the business 
among the foreign population. This received 
favorable consideration, but did not develop 
to any great extent. It became expedient, 
however, that Mr. Van Steenwyk should have 
some official authority, and he soon received 
his first appointment as Notary Public from 
Governor Nelson Dewey, the first Governor 
of the State. 

The Hollanders, of whom there were about 
800 in Milwaukee, were not long in learning 
that one of their countrymen was able to 
assist them in their business affairs, and their 
calls upon him were so frequent, especially 
for correspondence with the old country, 
where many of them retained some property 
interests, that the securing of some represent- 
ative authority became a matter of conven- 
ience, if not of necessity. Accordingly, a 
letter was dispatched to a friend in the Hague 
and in due time Mr. Van Steenwyk received 
his commission from the Hague as Consul 
of the Netherlands for Wisconsin. Tiiere- 
upon a second sign was hung beside the 
office door, and to this an addition was made 
the following year, when he was commissioned 
Consul for Michigan and Minnesota. He 
now had plenty of business, was doing well 
and heartily enjoyed life. 

The Legislature of 1852 created the office of 
Commissioner of Immigration^ the incum- 



363 



BIOGRAPniCAL ITISTORT. 



bent to reside in New York, and his duties to 
be the promotion of immigration to Wiscon- 
sin. Mr. Van Stcenwjk's Milwaukee friends 
advised him to accept this appointment in 
case it was offered him. He declined, be- 
cause he had other plans mapped out and did 
not want an otHce of that nature anyway. 
His friends became more urgent, represent- 
ing that his command of several languages 
would be of great value, and he could do 
more for the benefitof hisadopted State in that 
manner than in any other way. While the 
matter was under discussion Governor Far- 
well telegraphed him to come to Madison. 
He obeyed, was the Governor's gnest during 
the visit, was tendered the appointment and 
finally accepted it, though not without re- 
luctance. 

During most of the years 1S52 and 1853, 
Mr. Van Steenwyk resided in New York. 
His labor in securing for Wisconsin a thrifty, 
industrious and temperate class of settlers 
among the foreigners then flocking to Amer- 
ica, has exerted an influence upon the welfare 
of the State which cannot l)e estimated. 

The Legislature of 1853 took the power of 
appointing to this office from the Governor, 
and, being a Democratic body, wliile the in- 
cumbent had united with the Whig party, 
his successor wa^ named, and he returned to 
Milwaukee. 

Having become interested in lands in the 
interior of the State, especially along the 
line of the La Cross & Milwaukee Railroad, 
then in process of construction, Mr. Van 
Steenwyk moved to Newport, on the Wis- 
consin river, where it was expected the 
railroad would cross. The village rose to 
considerable prominence upon this expecta- 
tion, but declined and almost went out of 
existence when the railroad company fixed 
the crossing point a mile and a half above, 
where a new town was laid out and called 



Kilbourn City. Thither most of the Ne'w- 
port settlers moved, Mr. Van Steenwyk with 
them, in 1858. Li 1857 he was comn)is- 
sioned Brigadier-General of State troops, 
obtaining a title which serves his friends in 
familiar intercourse to the present day. Tn 
1859 he was elected to the State Assembly 
from Columbia county, after a contest which 
was a history in itself, receiving a majority 
of 200 over a Democrat in a Democratic dis- 
trict. He resigned his consular office, not 
deeming it proper that a legislator in the 
United States should be the representative of 
a foreign government. The following year he 
was a delegate to the Republican State Conven- 
tion, and received the nomination for Bank 
Comptroller, to which office he was elected. 
In this period of great politicid and military 
events, the tinances of the country were in 
such chaos as no person living at that time 
can ever Ibrget, and General Van Steenwyk's 
duties equaled in importance those of any 
office of the State. His own choice would 
have been to enter the army, and he could 
have had a regiment, but it was urged upon 
him that his official duties could not be com- 
mitted to other hands, and the welfare of his 
fellow-citizens could in no way be so well 
protnoted as by getting what salvage was 
possible out of the financial wrecks all about 
the State. In one year the comptroller 
wound up forty banks, having occasion to 
visit La Crosse several times in the way of 
business. 

The knowledge gained while in office de- 
cided his future course, and the outlook of 
La Crosse decided the location. Accord - 
ingly^ upon the expiration of his official term, 
in 1862. the Batavian Bank was opened in 
La Crosse, and for thirty prosperous years it 
has been a landmark in the business fields. 
General Van Steenwyk at once took a place 
in the first business circles of the con)munity, 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTOHT. 



353 



but held no public office until 1873, when he 
served the city one term as Mayor, being 
nominated as a Republican and almost unani- 
mously supported by the Democrats. In 
1879 he was called upon to represent the 
Thirty-first district, composed of the city and 
county of La Crosse, in the Senate of the 
State, receiving a considerable majority over 
the Democratic and Greenback candidates. 
In 1874 Mr. Van Steenwyk went abroad 
and spent a year and a halt' traveling in 
Europe. While there he made the acquaint- 
ance of Miss Marietta Nicholls, a native of 
Danbury, Connecticut, and daughter of Hon. 
David P. JSficholls, for many years Treasurer 
of that State, who was traveling with her 
sister. The acquaintance led to a matri- 
monial engagement, and in May, 1875, they 
were united in marriage at Berne, Switzer- 
land, under the auspices of the General's 
personal friend, Hon. Horace Rubier, Minis- 
ter of the United States in that country, and 
now editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel. 
Three charming children have blessed this 
union, but one, a lovely boy, briglit of eye 
and mind, the emblem of every goodpromise, 
has gone somewhat in advance along the dark 
road whither all journey to make the way 
lighter, though the earth be darker to those 
soon following after. General Van Steen- 
wyck's most important recent work has been 
as one of the executors of the late Governor 
C. C. Washburn's will. He was the intimate 
friend of the late Governor, was witii him 
several weeks at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, 
shortly before his death, and well acquainted 
with all his business affairs. The vast prop- 
erty in mills, elevators,water-powers, railroads, 
lumber and farming lands, aggregating nearly 
$2,000,000, has been so managed that every 
industry has been profitably employed during 
the course of settlement, and the estate has 
increased very largely in value. To the sa 



gaeious management of Mr. Van Steenwyk 
and his co-executors, Charles Payson and 
Cliarles J. Fartin, the heirs and beneficiaries 
under the will are very much indebted. 

General Van Steenwyk is also vice- 
president (the mayor being president e.K- 
oflicio) of the permanent board of trustees of 
the public library established in La Crosse 
by a provision of Governor Washburn's will, 
and takes great interest in the institution. 

To enumerate all the business enterprises 
with which he has been connected would be 
difficult even for himself, perhaps, without 
some thought. Among the more important 
recent ones are the Victor Flouring Mill, the 
La Crosse Linseed Oil Mill, the La Crosse 
Street Railway Company, the Edison and 
Brush Electric Light and Power Companies, 
the La Crosse Tannery and the East Fork 
Improvement Company — the latter a lumber 
organization. In all but the two first named 
and some other local companies he is now a 
stockholder. It is, however, as a banker 
that Mr. Van Steenwyk is and will be best 
known. For more than thirty years the Ba- 
tavian Bank has been a pillar of strength in 
the community. It has upheld the weak 
until they became strong, and carried the 
strong in their hours of weakness. It has 
always been steadfast, reliable, conservative 
without timidity, and to-day occupying one 
of the finest buildings in Wisconsin outside 
of Milwaukee, and offices that cannot be sur- 
passed for elegance and comfort, it stands in 
the front rank of the strong financial institu- 
tions of the Northwest. 

Notwithstanding his years, Mr. Van Steen- 
wyk is in the enjoyment of mental and 
bodily vigor. His office hours are regularly 
kept, his duties as trustee or director in the 
various institutions never neglected, and in 
his elegant home, surrounded by the best 
books and many works of art, happy in the 



354 



BIOORAPUICAL HISTORY. 



companionship of his wife, whose natural 
gifts have been developed by travel, study 
and tlie Ijest social advantages, interested in 
tlie education of his children, with leisure for 
occasional travel, lie enjoys the gifts of life as 
one who has eai-ned its privileges and its im- 
munities. 



tKLUVER & Co. is one of the most 
reliable and popular houses of La 
" Crosse and has been established since 
1887. They first opened business on State 
street, but in the spring of 1891 moved to 
their present place at 117 North Eighth 
street, wiiere they are doing a prosperous 
business. Careful attention is bestowed on 
the repairing department, in which some of 
the most difficult jobs have been executed in 
a neat and satisfactory manner. Mr. Kluver 
has been a resident of La Crosse since 1887, 
and has always evinced the greatest interest 
in every measure calculated to promote its 
welfare, accelerate its progress, or enhance 
its highest prosperity. He was born in 
Soholt, Norway, March 9, 1848, to Captain 
L. and Eliza (Doscher) Kluver, the former of 
whom was a soldier throughout life and was 
Captain of the standing army to Norway and 
Sweden for forty-live years, and was born Feb- 
ruary 18, 1809, at Copenhagen, Denmark. He 
died March 27, 1878, and his wife was born 
July 3, 1810, at Hamburg, Germany, and 
died January 17, 1884. 

Mr. L- Kluver was the fifth nf his parents, 
seven children, all of whom, with the excep- 
tion of himself, reside in Norway. A sis- 
ter is deceased. At the age of thirteen years 
L. Kluver became a deck boy on board a 
ship at $3 per month, his duties being 
to keep the deck clean and all things 
in order. His first trip to Russia occupied 



about eight months, and on his second trip, 
which was also to Russia and occupied fifteen 
months, he was promoted to cabin boy, iiis 
work being to keep the cabin in order. On 
a trip to Quebec, occupying fifteen months, 
he was promoted to light deck hand, which 
necessitated the handling of ropes, oiling, 
tarring, scrubbing and sweeping. His fourth 
trip was to the Black sea, the voyage taking 
eiijhteen months, dni'iiiii which time he was 
promoted to deck man to see after the tackle, 
all the ropes and the masts when necessary. 
Succeeding this he v.-ent on a seal, bear, rein- 
deer and walrus hunt to 8pitzbergen and 
Nova Zembla, and has often seen as many as 
500 walrus in one flock, floating on their 
backs with only their heads and tusks above 
the water. This voyage was successful and 
they returned home with many skins of all 
these animals. His next voyage was to 
France and Spain, and although he was pro- 
moted to first deckinan his duties were much 
the same as before. From France and Spain 
he went to St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1864, 
and his last voyage was to the Arctic regions 
for the same purpose as before, during 
which time he received $15 per month 
for his services. They were wrecked be- 
tween Spitzbergen and North Cape, the ves- 
sel going to the bottom. The most of the 
crew took refuge in the life-boat, and after 
fighting the waves for three days and three 
nights they landed in the wilderness in the 
Northern part of Russii^ called Caral)ella. 
The three days and three nigiits they had 
water to drink but nothing to eat, with the 
exception of a little hard tack which was 
caught up by the steward as he was making 
his way to the life-boat, and this was impar- 
tially divided by the Captain among the crew 
and kept body and sonl together for five days. 
They then found the body of a dead reindeer, 
which they roasted on coals, and later they 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



305 



killed a reindeer, on which they lived for six 
days. They were then sighted by a Nor- 
wegian steamer and were taken to a small 
village in Northern Norway called Vardo- 
huiis. A few days later they were trans- 
ported back to England. During his entire 
service as a sailor he was with an English 
crew and sailed from Liverpool. Soon after 
reaching England he was taken sick and re- 
turned home, and the next year (1867) in 
order to avoid the regular army regulation, he 
made application for immigration and came 
to America, landing in May of that year. 
He soon after secured employment with the 
Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine Manu- 
facturing Company at Bridgport, Connecti- 
cut, but five years later went on the road for 
the same company, in which capacity he 
served five m(>re years. Two years were 
then spent in Chicago in the adjustment de- 
partment of the same company, at the end of 
which time he came to La Crosse, and here 
has resided ever since. 

He was married in 1871, to Miss Anna 
Jerman, daughter of S. Jerinan of Norway, 
their union being celebrated at WestPrairie, 
Wisconsin, and the following are their chil- 
dren; Eliza D.; AdolphineK. and Ida J. Mr. 
and Mrs. Kluver are members of the Nor- 
wegian Lutheran Church but attend the 
Episcopal Church. Although he takes but 
little interest in politics, Mr. KluVer usually 
votes the Democratic ticket. He has seen 
much of the world and the ups and downs of 
life, but through it all he has maintained his 
honor and is eminently deserving the i-espect 
and patronage of the community of which he 
is an honored and useful member 



rKANK STOKANDT, one of the promin- 
ent farmers living near Burr Oak, Wis- 
consin, is a native of this State, born in 



Walworth county, six miles from Geneva, 
August 12, 1854. His parents, George and 
Anna Elizabeth (FfafE) Storandt, were born, 
reared, educated and married in Saxony, 
Germany. In 1847 they came to America, 
their family at that time consisting of four 
children. One has since died, and three 
others were born to them. Their names are: 
August, William, Sophia, Ambern, John, 
Emma Young and Frank. The family lived 
in Walworth county until 1856, when they 
came to Farmington township. La Crosse 
county, and settled on the same land where 
the subject of this sketch now lives. The 
father died here in 1863, and the mother sur- 
vived him some years, her death occurring 
in 1882. George Storandt passed his life in 
agricultural pursuits; affiliated with the 
Democratic party, and worshiped with the 
Lutheran Church. He was a man of much 
force of character, and was zealous and active 
in his Christian life. He helped to organize 
the Lutheran congregation here, and was a 
deacon in the church. 

Frank Storandt grew up on the farm, and 
has lived on the same place for thirty live 
years. He received a fair education in both 
the English and German languages. He 
owns a farm of 200 acres that is substantially 
improved. His commodious and attractive 
home is built on a rock foundation, as also 
ai-e his barn and other buildings. Indeed, 
the general appearance of his entire premises 
indicates that the proprietor is a man of 
thrilt and enterprise and that prosperity has 
attended his efforts. 

December 14, 1875, Mr. Storandt was 
united in marriage, in Dodge county, Wis- 
consin, with Matilda Williams, a lady of edu- 
cation and culture and a member of a highly 
respected family, a daughter of Henry Will- 
iams. She was l)orn at Fox Lake, Dodge 
county, and was reared and educated there. 



3r)(i 



BWORAPHICAL UISTOHY. 



Henry Williams, a native of Hessen, Ger- 
many, came in 1848 direct to Dodge county, 
Wisconsin, locatini^ on a farm ni ar Burnett 
Station. He continued farming there until 
about fifteen years ago, when he retired from 
active business pursuits. They have a family 
of six children now living, viz.: Frederick, a 
fanner of Dodge county; Catharine, who is 
the wife of William Harman, a farmer of 
Farmiiigton township; IJarney, a farmer of 
Dodge county; Christiana, the wife of William 
Storandt, of Farmington; Amelia, who 
wedded A u^ustBerendt, a butcher of Burnett; 
and Matilda, the wife of Frank Storandt. 
Mr. Williams has always lived tlielife of an in- 
dustrious farmer. Heandhis wifeareniembers 
of the German Lutheran Church, and in the 
evening of their lives are enjoying the fruits of 
tlieir honest toil. He married Mary Rocken- 
bein, who also was a native of Hessen, Ger- 
many. He is now eighty-six years old, and 
she eighty-seven, and are both living in 
Dodge county. 

Mr. Storandt and his wife are the parents 
of three children: Clara C, Lizzie A. and Ida 
Alta. Their second-born, Emma A., died 
wiiea eight months old. 

Mr. Storandt is a Democrat, and both he 
and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church. 



4^ 



^ 




If^RS. MARY HARTLEY, Onalaska, 
s the widow of William Hartley, 
^^P^ deceased, who was an intelligent and 
prominent citizen of Campbell township. 
He first came to this country in 185G, and 
in 1859 settled here, where he remained until 
death. He was born in Cambridgeshire, 
England, June 23, 1829, the son of John and 
Sarah (West) Hartley; was reared and edu- 
cated in his native land, and on arrival in 



this country first settled in Lockport, New 
York, where he lived two years; then he was 
at the South for a time; was pressman iu the 
office of the Louisville Courier- Journal, and 
was also in Memphis and in Mississippi; in 
1858 he was foreman of a brick-yard on what 
is now Center and Main streets in Kansas 
City, Missouri. 

February 1, ISfiO, he married Miss Mary 
Ridgley, a lady of .superior intelligence and 
of a good family, born in Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, a daughter of Joshua Ridgley, 
deceased, who was a well-known and promin- 
ent citizen of this county. He was born at 
Fredericktown, Maryland, July 10, 181i. 
The Ridgleys were prominent early settlers 
of that State, comprising at first seven 
brothers and one sister from England. Later 
several of the fatnily became prominent in 
commerce and political affairs. Joshua 
Ridgley married Rebecca Radebaugh, a good 
companion, who was the daughter of Jacob 
atid Mary Radebaugh, of Dutch or German 
ancestry. She inherited from them an in- 
dustrious and economical disposition. 

The family first came to La Oosse county 
in 1850, when the village of La Crosse had 
but four cabins, and there was no house be- 
tween that point and Fortage. After camp- 
ing for six weeks Mr. Ridgley had a log 
house completed. In 18(34 he went to Idaho, 
where he died in December, 1876, leaving a 
widow and one child, Mary, now Mrs. Hart- 
ley. In politics Mr. Ridgley was a Demorat, 
but never desired office. He was a member 
of Frontier Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; previously 
he had also been a member of the Odd Fel- 
lows' order. Some years later the widow of 
Mr. Ridgley married Robert Smith, an old 
settler of La Crosse, now deceased, and she 
still resides in that city. 

William Hartley died January 24, 1888. 
He was a conservative Democrat in i)olitics, 



BIOGBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



367 



and in religion he was an Episcopalian, having 
been brought up in the Cliurch of England. 
He was also a member of the Masonic order, 
a charter meuiber of West Salem Lodge and 
a member of La Crosse Chapter. At his 
death he left a widow and tive sons and three 
daughters, namely: Sarah Jane Cox, John J., 
a business man of La Crosse; Mary Alice, 
Joshua R., William Thomas, James Edward, 
liebecca and George Henry. 

Mrs. Hartley owns one of the best farms 
in the county, a portion of which was form- 
erly a part of her father's estate; he settled 
here forty-two years ago. The farm contains 
534 acres, well fenced and partitioned into 
plowed lands, pastures, meadows, etc., and a 
large brick house, surrounded with orna- 
mental trees, etc., and large barns — one 
44 X 75 feet, and one 46x80, w'ith twenty- 
two-foot posts. Mrs. Hartley exhibits great 
practical business ability in the conduct of 
the farm, rearing stock, etc. She has traveled 
extensively, and has resided for some time in 
Europe. She is also a good converser, being 
well informed and entertaining. 

In 1892 she rented her farm, and is now 
living in Onalaska, where her facilities for 
rest frona care and the enjoyment of life gen- 
erally are much enhanced, and where her 
children have better school advantages. 

tEROY BUNN, a valued employe of the 
Sawyer & Austin Lumber Company, 
and one of the highly respected pioneers 
of La Crosse county, was born at Dix, New- 
York, in 1843. He is a son of S.imnel D. 
and Sarah (Griswold) Bunii, who were also 
natives of the Empire State. The father was 
a carpenter by trade, and in the year of the 
birth of our subject emigrated to Dane 
county, Wisconsin; there he purchased land 



which he cultivated and improved for a 
j^eriod of twelve years; at the end of that 
time he sold his property and removed to 
Richland county where he purchased another 
farm. He resided on this land until 1861, 
when he again sold out, moving thence to 
Monroe county; there he bought land, which 
he held until 1868, when he sold the farm 
and homesteaded 160 acres on Buffalo river 
in Trempealeau county; there he lived the 
remainder of his days, his death occurring 
when he had attained the good old age 
of eighty-six years. The mother sold the 
farm in 1889, and with a son and 
daughter moved to Seattle, Washington; 
she is now seventy-two years old. They 
reared a family of four children, of whom 
Leroy is the oldest; the second, Emeline, is 
the wife of Samuel Cox, a resident of Wash- 
ington. They have five children: Ida mar- 
ried C. C. Chamberlin, Mayor of Augusta, 
Wisconsin, and has one daughter; Ora J., 
the fourth of the family, married Miss 
Maggie Hislop, and they are the parents of 
two children. 

Leroy Buna attended the common schools 
a short season each year until he was eighteen, 
when he enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Bat- 
tery. His father objected and took him 
home, putting him at farm work, which he 
continued to do until February 24, 1864, 
when he again enlisted in the Twenty-fifth 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was in 
the engagements at Kenesaw mountain, At- 
lanta, Dallas, Dalton, and Peachtree Creek; 
he marched through the Carolinas and on to 
Washington, where betook part in the Grand 
Review in June, 1865; the men of his regi- 
ment who enlisted in 1864 were transferred 
to the Twelfth Wisconsin Veteran Reserve, 
and this reserve was mustered out at Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, in July, 1865. After the 
cessation of hostilities he returned to Wis- 



358 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



consin and engaged in agricultural pursuits 
in Trempealeau county, which he followed 
until he entered the employ of the Sawyer 
and Austin Lumber Company. 

Mr. Bunn was married in 1870 to Miss 
Sarah C. Streeton,a daughter of William and 
Sarah Streeton, old and valued residents of 
Burns township. Mr. Streeton is now 
seventy-six years of age and his wife is 
seventy-two. They are the parents of five 
children, Mrs. Biinn being the oldest. Jabez 
married Miss Lillie Hulbertof Burns Valley, 
and they have two children; Jacob lives with 
his parents; Anna, deceased, was the wife of 
William Mack, and died in 1884, leaving one 
daughter; Enos married Miss Lillie Jones. 
Mr. and Mrs. Bunn are the parents of one 
son, Irving J., who is a member of Robert 
Hughes Camp, No. 42, Sons of Veterans; a 
member of John Flynn Post, No. 77, G. A. R., 
and his wife belongs to the Relief Corps, No. 
25, attached to the above post. He is a life- 
long and earnest Republican. The family 
belong to the Baptist Church. 



lARL BRANDT.— Perhaps it is not to 
be wondered at that Mr. Brandt pos- 
sesses such progressive ideas and ten- 
dencies regarding the management and con- 
duct of his farm when it is known that he 
was brought up to the life by his father, who 
was a substantial farmer of Germany. Carl 
was born September 25, 1843, in the prov- 
ince of Hanover, Germany, a son of Anton 
and Dorothea (Kullenkamp) Brandt, the 
former of whom died in the land of his birth 
in 1870, and the latter in 1S85. He received 
a thorough education in the common schools 
of his native land, and until 1866 was his 
father's mainstay on the home farm. Decem- 
ber 25, that year, he emigrated to the United 



States, landing at New York city January 1, 
1867, and immediately made his way to La 
Crossecounty, Wisconsin, and began working 
for the farmers in the vicinity of Bostwick 
Valley and La Crosse Valley; but at the end 
of four years, with the usual thrift of the 
German, he had acquired sufficient means to 
enable him to purchase 223 acres of land in 
sections 10 and 15, to which he has since 
added by purchase eighty acres at one time 
and seventy-three at another, making him an 
excellent farm of 370 acres, the most of 
which is in the valley and very fertile. His 
farming operations have been conducted 
according to the most advanced and progress- 
ive ideas, and have resulted in his own good 
and the benefit of those with whom he has 
come in contact. He has long since gained 
the reputation of being a successful tiller of 
tiic soil, and he always has been among the 
first in the use of new and improved 
machinery for the saving of labor. He has 
a fine wind pump on his place, and can draw 
water in his house and barns by simply turn- 
ing a faucet. His farm is also well watered 
by a spring brook running through it, and 
he keeps constantly on hand about sixty-five 
head of graded cattle and from sixty to 100 
head of hogs. The barns and sheds for their 
shelter during the winter months are of a 
most substantial kind. His horse barns, in a 
basement, are especially commodious. He 
keeps six work horses, eight head of young 
horses and colts and about eighty head of 
sheej). His residence is a two-story brick 
building, a pleasant and comfortable home. 

Mr. Brandt was married in 1874 to Miss 
Anna Wehrs, daughter of Dederich and Mar- 
guerite (Dunkirk) Wehrs, who was born 
December 11, 1854, in the province of Han- 
over, and left there in April, 1870, and came 
to the United States. Until her marriage in 
this country, she was in the employ of Mrs. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STORY. 



359 



W. L. Dndley. Following are tlie children 
of Mr. and Mrs. Brandt: Rosa, born Feb- 
ruary 21, 1875; Minnie, July 24. 1876; Carl 
January 20, 1878; Jennie, May 11, 1880; 
Lillie, December 15, 1881; Wilhelm, May 
15, 1883; Mary, March 23, 1885; Alfred, 
April 9, 1888; Anna, December 27, 1890. 
Al! the children are still with their parents. 

Mr. Brandt has the satisfaction of knowing 
that his present property has been acquired 
through his own efforts, and that he is now 
in independent circumstances and owes no 
man a dollar. His career is but another evi- 
dence of the possibilities young men have for 
advancement in the world when supported 
by stronof resolution to rise. He keeps fully 
apace witii the progress of his calling in every 
particular, and his present place is one of the 
neatest and most comfortable homesteads of 
the county. 

Politically Mr. Brandt is a Democrat, is a 
patron of worthy causes, and has given his 
children a good education. 




HOFFMAN, La Crosse, 
-Europe was the birthplace 
of Handel and Mozart, of Beethoven 
and Mendelssohn and of other great com- 
posers. The musical instruments which held 
the professional world by a kind of involun- 
tary fascination were made there, and the 
most eminent critics of musical ]iroductions 
were nursed amid the inspirations of "Vater- 
land." La Crosse is a well known musical 
center, and among its inhabitants are to be 
found many whose tastes are at once correct 
and refined. There is, therefore, a tempting 
field here for the musical composer or in- 
structor whose reputation as an authority 
cannot be questioned. Such a one is found 
in the person of Prof. C. F. Hoffman, com- 



poser of music, teacher of piano, organ and 
harmony, at 922 State street. 

Born in Germany, June 19, 1822, he re- 
ceived a thorough literary education, and 
later, or in 1846, graduated in music. He 
began teaching music and followed this suc- 
cessfully until 1850, when he crossed the 
ocean to the United States and located in 
Waukesha county, Wisconsin. In 1855 he 
came to La Crosse and has made his home 
here ever since, teaching music as a business 
and meeting with flattering success. He is 
a popular composer of music and has over 
240 pages, some of which are among the 
best now before the public. He composes 
both humorous and sacred pieces, among 
whicli are the following: "The Cradle Song," 
"Evergreen Grand Waltz," "Sweet Memo- 
ries," "Grand Concert Paraphrase," "Home 
Pleasures," "Morning Glory Grand March," 
"Welcome Overture " (piano duet), "The Fast 
Mail," "Bird Polka," "Old Water Mill," 
"At Home" (companion to "Sweet Home"), 
"Capriccio" (for piano and violin), " For- 
ward Grand March," and "Dreams of the 
Past" (for piano and violin). Prof. Hoffman 
has all the pupils he can accommodate and has 
made his start in that way. He clerked in the 
store one-half the time for a few years. He 
is a good composer of music and an efficient 
teacher, as thousands of his pupils can testify. 
He has recommendations from such well 
known sources as The Welcome Musical and 
Ilome Journal, Philadelphia; O. J. Church 
& Co., Musical Visitor, Cincinnati, Ohio; 
The Musical Review, New York, and Oliver 
Ditson & Co., Boston, Massachusetts. His 
pupils tire to be found in every family. 
, Prof. Hoffman was married January 8, 
1870, to Miss Joanna Grieser, and has two 
interesting children: Julia and Edwin. Miss 
Julia is an accomplished musician, plays 
equally well on the piano and organ, and ex- 



aoo 



BIOGRAPUWAL HISTORT. 



ecutes the most difficult pieces of classic 
music. She has had no other teacher tlian 
her father. For several years she has been 
in Looniis' music store as clerk and player. 
Edwin is an artist of great ability in paint- 
ing, and his work is most beautiful and 
attractive. It is doubtful if he has a superior 
as an artist of his age — sixteen years — in tlie 
State. Also lie is a great poultry fancier and 
breeder, taking premiums at the poultry fair 
here and at other places. Keeps tirst-ciass 
stock of white Leghorns and Cochins. Both 
children are extraordinary specialists in tlieir 
line. Prof. Hoffman and wife are naembers 
of the German Lutheran Church, and are 
citizens of whom La Crosse may justly be 
proud. The Professor is a member of the L 
(). O. F., and takes little interest iu politics. 



-^^xnyi/o- 



'^lym^^ 



fOHN J. ESCII, attorney, La Crosse, 
Wisconsin. — Of the many prominent 
names that make up the strength of the 
Wisconsin bar is that of John J. Esch, who 
is a ton of Henry and Matilda (Menu) Esch, 
the fathei- a native of Westphalia. (Germany, 
and the mother of St. Charles, Missouri, 
though of German parentage. The father 
was formerly a groceryman, but is now re- 
tired. He is a good, honorable and reliable 
citizen, l)eing in every way worthy of the 
esteem in which he is held. He is now 
sixty-live years of age and the mother is 
fifty-four. They reared five cliildren, four 
sons and one daughter, of whom John J. is 
second in order of birth. One son, Dr. S. H. 
Esch, 18' a practicing physician in Neillsville, 
Clark county, Wisconsin; another son, Will* 
iam A., is clerk iu a grocery store at Sparta, 
and the other two, George and Ella, are 
attending school. 

John J. Esch was born in Monroe county, 



Wisconsin, Mai-ch 20, 1861, and he received 
his earlier education in Sparta high school. 
Later he entered the State University, classi- 
cal course, class of 1882, and afterward 
entered the law department of the same in- 
stitution, graduating in 1887. In July of 
that year he began practicing at La Crosse 
and has remained here ever since. The firm 
name is Winter, Esch & Winter, and they 
have been doing a very satisfactory business. 
He was City Treasurer of Sparta for one term, 
was Captain of the State Militia there for 
three years, and he has just resigned the 
office of Captain of the Gateway City Guards 
of La Crosse. 

Mr. Esch was married December 24, 1889, 
to Miss Anna Herbst, the third of six chil- 
dren, all of whom are living, born to the 
marriage of Fred Herbst of Sparta. She was 
a pupil of the high school at Sparta, but did 
not tinisli her course. Her parents are still 
living and are honored residents of Sparta. 
One child, Paul H., has blessed Mr. and 
Mrs. Esch's union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Esch 
are members of the Conyrejjational Church. 
Mr. Esch, like all the members of the Esch 
family, is a stanch Republican and takes a 
decided interest in political matters. He is 
a public-spirited citizen, is a man of decided 
views, and not only stands deservedly high 
in his profession, but is held high in the es- 
timation of his associates. He forms warm 
personal attachments and has many sincere 
friends. 

5^.0N. J. J. HOG AN has for many years 
W\ been so closely connected witii the lead- 
ing Ijusiness interests of La Crosse that 
a history of the county would be incomplete 
without an extended account of his career. 
He is a son of James and Ilonora B. (Bur- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



361 



rows) Hogan, the father being a native of St. 
Johns, Newfoundland, and the mother hav- 
ing lived there since her childhood. James 
Hogan was captain of a vessel and followed 
the sea for forty years; he commanded the 
the flag-ship of the first flour fleet that went 
around Cape Horn in 1849 to the gold 
" *^'g»i'is " of California; he was an employe 
of tiie large shipping house of Toban & Co., 
London He came West with his family in 
1847 and settled them in Sheboygan county, 
Wisconsin, and then returned to the water; 
he was born in 1805 and died in 1882; bis 
wife died in 1873, at the age of fifty-five years. 
They had born to them a fatnily of thirteen 
children, only three of whom are living at the 
present time: Stephen B., an agriculturist of 
Ashland county, Wisconsin; J. J., the subject 
of this notice, and Mrs. N. B. Holway, whose 
husband's biography appears on another page 
of this volume. 

Mr. Hogan had only the advantages 
afforded liy the common schools of his day; 
lie came to La Crosse in 1857, and the follow- 
ing year laid the foundation of his present 
prosperous business; the village was a small 
one, quite in proposition to his capital; by 
wise management and the exercise of a 
naturally good judgment, he has extended 
his business enterprises until he is now one 
of the leading merchants of this section of 
the State. He owns a wholesale grocery and 
in connection with this operates the La 
Crosfe coffee and spice mills, manufacturing 
also baking-powder and extracts; he is vice- 
president of the La Oosse Soap Company, 
president of the La Crosse Manufacturers' and 
Jobbers' Union, and deals largely in hard- 
wood and agricultural lands. He was elected 
Mayor of the city of La Crosse in 1875 and 
again in 1876; he was a member of the As- 
sembly in 1888, and was re-elected in 1890; 
during the term of 1891 he was elected 



Speaker of the House; his vote in his district 
was 2,396 against Alfred Harrison, Repub- 
lican, who received 1,693 votes; H. G.Miller, 
Prohibitionist, received 180 votes. In his 
official career the same earnestness and candor 
have been exercised that have marked his 
private business transactions, and he has re- 
flected great credit upon himself, as well as 
upon his constituency. 

Mr. Hogan was married, December 24, 
1863, to Miss Amanda Cook, a daughter of 
E. Fox Cook, of Milwaukee, a prominent 
Democrat and a lawyer; he was a member of 
the Legislatures of Michigan and also of New 
York and Wisconsin ; he died in La Crosse, at 
the age of eighty-two years; his wife is still 
living; they had a family of seven children, 
four of whom grew to maturity. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hogan are the parents of four children: 
Gertrude M. is a graduate of Smith College, 
Massachusetts; Lulu M. has completed a four 
years' course in music at Smith's College; 
John D. is a stmlent at Canisius College, 
Buffalo, New York; James C. has always 
attended private school, and is now a pupil of 
Prof. Reynolds, one of the most prominent 
educators of the State. 

|OBERT CONEY, who has the honor to 
be numbered among the early settlers 
of La Crosse county, was born in 
Athenry, county Galway, Ireland, in 1823. 
His parents, John and Elizabeth (Alexander) 
Coney, were also natives of Ireland, and lived 
and died there. Robert attended school until 
he was thirteen years old. Although a mere 
lad he determined to try his fortune in the 
New World, and accordingly emigrated to 
America, locating in New Brunswick, where 
his uncle-in-law, Mr. French, had a lucrative 
contract for furnishing supplies to the British 



362 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0R7. 



army of the province, assisting him in his 
business until he was twenty-one. Tliere he 
was variously employed, earning his living, 
hut availed himself of every opportunity that 
offered to gain an education. He continued 
tiiere until he was twenty-one years of age, 
returning to Ireland in 1844. Tliere he em- 
barked in the mercantile trade, which he con- 
tinued until 1851. The attractions of Amer- 
ica again became too strong for family ties 
or native land, so he once more crossed the 
sea, and after this arrival here he settled in 
New York city. He entered the employ of 
Whitlock, Nichols & Whitlock, wholesale 
grocers, 84 Front street, and was with this 
firm three years; and was with Hews, Jenkins 
& Chandler, 308 Broadway, two years. The 
following three years were spent in Boston, 
Masfaciuisetts, where he was purchasing 
agent for a New Brunswick house. 

In 1858 he joined the great caravan then 
moving to the West, and stopping in Wis- 
consin located in Milwaukee. He secured a 
situation in the shops of the Ciiicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul Railroad, and for three 
years followed this business. In 1861 he re- 
moved to La Crosse, and was employed in the 
sliops of the same company until 1888. Since 
that time he has not been actively engaged in 
any business. For the past four years he has 
been Justice of the Peace, and for one term 
lie was Assessor of Campbell township. In 
all tlie walks of life he has conducted himself 
with upriglitness, and has won an enviable 
reputation in every community in which he 
hiis lived. 

Mr. Coney was married, in 1852, in New 
York city, to Miss Mary Creden, and of this 
union four children liave been born: John E. 
is train dcspatcher for the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Northern llailroad at La Crosse; 
Robert is a machinist, residing at Sumas 
city, Washington; Anna is the wife of George 



Fisher, of La Crosse, and the mother of one 
child, Robert; Emma keeps house for her 
father and brother. They are all members of 
the Catholic Ciiurch. 



1^ B. CALAHAN, one of the pioneers of 
1851, is a native of Pennsylvania, born 
® in Montgomery county, December 30, 
1819. His parents, John and Sarah Calahan, 
were natives of the same State; the father was 
a wheelwright by trade; he served as a soldier 
in tiie war of 1812, and the paternal grand- 
father, Hugh Calahan, fought in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle. In his youth our subject 
had but few educational advantages, and it 
was through his own efforts that he gained 
snthcient knowledge to fit him for the duties 
of life. At the age of sixteen years he went 
to learn the carpenter's trade, and followed 
this occupation during his residence in Penn- 
sylvania. In 1844 became West to Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, and worked at his trade 
for one year; at the end of twelve months he 
determined to engage in agricultual pursuits, 
which he continued three years. In 1848 lie 
went to Heart Prairie and took charge of the 
manufacturincf business of Rubier & Whit- 
ney; this he coisducted successfully for two 
years. In 1851, as before stated, he came to 
La Crosse; this was in June, and after a 
month's sojourn he returned to Heart Prai- 
rie; in the fall, however, he came again to 
La Crosse and located permanently; until 
1859 he was engaged in general building, but 
he then turned his attention to the construc- 
tian of railway bridges, and for many years 
was employed by the railroad companies hav- 
ing lines traversing the Mississippi valley; 
he built all the bridges of the Turkey River 
Railroad, the Ciiippewa Valley Railroad, 
the Narrow Gauge road from the Mis- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT. 



363 



sissippi to Preston, Minnesota, and did a 
larcre amount of work for the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. Paul road, and assisted in the 
building of the dock at Ashland on the Lake 
Shore road. For the last ten years he has 
practically retired from this line of work. In 
1890, however, he superintended the con- 
struction of the driving bridge across the 
Mississippi at La Crosse. 

Mr. Calahan has not confined his interests 
to business alone, but has given much thought 
to the political questions of the day. In early 
days he was a Whig, and cast his first presi- 
dential vote for Harrison; since the formation 
of the Republican party he has zealously 
supported its measures. He is a man of 
sterling traits of character, and enjoys the 
highest regard of the people among whom he 
has lived so many years. His business trans- 
actions have been of unquestionable fairness, 
and won him a patronage as truly apprecia- 
tive as it was wide-spread. 



-»s 



5>- 



fRANCIS M. SISSON, a resident of La 
Crosse county from early infancy, is 
"o^ numbered among the reliable agricult- 
urists of Farmington township. He was 
born in Walworth county, this State, March 
27, 1852, the youngest in the family of 
George Sisson, one of the earliest pioneers of 
the county, arriving here in December, 1851, 
and in May the next year removing his fam- 
ily to their new home on the frontier. The 
father was born in Hampden county, Massa- 
chusetts, at Wilbraham, July 14, 1801, the 
son of Augustus Sisson; and the latter was 
born at Stonington, Connecticut, witnessed 
in early boyhood the battle fought there 
during the Revolutionary war, and died at 
Willoughby, Ohio, about 1848. George 
Sisson was reared as a farmer, remaining 



in New England until he was eighteen 
years of age, when he moved to Geauga 
county, Ohio, where he lived until 1846. In 
that year he came to Walworth county, Wis- 
consin, and in 1852 settled in Lewis valley, 
obtaining the last claim in the settlement. 
Here he lived for forty years, witnessing the 
wonderful development of the natural re- 
sources of the country, bearing the privations 
and hardship of a pioneer settler, and at last 
reaping the reward of an industrious and 
honorable life. He was married in Ohio, at 
the age of twenty-two years, to Lucia Ema- 
line Bartholomew, a native of Goshen, Con- 
necticut, and a daughter of John and Abby 
Bartholomew. Nine children were born of 
this union: Oscar O., Margaret M., wife of 

A. G. Welch; Oree A., Olen G., Selena S., 
Olonzo S., Francis M., the subject of this 
notice, and two who died in infancy. In the 
late war four of the sons went out in defense 
of their country, as follows: Oscar O., who 
served two years in Company I, Eighth Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and five years in 
Company F, Second United States Artillery; 
Olen G. and Oree A., members of Company 

B, Second Wisconsin Cavalry for two years; 
and Olonzo S. belonged to the same company 
four years. 

The mother of tlie above family passed 
from this life in 1871, leaving her husband, 
who survived her, until February 22, 1892, 
when he died, at the age of eighty-seven years 
and a little more, upon the homestead where 
he had lived continuously for forty years. 
The remains were interred in the Farmington 
cemetery, beside those of his wife, there to 
await the morning of the resurrection of the 
just. He was a strong Republican; was 
chairman of the fir&t Republican committee 
of Farmington township. For many years 
he and his wife belonged to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 



364 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Francis M. Sisson was reared to the life of 
a farmer in this count)', receiving his educa- 
tion in the cotninon schools. He spent ten 
winters in the woods and on the drive, where 
he was a capable and valued hand. At the 
age of twenty-eight years he married Miss 
Marian McPherson, a native of Trempealeau 
county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Edward 
and Polly (Hillaker) McPherson. Two 
brothers of Mrs. Sisson were soldiers in the 
late war, and lost their lives in the service of 
their country: their names were Napoleon 
and Peter. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sisson are the parents of 
three children: George and Nellie May, wiio 
are living, and Jennie Rachel, who died at 
the aero of two years and three months. She 
was a brisht and beautiful child, and her 
death was a sad trial to their parents. Mr. 
Sisson owns the old homestead, which is one 
of the finest farms in Lewis valley; it consists 
of 130 acres, in a state of high cultivation, 
upon which a part of the village of Mindoro 
is located. 



?OHN A. ELLIOTT, a member of the 
well known wholesale liquor firm of 
Elliott & Callihan, of La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, was born in Iowa, February 7, 1862, 
to Andrew and Mary (McGuigan) Elliott, 
they being also natives of the Hawkeye 
State. The father, who was a farmer and lead 
miner, dieil in 1888. at the age of seventy-four 
years, but his widow still survives him and is 
an honored and respected resident of the State 
of her birth. She is now in her sixty-sixth 
year, and is, as was her husband, a member of 
the Catholic Church. Her children are as 
follows: Katie, John A. and Henry M.: the 
latter a resident of Duke, Montana. Katie 
is deceased. John A. Elliott first started out 



in life at the age of nineteen years as a school 
teacher, but at the end of one term began 
clerking in a clothing establishment, and one 
year later entered a liquor establisiiment in 
the same capacity. In 1882 he opened a wine 
house of his own in Farley, Iowa, and two 
and one half years later became associated 
with Mr. Callihan in the same business in 
the city of La Crosse. From the start they 
have been successful, being enabled through 
their connections to obtain pure goods. They 
have conducted their business on the elevated 
plane of mercantile honor, and being practi- 
cally conversant with it they have made 
their house a representative one. 

' " "£ * ! ' ' S ' S ' " * " 



f"T.^aCHAEL CALLIHAN is a meml)er 
Mni- °^ ^''® ^'"'" °^ Elliott & Callihan, 
-ii^^ wholesale liquor dealers, of La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, and they have a reputa- 
tion unsurpassed in the United States for the 
quality of their goods, the purity of which is 
unquestioned. Mr. Callihan was born in 
Dubuque county, Iowa, August 23, 1858, to 
John and Mary (Foley) Callihan, who were 
born in the Emerald Isle. They now reside 
in Dubuque county, Iowa, and of a family of 
eleven children born to them the subject of 
this sketch is the fourth. In 1878 Michael 
Callihan began workiuii on a railroad in Col- 
orado, and for some time was employed in 
the shops at Denver and Leadville, and later 
held the position of fireman on a train for 
about one year and a half. After some time 
spent in Farley, Iowa, in the employ of Mc- 
Gee & Co., he formed his present partnership 
with Mr. Elliott, and from December, 1884, 
until June, 1880, they sold groceries and 
liquors at Farley. In the last mentioned year 
they moved to La Crosse and began business 
with a small capital and a small stock, and 




^^^?tf? y^^^^^^^etC/^-^^y 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



865 



they now carry a full line of imported and 
domestic wines and liquors, wliich are han- 
dled both in bulk and in cases. Their stock 
is now valued at about $10,000, and they do 
twice the business of any like establishment 
in the city. 

Mr. Callihan was married September 3, 
1889, to Miss Mary A., daugliter of Francis 
Kubely, of Dyers ville, Iowa. They have one 
child, a bright and promising little girl 
named Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Callihan are 
members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Cal- 
lihan has been traveling for the firm over 
Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South 
Dakota, and in business circles he is highly 
regarded for his integrity and ability. 



lADWALADER COLDOON WASH- 
BURN, Governor of Wisconsin. — John 
Washburn, Secretary of Plymouth Col- 
ony, in England, settled at Duxbnry, Massa- 
chusetts, in 1631, and became wealthy and 
prominent. Israel Washburn, the next in 
line, became a Captain in the Revolution, a 
member of the General Court, and sat in the 
convention which ratified the Constitution of 
the United States. Israel Washburn, Jr., 
father of Governor Washburn, born at Rayn- 
ham, Massachusetts, in 1784, was equally 
prominent, and lived until 187(), and to see 
his large family of sons more successful in 
private and public life than any other of 
equal number in the Union. 

The mother of Governor Washburn was a 
descendant of John Benjamin, who settled in 
Massachusetts in 1632, and was one of the 
proprietors of Cambridge. Her ancestors 
served the Colonies and the infant Union 
with no less zeal and distinctio!) than those 
of her husband. So there was good stuff in 

Governor Washburn, who was born at Liver- 
sis 



more, Maine, on April 22, 1818, where his 
father owned a farm and general store. He 
lived at home until 1835, working on the 
farm and attending the town school. In 1835 
he entered a store at Ilallowell, then a cul- 
tured and thrifty town, where he enjoyed 
unusual social and business opportunities. 
During the winter of 1838-'39, he taught 
the chief school at Wiscasset, and with the 
money thus earned set out early in the spring 
of 1839 for the Territory of Iowa. His first 
stopping place was in the village of Daven- 
port, vvhere he taught a private school for 
three months. On the day following the close 
of school he took a position with David Dale 
Owen, on the Iowa Geological Survey, which 
Congress had just ordered to be made. 

In the winter of 1839-'40, young Wash- 
burn went to Rock Island, Illinois, and began 
the study of law with a former friend in 
Maine, Joseph B. Wells. At the election of 
1840 he supported General Harrison, and 
was himself elected to the office of Surveyor 
of Rock Island county. In March, 1842, 
at the age of twenty-four years, Mr. 
Washburn established his residence in Min- 
eral Point, Wisconsin, was admitted to the 
bar of the United States District Court, and 
began tlie practice of his profession. In 
1844 he entered into partnership with Cyrus 
Woodman, for some years agent of the New 
England Land Company, and gradually the 
firm of Washl)Ufn & Woodman, having now 
an abundance of capital, abandoned the prac- 
tice of law, and gave attention exclusively to 
entering, purchasing and selling land, perfect- 
ino- titles, locating Mexican land warrants, 
and transacting a general financial and land 
business. 

In 1852, on the invitation of Governor 
Farwell and Justice Harlow S. Orton, Mr. 
Washburn went to Madison to assist in fram- 
ing a general banking law, under which, when 



;;g6 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



enacted, liis firm opened the Mineral Point 
Bank. This institution stood the test of all 
financial reverses, never suspended specie pay- 
ment, and when finally its affairs were wound 
up, paid every dollar of liability in gold and 
silver. 

In March, 1855, Mr. Woodman retired 
from the firm, leaving its immense affairs to 
be managed entirely by Mr. Washbnrn, who 
had, at the previous November election, en- 
tirely without solicitation and against his 
will, been elected to Congress by the Repub- 
licans, then just organized. On taking his 
seat he met his brothers, Israel from Maine, 
and Elihu B. from Illinois, both of whom had 
been first elected to Congress, like himself, at 
the age of thirty-six years; and during the 
ensuing six years these three strong brothers, 
from three different States, occupied seats 
together, and impressed their united strength 
upon the legislation of the country. 

In 1861 the committee of thirty-three on 
the state of the Union, of which Governor 
Washburn was a member, reported an amend- 
ment to the Constitution, making slavery 
perpetual. He joined with Mr. Tappan, of 
Vermont, in a minority report against the 
proposed amendment, and against any eon- 
cessions whatever of liberty to slavery, or in 
favor of secession. 

In March, 1861, Governor Washburn re- 
moved to La Crosse, but had hardly settled 
down to attend to his enormous private 
interests before he saw that the cause of the 
Union demanded all the men and means at 
the command of the North. lie therefore 
raised the Second Regiment of Cavalry, was 
commissioned Colonel, and reported for duty 
on October 10, 1861. It is impossible to 
follow here his military operations in detail. 
He became a Major-General on November 29, 
1862, and until he resigned, in May, 1865, 
was an active, daring and successful com- 



mander. One of his notable feats was reduc- 
ing, with an inferior force, the bomb-proof 
works at Esperanza, Texas, and historical 
works on the war declare him to have been 
one of the very best district commanders in 
the army. Like Grant, he never turned back, 
and never for a moment lost faith in the ulti- 
mate triumph of the Union army. 

In 1866, Mr. Washburn was again elected 
to Congress, and re-elected in 1868. At the 
close of his last term in Congress, in 1871, 
the Republicans brought him forward as a 
candidate for Gov^ernor, and he was elected 
over James R. Doolittle by 10,000 majority. 
His administration was quiet, able and econ- 
omical, and very useful to the people of the 
State. In 1873, he was renominated, but 
the high-tide of Grangerism, general dis- 
satisfaction with railway charges, and hard 
times conspired to his defeat by William E. 
Taylor. This ended Governor Washburn's 
official career, though, in 1875, as he had 
been in 1861 and 1S69, he was an unsuccess- 
ful candidate for the United States Senate. 
After the destruction, in 1878, of his great 
mill at Minneapolis, where he was one of the 
early and principal owners of the St. Anthony's 
Falls Water Power, he went to Europe for 
the purpose of studying the various processes 
of makinof flour. As a result he was the 
first to introduce into America the Hun- 
garian roller system, and what is known as 
the patent process of producing flour, and 
made his new mill the largest and best in the 
world. 

Governor Washburn's charities were nobly 
and modestly bestowed — Washburn Observa- 
tory to the Wisconsin State University, at 
Madison; People's Library, in La Crosse; 
Minneapolis Orphans' Asylum, in memory of 
his mother; his beautiful home and ground 
at Edgwood, near Madison, to the Catholic 
Sisters, the State having refused to accept 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



3G7 



it for public purposes, and numerous lesser 
gifts. He died of paralysis, superinduced 
by a complication of diseases, at Eureka 
Springs, Arkansas, on May 14, 1882, aged 
sixty-four years. 

jLBERT FILKINS is one of the pioneers 
of La Crosse county, having settled 
here as early as 185(3. He is a native 
of Rensselaer county, New York, born P^eb- 
ruary 16, 1830, and is a son of Peter and 
Ann Eliza (Van Der Cook) Fiikins. His 
father wa,s a farmer, and served as a soldier 
in the war of 1812; his grandfather, 
Jacob Fiikins, also followed agricultural pur- 
suits and was probably a descendant of the 
English family bearing his name, who settled 
in this country in Colonial days. Ann Eliza 
Van Der Cook was a daughter of Gilbert Van 
Der Cook, who served in the war of 1812; his 
progenitors belonged to the Knickerbocker 
stock of New York. 

Albert Fiikins was reared in the Empire 
State, and obtained a fair education in the 
common schools. At the age of twenty-two 
years he began to learn the carpenter's trade, 
and worked throughout the State of New 
York as a journeyman. He S|)eat one year 
in Belvidere, Illinois, and in the spring of 
1855 came to La Crosse, and the following 
vear located here permanently. He erected, 
among many other structures, the Exposition 
Building, the Wheel & Seeder Works and 
the State street engine house. 

Mr. Fiikins was married iu this city, to 
Miss Mary E. Pierre, a native of Saratoga 
county, New Y'ork, and a daugiiter of Philip 
and Parmelia (Huling) Pierre, who emigrated 
to this county from the State of New York 
about the year 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Fii- 
kins has been born one son, Rockwell E. 



Fiikins, who is associated with his father in 
business. Our worthy subject is a member 
of the Builders' Exchange, and used every 
effort to assist in its organization and 
to make it a permanent affair. He belongs 
to the First Baptist Church, to which he con- 
tributes a liberal support. 



fHRISTIAN PEDERSON, of the firm 
of Hilistad & Pedersou, clothiers. La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, is a native of Nor- 
way. He was born in Gausdal parish, near 
Lillehammer, in the southern part of Central 
Norway, November 27, 1850, a son of Peder 
J. Brettingen and Caren (Knutsen) Bret- 
tingen. The father is a farmer, as also were 
most of his ancestors, some of them, however, 
being artisans. In 1868, Peder J. Brettingen 
came to America with his family of three 
sons and four daughters, and settled near 
Cashton, Monroe county, Wisconsin, where 
he now resides. 

Christian Pedersoii was reared on the farm 
and obtained a good education. At the age 
of eighteen he engaged as a clerk in the gen- 
eral merchandise business at Sparta, Wiscon- 
sin, and there remained about six years. In 
the fall of 1875 he came to La Crosse, and 
clerked for Gutman Brothers, by whom he 
was employed until the spring of 1882, when 
he formed a partner.ship with Mr. N. G. 
Hillestad, which relation still continues. 

Mr. Pederson was married, in Sparta, to 
Miss Malla Johnson, a native of Eidsvold, 
near Christiania, Norway. They have three 
sons and one daughter: Bella, Philip, Clem- 
ent and Christian. The family worship at 
the Lutheran Cliurch, and are liberal in re- 
ligious matters. Mr. Pederson is an active 
member of the Norden Society, of which he 
has served officially on different occasions as 



BIOORA PHICA L UISTOIi Y. 



its lionored president, and also as treasurer. 
He is associated with the I. O. O. F., Nor- 
manna Lodge, having passed all the chairs of 
that order, and being a member of the Grand 
Lodge of Wisconsin; is also a memher of 
the Kebekah degree lodge. While he is 
prominent in business and fraternal circles, 
he has always declined to accept public office. 

fO. STOREY, Assistant Postmaster at 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, was originally 
** from Norway, his birth occurring 
March 21, 1863, and came with his parents, 
Charles and Pauline Storey, to the United 
States in November, 1870. His father was 
an ordinary laborer, working in sawmiils and 
on the river. He died of consumption the 
day that President Garfield was shot, when 
but iiftytwo years of age. He was a great 
admirer of Garfield, and our subject told him 
of the assassination not five minutes before 
his death ! He was a hard-working and an 
honorable man. He was a member of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church, and his wife, 
who is an honored and esteenied resident of 
Tacoma, Washington, is also a member of 
that church. She is now about fifty 3'ears of 
age. Of the eight ctiildren born to their 
union, J. O. Storey is second in order of 
birth. 

The latter received a good, practical edu- 
cation in the common schools, and supple- 
mented the same by attending the Wallace 
Business College of La Crosse, from which 
he graduated in 1887. He first began work- 
ing for hiinself as a herder of cattle for Mr. 
H. Goddard, lumberman of La Crosse; was 
promoted teamster, and finally became 
salesman in the lumber yard. He was in 
the employ of Mr. Goddard for thirteen 
years, six years as bookkeeper and general 



manager of his North Side business, which 
was quite a responsible position. He began 
on 50 cents a day, and in this way kept his 
mother and the other members of the family. 
Mr. Storey has been twice nominated for 
office, first for Registrar of Deeds of the 
county; but the whole ticket was defeated, 
though he ran ahead of his ticket, only one 
man getting more votes than he. His second 
nomination was for the office of City Clerk, 
and although he ran ahead of his ticket, he 
was defeated again. He was the only man 
who carried his own ward. After being 
recommended by Mr. R. A. Scott, the Post- 
master at La Crosse, he was appointed by the 
Postmaster-General to his present position 
in January, 1890, and has filled that position 
with honor, credit and acceptability ever 
since. He is director and one of the organ- 
izers of the Home Mutual Loan Building 
Association of La Crosse. 

He was married Decembers, 1888, to Miss 
Ella Yi. Folmcr, daughter of Captain J. C. 
Folmer, of La Crosse, a steamboat captain 
and an old resident. Mr. Storey was partner 
and owned one-half interest in the Duncan & 
Storey livery barn at La Crosse, but sold 
out on receiving his present appointment. 
Mr. and Mrs. Storey are the happy parents 
of two interesting children: Susie Pauline 
and Bessie Otella. Ha and wife are mem- 
bers of tlie Presbyterian Church of the North 
Side, and are well respected by all who meet 
them. Mr. Storey is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, and is Past Chancellor 
of the same. In politics he is an ardent Re- 
publican, and for many years has been 
called the "Boy Politician." He and family 
never lecognize, as many Norwegians do, the 
17th (if May, but they honor the day and the 
land of their birth, though like all good 
Americans they claim the ith of July as the 
national holiday, and the stars and stripes as 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBY. 



369 



tlieir flag. Mr. Storey is a man of intellect, 
and is possessed of natural business acumen. 
He is one of the promising young men of the 
county, and his influence has ever been given 
in support of educational, social and moral 
interests. 



l^lflLLIAM E. LOCKERBY.— The 
"WMiil social, political and business history 
l^d^J of this section is tilled with the deeds 
and doings of self-made men, and no man in 
La Crosse county is more deserving the ap- 
pellation than Mr. Lockerby, for he marked 
out his own career, lias steadily followed it 
up to the present, and his success in life is 
due to his own earnest and persistent en- 
deavors. 

He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Au- 
gust 22, 1856, his parents, M. L. and Desiah 
(McCurdy) Lockerby, being residents of Man- 
kato, Minnesota. M. L. Lockerby has been 
a successful farmer and business man, but is 
now retired from the active duties of life and 
is enjoying the fruits of his early labors. 
He was a soldier in the Union army during 
the Rebellion, was Corporal of his company, 
which was a part of the Thirty-seventh Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry. During the three 
years that he was in the service he was with 
General Grant in the Array of the Potomac, 
and at the close of the second day's tight 
at Fredericksburg he was quite severely 
wounded and was honorably discharged from 
the service some time after. He returned 
home with a shattered constitution, but with 
the consciousness of having performed every 
duty faithfully and well. He affiliates with 
the Republican party, but has never been an 
office-seeker, much preferring the quiet of 
home life to the questionable honors of poli- 
tics. He and his wife have long been mem- 



bers of the Methodist Episcojjal Church, and 
reared a family of seven children to honor- 
able manhood and womanhood, of whom the 
subject of this sketch was the first in order 
of birth. 

After remaining on the home farm until 
eighteen years of age, William E. Lockerby 
entered the Normal School at Mankato, Min- 
nesota, and was graduated in the class of 
1871. Succeeding this he worked as a tele- 
graph operator at Medford, Wisconsin, for 
two years; then he and several others joined 
together and formed a new county under 
Governor Taylor's administration, and he 
was appointed to the position of Clerk of the 
Circuit Court. At the expiration of his 
term he again sought railroad work, and 
came to La Crosse as Assistant Train-Dis- 
patcher under John M. Eagan, of the South 
Minnesota division of the Chicago, Milwau- 
kee & St. Paul, but later resigned this posi- 
tion to accept that of station agent at Lanes- 
boro. In October, 1882, he resigned this 
situation and took the position of private 
secretary for J. C. Easton, and the following 
December he and Mr. Easton removed to La 
Crosse, of which city they have since been 
residents. Mr. Lockerby has identified him- 
self with the affairs of the city and county, 
and is prominently connected with many 
leading enterprises. He has proven himself 
an able financier, and is the owner of con- 
siderable valuable property in Dakota and 
Minnesota, as well as in La Crosse. In the 
winter and spring of 1890 he organized a 
stock company, obtained subscriptions to 
the amount of $15,000, and organized the 
present La Crosse Inter-State Fair Associa- 
tion, and by his enterprise and good manage- 
ment pushed this undertaking to a successful 
issue. This association is for industrial, agri- 
cultural and mechanical exhibits, and all gam- 
bling and pool-selling are prohibited, and in- 



370 



BIOGRAPHICAL lIiyrORY. 



toxicants are not sold in or near the grounds. 
The result is that the best of order prevails, 
no drunkenness or disorder is observed, and 
during the two fairs of the organization 
not an arrest was made. The citizens of La 
Crosse are intelligent and tar-seeing, and look 
upon this enterprise as a factor of their pros- 
perity, and back it with both purse and in- 
fluence. Tlie tine stock exhibits in the ex- 
position buildings have been equal to the 
same at many of the State fairs, and Mr. 
Loekerby may well feel proud of tlie enter- 
prise he has established on so sound a basis. 
B. E. Edwards is the efficient president, and 
the other officers are equally conscientious 
and faithful in the discharge of their duties. 
J. W. Losey is vice-president; W. E. Loek- 
erby, secretary, and H. P. Magill, treasurer, 
lie is a lover of good horses. In 1891 he 
purchased a tine standard-bred and registered 
mare for driving purposes. She has a fine 
action and is one of the best bred horses in 
the Northwest; her pacing record of 2:30 
was made in 1890. She is now eight years 
of age, and in 1891 raised a fine colt which 
is standard- bred and registered. His name 
is Prince llyswood. No. 15,709; his dam is 
Erown Nell, and his sire Kyswood, No. 4,526. 
Mr. Loekerby has always been an ardent Re- 
publican, and socially belongs to the I. O. 
O. F. 

He was married September 7, 1881, to 
Miss Elma Le Gros, daughter of Charles and 
Thedora Le (-rros, of AVaupaca, Wisconsin. 
Mrs. Loekerby is a cultured and refined lady, 
and for several years was a student in the 
Northwestern University at Evanston, and 
later was a successful teacher in Wisconsin. 
Her father was of French extraction, of noble 
lineage, and the family coat-ofarms is still 
preserved. Mr. Le Gros was a soldier in the 
Kebellion, and after his return home died 
from disease contracted while in the service. 



Mrs. Loekerby is an earnest member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and in the 
quartette choir of this church Mr. Loekerby 
is the tenor singer. In their beautiful home, 
surrounded by numerous friends, and with 
their little daughter Avis, they enjoy a well 
deserved prosperity, and their home has be- 
come noted for the unbounded and g-racious 
hospitality that is extended to all. Mr. Loek- 
erby made his own otart in life, and knows 
how every dollar that he now enjoys was ob- 
tained. He is a man of much energy and 
force of character, is personally very popular, 
and his amiable disposition and courteous 
manner have made him a favorite with all. 

UY C. PUENTISS, attorney and coun- 
selor at law. La Crosse, Wisconsin, was 
born at Georgia, Franklin county, Ver- 
mont, January 11, 1824, a son of Joseph and 
Maria (Hill) Prentiss; the father was a 
native of Haverhill, New Hampshire, and 
the mother of Middlebury, Vermont. The 
early life of Judge Prentiss was spent in the 
schools of Vermont and in his father's mills, 
Joseph Prentiss owning at that time a lum- 
ber, flour and oil mill at Georgia, Vermont. 
When seventeen years of age young Prentiss 
entered a store at Burlington, Vermont, as a 
clerk, and continued there four years. In 
1844 he began the study of law under the 
direction of F. G. Hill, at Jericho, Vermont, 
and at the end of two years went to Burling- 
ton, where he entered tlie office of Jacob 
Maeck; there he remained, pursuing his 
studies until September, 1847, when he was 
admitted to the bar. He then opened an 
office in Burlington, practicing there until 
1849, when he was employed as assistant 
attorney with the Hon. David A. Smalley; 
this relation existed until 1S52, when Judge 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



371 



Prentiss came to Portage, Wisconsin, and 
entered into a partnership with Judge Luther 
8. Dixon, Uite Chief Justice of tlie Supreme 
Court of Wisconsin; the partnership with 
Judge Dixon continued until 1857, and was 
then dissolved by inutual consent. Judge 
Prentiss tlien practiced alone until 1869, when 
he and Israel Ilohnes entered into business 
relations, which continued until 1871, at 
which time Mr. Holmes removed to Chicago. 

In 1858 Judge Prentiss was elected Judge 
of Columbia county, AVisconsin, the court 
then having civil jurisdiction. In 1872 he 
came to La Crosse, where he has since resided ; 
almost all of this period he has been Court 
Commissioner. He has been a very active 
attorney for many years, has been employed 
by several corporations, and has practiced in 
nearly every county in the State. He has 
gained a wide reputation as a wise counselor 
and highly successful attorney. Advancing 
years have seemed to dictate less active life, 
and the Judge has accepted the office of 
Justice of the Peace in this citji a position 
he still holds. He is one of the pioneers in 
legal practice in the State, and owns one of 
the finest libraries, an excellent selection of 
works pertaining to the profession. 

Judae Prentiss has been twice married ; 
his first union was to Mrs. Rachel Adams, a 
native of Johnstown, New York; one child 
was born to them, Guy, Jr., a civil engineer 
by profession. Mrs. Prentiss had one daugh 
ter by her first marriage, Nettie Adams, a 
graduate of the Fox Lake Female Seminary; 
for several years she taught music in La 
Crosse, and was married to James L. Bracken, 
a banker and provision dealer in Tama City, 
Iowa. In 1875 Mrs. Prentiss died of a lin- 
gering illness. In January, 1877, the Judge 
was married to Mrs. Ellen M. Hankerson, his 
present wife; by her former marriage she had 
two children: F. H., the elder son, is assist- 



ant cashier of the La Crosse National Bank; 
he has had the distinction of being chosen 
aid-de camp to Governor Peck, with the raidv 
of Colonel; Arthur P. is the second son. 

In politics Judge Prentiss is identified with 
the Democratic party, although he is inclined 
to exercise his own judgment in the selec- 
tion of his own candidates at the polls. 



^ 



■CHJ^ 



^ 



|EV. PvOLLO BRANCH, one of the 
most prominent and capable members of 
the ministry in La Crosse county, is the 
pastor of the West Salem Presbyterian 
Church. He was born in Cortland county. 
New York, September 6, 1854, and is a son 
of Enoch D. and Matilda (Mynard) Branch, 
who were also natives of the Empire State. 
The father was a farmer in Cortland county 
and was widely and favorably known; he set- 
tled on his land in 1813, and bravely met all 
the vicissitudes with which the path of the 
pioneer was beset. Possessed of unusual 
ability he was a leader in all tnovements cal- 
culated to develop the resources of the conn- 
try and aid in the upbuilding of the county; 
he was a man of liberal views upon all ques- 
tions, and of superior mental attainments. 
He held many of the township offices, dis- 
charging his duties to the entire satisfaction 
of his constituency, a fact made evident by 
his continued re-election to office. His death 
occurred in June, 1875, at the age of eighty 
years. His wife is still living, with powers 
of both mind and body well preserved, at the 
age of seventy-seven years. They had born to 
them a family of seven children, all of whom 
survive. 

The Rev. Rollo Branch is the youngest of 
the seven. He received his education in 
Casnovia Seminary, where he completed his 
course in the class of 1878. Having deter- 



372 



BIOORAPUlCAL IIIHTORY. 



mined to devote his life to the ministry, he 
entered Auburn Theological 8e;ninary, and 
for tliree years pursued a course of study laid 
down by that institution; by 1885 he had 
finished this work, and had also given es- 
pecial attention to some subjects riot required 
for graduation. In 1875 he began preaching, 
and did evangelistic work until 1879, wiien 
he commenced regular ministerial work. 
During the years 1879 and 1880 he filled the 
pulpit at Texas valley, New York, and 
then went to Mandan, Dakota, where he or- 
ganized tlie first churcli on the Northern 
Pacific road west of the Missouri river. He 
had this work in charge for two years, and 
then returned to New York, where lie sup- 
plied the pulpit of the church of his native 
town until the opening of the term at Auburn, 
New York. During the first and second 
years of his course he did mission work in 
the city of Elmira, holding five services on 
the Sabbath day, and keeping up his studies 
in the seminary. His health failed under 
this strain, and he lost about half of the 
senior year; but lie was able to finish the 
work with his class. During his last few 
months at the seminary he tilled the pulpit 
at Sodus, Wayne county, New York, to 
which he was called in May, 1885; he ac- 
cepted this work, remaining there two years, 
at the end of which time he went to Redfield, 
Oswego County, New York. Here he la- 
bored two years, when his health again failed, 
and he was obliged to relinquish ministerial 
duties. In order to give himself an oppor- 
tunity to grow stronger he took an easier 
charge at Orwell, New York, where he 
preached every alternate Sabbath. The decline 
of his physical forces continued, however, 
and the result was that a trip to California 
was determined upon; he remained there 
fourteen months, and as soon as he began to 
imjirove he took up some work, and j>reaehed 



about one-fourtli of the time he was in the 
sunny clime. His strength returned and 
before he left the coast he was fully restored 
to health. His first work after this was in 
the pine regions of Wisconsin at Harrison 
and Parrish, where he did mission work 
among the lumbermen. At the end of one 
year he came to West Salem, in January, 
1891. 

Mr. Branch was married in 1876 to Miss 
Ella L. Lincoln, a daughter of Wait and 
Melissa (Munsey) Lincoln, residents of Vir- 
gil, New York. Of this union two children 
have been born: Ned and Carrie. 

Mr. Brancli is an honored member '>f the 
I. O. O. F. 

Ipfsf ILLIAM ARTHUR LESTER, M. D., 
%\r\\., \\'lio is recognized as one of the lead- 
v^^j^i^ ing practitioners of La Crosse county, 
is the subject of the following biographical 
notice. He was horn at Bristol, Kendall 
county, Illinois, March 20, 1856, and is a son 
of Dr. G. B. and Elizabeth Caroline (Hunt) 
Lester. The father was a native of St. John, 
New Brunswick, born of Scotch parents; he 
was one of the pioneers of Kendall county, 
Illinois, and was one of the first teachers in 
the community; he was also the first station 
agent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
railroad at Bristol; later in life he studied 
medicine and became a very skillful physi- 
cian. Reuben Hunt, the maternal grand- 
father, was an attorney of considerable talent; 
his son, a brother of Mrs. Lester, is a practic- 
ing physician in Chicago. 

Dr. Lester acquired a thorough literary 
education, and in 1876 began the study of 
medicine under his father; he worked faith- 
fully and industriously until he was fitted to 
enter Rush Medical College; he was graduated 



BIuGIiAPjJIGAL HISTORT. 



313 



from this institution in February, 1881. He 
entered at once into practice in Oswego, 
Illinois, but in the fall of 1881 came to 
Wisconsin; he located at Whitehall, where 
he resided until 1884 and then came to Ona- 
laska. Here he has won a reputation as a 
careful, painstaking physician, lie is well 
read on professional and popular subjects, 
and keeps fully abreast of ihe times on all 
lines. He is a member of the Masonic order 
and belongs to the school board. He is 
health officer of the town, and is very capable 
in this position. 

The. Doctor was united in marriage Jan- 
uary 25, 1886, at Galesville, Wisconsin, to 
Miss Maud Moulton, a daughter of Hon. P. 
G. Moulton. 

~«-»|*4^^*|^-« 



fB. GRIGG, secretary of the La Crosse 
Lumber Company, was born in Phila- 
® delphia, Pennsylvania, August 12, 
1862, a son of Horace H. and Helen V. 
(Harmstead) Grigg, both natives of the City 
of Brotherly Love. The father, upon the 
solicitation of his uncle, the lion. Samuel D. 
Hastings, emigrated to the West, and from 
1853 to 1859 was engaged in the real-estate 
and banking business in La Crosse. While 
in La Crosse Mr. Grigg took active part in 
the stirring events of those times, and being 
a gentleman of recognized and tine business 
ability he soon rose to the front and created 
a large business, becoming possessed of con- 
siderable property. He was a builder of 
towns and a pine-land owner, and was identi- 
fied with the establishing of the now pros- 
perous city of Superior, this State. In this 
work he was associated with the Breckin- 
ridges of Kentucky, and many other promi- 
nent Southern and Eastern gentlemen. His 
possessions were scattered through seven 



counties in Wisconsin and two in Minnesota. 
His affairs were immensely prosperous until 
the dark financial times of 1858-'59 came 
upon the whole country, when with thousands 
of otiiers his business was crushed and his 
fortune was lost. He then returned to Phil- 
adelphia and embarked in the wholesale drug 
business, which he conducted until his death 
in 1871, at the age of thirty-nine years. 
During the late civil war he gave his service 
in defense of the flag of his country and en- 
listed in the Corn Exchange Regiment, an 
organization made up in Philadelphia; he 
was doing duly in the Army of the Potomac 
wlien his failing health necessitated his dis- 
charge, a little less than one year from the 
time of his enlistment. He was a member 
of the Masonic order, and assisted in the 
building of the Masonic Temple of Philadel- 
phia; he was also a member of the La Crosse 
lodee, and took his demit when he returned 
to the East. He was well known in La 
Crosse and during his residence here was 
associated with some of the most prominent 
men of the State; he was possessed of great 
public spirit, and was a decided acquisition 
to all circles of La Crosse. In early youth 
he received a thorough mental training and 
was a classmate of the silver-tongued orator, 
Daniel Dougherty. 

Mr. Grigg is one of a family of seven 
children: Frank, the oldest, was drowned 
while fishing in the Black river; H. H., 
Mary V., J. P., our subject; Ida C. and two 
who died in infancy. J. B. Grigg received 
his education at Girard College, Philadelphia, 
and then went to learn the printer's trade, at 
which he worked six years. In February, 
1884, he abandoned this occupation to accept 
his present position with the La Crosse Lum- 
ber Company, in which he has proven him- 
self wortiiy of the confidence reposed in his 
ability and his uprightness and integrity. 



374 



BIOGRAPniOAL HISrOBY. 



lie was united in marri.ogc, March 8, 1887, 
to Miss Belle Morrison, a daughter of Samuel 
Morrison, a former resident of Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania; he died at Sunset, Colorado, 
while prospecting in that region in 1885; his 
wife died in 1878; they had a family of live 
children, of whom Mi-s. Grigg is the young- 
est. Mr. and Mrs. CJrigg are the parents of 
three children: Helen V., Horace H. and 
Martha B. Mr. Grigg is an ardent sup- 
porter of the princii)les of the Republican 
party, and takes a lively interest in the issues 
of that body. 



^^-'^xn/lfi,-- 



-^wyi'^^^ 



(DWARD TRITTON, a merchant, Post- 
master and Town Clerk of Burns, was 
born in county Kent, England, May 0, 
1825, a son of Stephen and Anna (Hawkatt) 
Tritton, natives of the same place. The 
father brought hi.* family to the United States 
in June, 1825, locating in New York city, 
and two years later removed to Esse.x county, 
same State, and subsequently to Willsborough, 
Essex county, where he died many years 
later. The parents had twelve children, six 
of whom survive, namely; Caleb, Mary and 
Eleanor, in Boone county, Nebraska; Joshua 
resides in this county; and Timothy, at the 
head of Lake George, New York. Their 
eldest son, Stephen, was a soldier in the late 
war, was taken prisoner at Shiloh, and died 
in the prison at Macon, Georgia. Another 
son, Thomas, died in Huron, South Dakota, 
in 1882. The remainder of the children 
were: Betsy, who married Mr. Gold; Annie, 
the wife of Mr. Helm; and two boys who 
died w'hen small. 

Mr. Tritton, our subject, was reared to 
farm life, and educated in the seminary at 
West Poultney, Vermont, and iilso taught 
school four terms in New York. In the 



spring of 1852 he came to Sun Prairie, Dane 
county, Wisconsin, twelve miles from Madi- 
son, where he taught school two winters, and 
also worked on a farm during the summers. 
He came to this county in 1854, settling in 
Burns township, one-half mile south of his 
present location, where he was engaged in 
farming until 1881, Declining health then 
caused him to give up that occupation, and 
he engaged in his present business. Mr. 
Tritton was appointed Postmaster in 1882, 
which position he still holds, and also keeps 
a general stock of merchandise. He has hold 
the office of Town Clerk since the spring of 
1882. He was married October 21, 1851, 
to Mary Walker, who was born in El burg, 
Vermont, July 4, 1827, a daughter of Chester 
Walker, deceased. Of their four children, 
two still survive, viz.: Cassius H., who lives 
in Monett, Missouri, married Lauia Scafe, 
and has two children: R. T. and an infant 
girl; and Jennie A., who married Harvey 
Morey, of Lyons, Colorado, and also has two 
children: Clyde and an infant girl. Relig- 
iously, Mr. Tritton is a member of the 
Second Adventist Christian Church, and 
politically, a Republican. 



EORGE L. WILLEY.— New Hamp- 
shire has given to La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, many estimable citizens, 
but she has contributed none more highly 
respected or, for conscientious discharge of 
every duty in every relation of life, more 
worthy of respect and esteem than Mr. 
Willey, who is one of the progressive and 
enterprising farmers of this section. He was 
born in Carroll county, New Hampshire, in 
April, 1829, to Stepl^en and Tabitha (Lewis) 
Willey, the former a native of New Hamp- 
shire, and the latter of Maine. Tiio father 



BIOORAPaiCAL HISTORY. 



3W 



was a prosperous New England farmer, and 
died the same day on which I'resident 
Lincoln breatlied his last, April 15, 18(35, at 
the age of sixty-seven years. His wife died 
in 1850, at the age of forty years. They 
were ardent and devout church members, 
and the father was a deacon in the Baptist 
Church. His brother, Samuel Willey, with 
his wife and six children, were killed by an 
avalanche on the AVhite Mountains, which 
was caused by the bursting of a cloud in 
Ausrust, about seventy years since. It occur- 
red about ten o'clock at night, and two of 
their servants were buried alive. Hearing 
the noise, they realized their danger, and left 
the house to secTiire a greater place of safety, 
and thus met their death. Their house-dog, 
which was fastened in the cellar, was unin- 
jured, and proved very servicable in finding 
the dead. All the bodies except two were 
found after several days' hard work, and the 
mother was found clasping her babe to her 
breast. The house, which is a log one, is 
still standing, and being near a summer re- 
sort is visited annually by thousands of 
people. It is about twenty miles from North 
Conway. The children born to Stephen and 
Tabitha (Lewis) Willey are as follows: Sam- 
uel, who died in 1845, at the age of twenty- 
seven years. His wife was Harriet Barlin, 
now living in La Crosse; George L. ; Sarah 
P., wife of Joseph Dole. She died in 1878, 
at the age of forty-three years; Ann, aged 
fifty-tive, is the wife of John H. Hale, of 
Minnesota; and Catnerine, who died in 
infancy. 

George L. Willey commeuced by teaching 
school in New Hampshire, but this calling 
he followed only a short time, his next occu- 
pation being to drive a pleasure carriage near 
Boston for two years. He next came to 
Wyota, Wisconsin, in 1849, and during the 
one year that he remained there he was a 



shoe-cobbler. In the spring of 1850 he, 
witii twenty-five others, started on the over- 
land route for California, the journey occu- 
pying seven mouths. He walked 2,000 miles 
barefooted, because he had no shoes. After 
having the mountain fever for about six 
months, he engaged in mining, and in this 
business was quite successful. At the end 
of three years he returned to New Hamp- 
sliire, with much experience and a fair share 
of gold as well After a short visit there he 
returned to Wisconsin in 1854, and settled 
on a farm in La Crosse county, containing 
640 acres, which he still owns. It is located 
in Onalaska township, and is conducted by 
his two sons. He has filled the office of 
County Supervisor, and for many years has 
been Sabbath-school superintendent at Mid- 
way. 

Mr. Willey and his faithful wife have 
worked with untiring effort, and by industry 
and frugality have accumulated a comfortable 
competence for their declining years. He 
was married in 1855, in Onalaska, to Miss 
Sarah E. Nuttinir, daughter of Abel and 
Clara Blackwell Nutting, of Maine. They 
came West in 1855, and after a two-years 
stay in Madison, settled in Onalaska. Their 
family consisted of two sons and four daugh- 
ters. Mr. and Mrs. Willey have the follow- 
ing children: Horace G., on the home farm, 
is married to Mahala Robins, and has three 
children: George, Grace and Stephen; Jewett, 
also on the home farm, is married to Emma 
Kruger, and has two children: Ada and 
Lester; Ansel died at the age of twenty-six 
years, and was married to Ella French; 
Samuel was accidentally killed at the age of 
twenty-three years, by a runaway horse. He 
was breaking a colt, which threw him, his 
foot clinging to the stirrup. He died in 1890. 
The next child died in infancy, unnamed; 
Elva is attending the public schools of La 



376 



BIOOBAPHWAL HISTORY. 



Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Willey have been 
members of the Baptist Church for many 
years. He takes but little interest in politics, 
but when he has the chance votes the Prohi- 
bition ticket. 



fRANK X. RITTEli is a 7nan whon. 
nature seems to have specially designed 
to be a farmer, for he has met with 
more tlian an a\erage degree of success in 
pursuing that calling, and owing to his de- 
sire to keep out of the beaten path; and to 
his adoption of new and improved methods, 
togetlier with industry and good judgment, 
he is at present the owner of a valuable farm 
of 120 acres. He was born in Germany in 
1839, and in 1854 emigrated to this country 
with his parents, Minard and Lena (Zegler) 
Ritter, and with them settled in Jefferson 
county, Wisconsin; but in 1888 the parents 
removed to Waukesha county, where the 
father died the same year, and the mother in 
1890. Frank X. Ritter made his home with 
his parents until he attained the age of 
twenty-one years, then started out to make 
his own way in the world, and until 1864 
worked among the farmers of Jefferson and 
Rock counties, the three subsequent years 
being spent in the same capacity in La Crosse 
county. By frugality, for which his country- 
men have ever been famed, he had by this 
time saved enough money to enable him to 
purchase eighty acres of land in section 16, 
Washington township, since which time he 
has purchased forty acres more, making his 
present farm. He has a comfortable frame 
residence, a large basement barn, other con 
venient out-building's for stock and grain, and 
a fine wind pump. 

He was married in 1878, to Miss Christina 
Schaffer, daughter of John B. and Feronia 



(Fink) Schaffer, who came to the United 
States from Germany in 1854 and resided in 
La Crosse county until their respective deaths 
in 1889 and 1886. This couple became the 
parents of four children, one son and three 
daughters, all residing in La Crosse with the 
exception of Mrs. Ritter. The union of Mr. 
and Mrs. Ritter has been blessed in the birth 
of five children: John, Jacob, Maggie, Emma 
and Louisa. Mr. Ritter has held nearly all 
the offices in the town of Newberg, and is at 
presen;; chairman of the Board of Super- 
visors. He has the confidence of his fellow- 
citizens, and in discharging the duties of the 
ofKces he has held he has displayed clear in- 
tellect and unsullied integrity. Mr. ami Mrs. 
Ritter are members of the Catholic Church, 
and do their share in forwarding all church 
enterprises. 



^ 



^e^^^ 



tGUDMUNDSON, one of the most re- 
liable merchants of West Salem, La 
* Crosse county, is a native of Norway, 
and was born May 12, 1858. His parents, 
Hans and Boletiie Gudmundson, are natives 
of the same country, and are now residents of 
La Crosse county. They emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1871. The father is a farmer and con- 
ducts his agricultural operations with rare 
intelligence. The family consisted of four 
children: Rena, who died at the age of twenty 
years, was the wife of Mr. Pearce; Anna 
married Alexander Johnston; the subject of 
this notice is the third-born; and Caroline 
who is at home, is the youngest. Mr. Gud- 
mundson remained under the parental roof 
until 1884, assisting his father in his farm 
work. When he left home it was to engage 
as a clerk in the drug business with his 
brother-in-law, Alexander Johnston. He 
served in this capacity for three years, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



377 



then clerked in a general store in Belmont, 
Iowa, nutil 1889, when he ens;aged in busi- 
ness for himself, opening a stock in the store 
which he now occupies. He carries a full 
line of general merchandise, valued at $5,000. 
He has won a fair share of the patronage of 
the town and surrounding country, and his 
success is due in a large measure to his con- 
siderate and courteous treatment of his cus- 
tomers. 

Mr. Gudraundson has established a repu- 
tation for honorable and upright dealing that 
has won the confidence of the entire commu- 
nity. In April, 1891, he was elected treas- 
urer of the town, a position he is amply able 
to fill. Politically he affiliates with the Re- 
publican party. He is public-spirited, enter- 
prising and progressive, believing it every 
man's duty to keep pace with the rapid 
advance of the nineteenth century. 

He was united in marriage, December 5, 
1888, to Miss Tilda Johnston, a daughter of 
John J. Hoixven, and one of a family of ten 
children: James, Andrew, Nettie, Ella, Knud 
(deceased), Lewis, Charles, Martin, Tilda, 
and Lena (deceased). To Mr. and Mrs. Gud- 
mundson have been born two children: Milla 
died at the age of five months in 1890, Lloyd 
J. being the only living child. The parents 
are consistent members of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Church. 



f' V. DEININGER, hotel proprietor and 
i gardener, and an enterprising business 
* man of La Crosse, was born in this city, 
in 1859, to the union of Valentine and Chris- 
tina Deininger, who emigrated to this country 
from Bavaria in 1850. The parents both died 
in La Crosse, the father in 1872 and the mother 
in 1889. J. V. Deininger passed his boy- 
hood and youth in La Crosse, and received 



his education in the buplic schools of the 
same. When fourteen years of age he had to 
commence the battle of life for himself, and 
he worked on a farm until eighteen years of 
age. He learned l^rick-making, working at 
this during the summer months, and during 
the winter seasons he was in the pineries 
until 1884. He then rented his mother's 
farm for five years, and in 1889 moved to La 
Crosse, where he worked at the cooper trade 
nearly two years. In the meantime he had 
secured some land in section 10, Shelby town- 
ship, and in April, 1891, he erected a neat 
brick cottage for a dwelling, and a large frame 
building attached for an hotel and hall. Mr. 
Deininger is a genial, social gentleman, is 
well liked by all his neighbors and fellow- 
townsmen, and has a host of warm friends. 
He has held office in his town. He was mar- 
ried, in 1887, to Miss Hannah Pflnger, 
daughter of John Pflnger, of La Crosse, and 
the fruits of this union have been two chil- 
dren: Matilda and one unnamed. Mr. and 
Mrs. Deininger are members of the Catholic 
Church of La Crosse. 



-^^«f^-- 



RICHARD W. DAVIS, editor and pro- 
prietor of tile Bangor Independent., was 
l)orn in Kane county, Illinois, August 
1, 1870, the son of Rev. Henry and Catharine 
(Morris) I)avis, natives of Wales and Wauke- 
sha, Wisconsin. The parents had five chil- 
dren: Hugh, of Kane county, Illinois; Katie, 
Arthur, Richard and Henry. The latter died 
at the age of two years. The father came to 
the United States in 1866, settling in Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin, where he resided until 
1869, and then removed to Kane county, Illi- 
nois. In 1871 he went to Riley county, 
Kansas; in 1877, to Osage county, same 
State; in 1883, to Williamsburg, Iowa, and 



378 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



in the spring of 1890 to Raiigor. He is tlie 
present pastor of the Welsli Congregational 
Church. 

The subieet of this sketch was educated in 
the common schools, and also in the Iowa 
College at Grinnell. lie learned the printer's 
trade at Williamsburg, Iowa, and for three 
and a half years worked on the Williams- 
burg Journal, and also on the North Eng- 
lish Record one year. In the fall of 1890 
he came to Bangor and purchased the Bangor 
Independent, which he has made a tive-column 
quarto, with a good liberal patronage. 

^^/^^^-'^^^'^^ 

[VAN K. ROBERTS, a dealer in grain, 
lumber, building material, machinery 
real estate and live-stock and also pro- 
prietor of a grain elevator, Bangor, is one of 
the pioneers of La Crosse county. He was 
born in North Wales, May 19, 1834, a son of 
Evan Roberts, deceased, a native of the same 
country. The father brought his family to 
the United States in 1851, settling near 
Portage, Columbia county, Wisconsin, after 
which, in 1852, he came to Bostwick valley, 
this county, in what is now Barry township, 
eight miles east of La Crosse. It was then 
wild :and, inhabited mostly by Indians and 
wild animals. 

Evan R., our subject, went to La Crosse in 
1856, and was engaged in freighting until 
1858, when he returned and rented the home- 
stead two years, after which he bought a farm 
in Bostwick valley and remained there twelve 
years. lie then came to Bangor, and the 
second year here he bought the Bangor flour- 
ing mill, which he operated three or four years, 
and during this time he established a lumber 
vard and built elevators. He began dealing in 
stock about ten years ago, and now does a 
large business. He has held the office of 



Constable, Justice of the Peace, was Chair- 
man of the Board many years, also Chairman 
of the County Board one year, has l>een a 
member of the School Board for the past 
fifteen years, and is now serving his sixth 
year as director of the board, of which he was 
also treasurer several years. 

Mr. Roberts was married. May 9, 1858, to 
Mary Pierce, a daughter of Richard Pierce, 
deceased. They had three children: Mary, 
Jane and Frank. The mothr died October 
9, 1869, after which, February 23, 1871, the 
father married Jane Morris, and they had 
two children: Hugh E. and Luther J. Mrs. 
Roberts died January 23, 1886, and he was 
again married, in April, 1890, to Mrs. Maggie 
E. Jones. She had one son bv lier first mar- 
riage, Vaughn E. 



— % ' S M S » | i^"^ 

fOHN H. DAHL, dealer in general mer- 
chandise, Burr Oak, Wisconsin, is one of 
the well-known and successful business 
men of the county of La Crosse. He came 
to this county in 1870. 

Mr. Dahl was born in Norway in 1853, 
son of Hans Hanson and Martha (Olson) 
Dahl. He attended school until he was four- 
teen years of age, and received a fair educa- 
tion. While still a youth he was employed 
in taking care of horses. At the age of 
seventeen he bade adieu to his native land, 
crossed the ocean and landed at Quebec, from 
thence coming across the lakes to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, and tVom there to La Crosse 
county. He found employment on a farm at 
Half-way creek, and worked there one season*. 
The following winter he obtained a situation 
with H. Holmboe in a store at Onalaska. In 
the fall ot 1871, he went to Mindoro, clerking 
for Mr. Holmboe five years. In 1876 he 
traveled extensively throughout the West, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



379 



and the following year formed a partnership 
with A. C Hanson in the general merchan- 
dise business, at Kockland, and in 1879 the 
firm moved to Mindoro, where they did a 
snceessful bnsiness until 1885. That year 
Mr. Dahl sold out to his partner. In Feb- 
ruary, 1886, he purchased a stock of general 
merchandise from John Scanelton of Burr 
Oak, and has since been conducting a pros- 
perous l)usiuess here. He erected a store 
building, 24 x 60 feet, in which he carries a 
general line of well assorted goods, and does 
a business that averages $18,000 per annum. 
In the spring of 1891 he built a creamery, 
23 X 40 feet, with an addition, 16 x 22 feet, 
which he has equipped with all tlie modern 
machinery, run by an eight- horse-power 
engine. The past four months he has made 
600 tubs of butter. Besides his business in- 
terests at Burr Oak, he also has a general 
merchandise store at West Salem. 

Politically Mr. Dahl is an active and 
enthusiastic Democrat. He has been a mem- 
ber of the County Committee several times, 
and has served as Town Treasurer, and filled 
other minor offices. A man well informed 
on the general topics of the day, broad and 
progressive in his views, honorable in all his 
business dealings, and frank and cordial with 
his fellow men, he is a most worth.y and popu- 
lar citizen. 

tBRAM TOWSON, an honored and re 
spected citizen of La Crosse county, 
,,, Wisconsin, was born in the State of 
New York, in Schoharie county, July 10, 
1824, and is a son of John and Mary (Krank) 
Towson, who were also natives of the Empire 
State. The mother died when Abram was 
three days old, and he was then taken by his 
grandfather, John Towson, by whom he was 



reared. When he was a lad of fifteen years 
his grandfather died, and he was then thrown 
upon his own responsibility. He had been 
trained to the occupation of a farmer, and 
followed this calling for many years. In 1861, 
when there was a call for men to go to the 
defense of the' Union, he enlisted in the 
Second Wisconsin Cavalry, Company B, and 
and served until some time in 1863, when his 
eyes became inflamed so seriously that he 
secured a furlough and returned to his home 
for a season; he had been in the hospital in 
St. Louis for a month previous to his de- 
parture for home. He lost his sight entirely 
for two years, and then through Dr. Berry, 
an oculist, the sight of one eye was restored; 
in a surgical operation the optic nerve of the 
other eye was destroyed. He was honorably 
discharged in June, 1863, and in July his 
sight was gone; it was not until June, 1865, 
that he consulted Dr. Berry. To one who 
has never suffered the loss of sight, it is im- 
possible to convey an idea of the joy ex- 
perienced upon the restoration of that sense, 
and Mr. Towso:i proved no exception to the 
rule. During his army life, he did not sj)end 
a single cent of his pay, but sent every dollar 
to his family; the money he used for himself 
was earned by doing extra guard or other 
duty; this is a rather remarkable fact, and is 
worthy of record. When he enlisted in the 
service of the Government he had $400 and 
a house and lot, but after the payment of his 
doctor's bill he lacked $40 of paying his 
account. He then went to work for David 
Wright, a man who had shown liim much 
kindness during his affliction; he was in his 
employ for more than four years, and during 
this time managed to accumulate a small 
amount of money; he purchased a team, and 
worked on a farm for two years, having rented 
the land. By industry and wise management 
he succeeded in buying the land on which he 



380 



BWORAPnWAL niSTORT. 



now lives; he built a comfortable little house 
and as his means increased added to the 
home comforts, enlarged the dwelling, and is 
now one of the most contented and thrifty of 
laboring men of the community. Captain 
Jiishop of Company B, was a most consider- 
ate friend to Mr. Towson, and did much to 
relieve the tedium of his sightless days. 

Mr, Towson was married January 1, 1884, 
to Miss Nancy M. Howe, a daughter of 
Elisha and Bromagen Howe of New York. 
Two children have been born of this union: 
Elvira, deceased, married C. Van Etten, and 
they had two children; Jessie, deceased, and 
Gertrude; Martha is the widow of Lyman 
Allen and the mother of one child; Arthur, 
who is also deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Towson are members of the Baptist Church. 
Politically our subject adheres to no party or 
platform, but casts his suffrage for the man 
best suited in his estimation to fill the office. 
He is a man of quiet, unassuming manners, 
and ])ossessed of those sterling traits wliich 
win the respect ot the entire community. 

mE ROY BOWEN, of section 10, Burns 
Vtfi township, and one of the oldest settlers 
"^J5!^ now living in Burnham valley, was born 
in Marcellus, Onondaga county, New York, 
November 18, 1814. His father, Elijah 
Bowen, a native of Massachusetts, was a sol- 
dier in the war of 1812; and his mother, 
Sylvia Foster, was a daughter of William 
Foster, a pioneer of Onondaga county, and a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war. Our sub- 
ject's grandmother, Patty Bowen, nee Cody, 
was a sister of John Cody, and the latter was 
the grandfather of William F. Cody, the 
noted "Buffalo Bill" of to day. Mr. Bowen's 
grandfather, Elijah Bowen, was born in 
Cheshire, Massachusetts, in 1756, and was a 



soldier in the Revolutionary war. and was 
also the first settler in Marcellus township, 
Onondaga county, New York. Our subject's 
parents had nine children, only two of whom 
survive: Le Roy and Almeron, both of this 
township. 

LeRoy Bowen was a carriage and sleigh 
maker in New York for twenty-tive years, 
and also owned a farm at the same time. He 
came to Wisconsin with his family in the fall 
of 1849, stopping first in White Water, and 
later traveled through Wisconsin, Iowa and 
other points. In March, 1853, he came to 
this county and entered eighty acres of land 
where he now lives, laying his father's land 
warrant on eighty acres, and later entered 
eighty acres more for himself. He now 
owns 319 acres, where he has been very suc- 
cessful. He brought his family to this 
county in the fall of 1853, and his parents 
came in the fall of 1860, and lived with him 
until death, the father dying in January, 
1861, and the mother in 1863. Mr. Bowen 
was present at the organization of Burns 
township, which was named for ex-Lieuten- 
ant- Governor Burns, and was also town 
chairman eight years and town treasurer one 
year He is a member of the Grange, at 
Bangor, and although not a church member 
he has strong faith in God or the Ruler of 
the Universe. When he first came to this 
county he lived in a shed covered with grass, 
and his wife cooked out of doors, but later 
they built a shanty of poplar logs, into wiiich 
they moved November 1, 1853. It had 
neither doors, windows nor floor, and here 
they kept travelers, and also boarded the 
schoolteacher. Mr. Bowen built the first 
schoolhouse in Upper Burnha'n valley, at 
his own expense. 

He was married March 27, 1839, to Jane 
Wheadon, a daughter of Alinon and Abbie 
(Wooley) Wheadon. The latter died March 





^^ i^^^^^'^-^^—t-^C't^ 




't^t~^\. 



J-^---r-!JJi.V<j-.,.._ t^.,l^^yT 



BIOGRAPHICAL ET8T0R7. 



381 



26, 1891, at the age of ninety-three years. 
They were the parents of thirteen children, 
six of whom are now living, namely: Ruth 
E., now Mrs. Diiniiam; Sarah E., Mrs. Sweet; 
Mary E., Mrs. Wright; Eugenia, Mrs. Ben- 
jamin; Celestia, Mrs. Culpitt; and Oscar. 
The latter enlisted during the war of the 
Rebellion, at the age of nineteen years, and 
served during the war. One son, Arthur, 
died at the age of thirty-two years; and a 
daughter, Lora E., died at the age of eighteen 
years. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have nineteen 
grandciiildren and six great-grandchildi-eu, 
and the youngest daughter, Celestia, now 
lives with then. She is the wife of George 
W. Culpitt, and has two children: Ettie J. 
and Lee E. Our subject has had five gener- 
ations of his relatives sit at his table all at 
one time. 



i-^ 



-m^^^ 



fASON C. EASTOJSr, one of the railway 
magnates of the North we.^t, although a 
resident of La Crosse, Wisconsin, was 
closely identified with the early settlement and 
development of Minnesota; and of all the men 
who have wrought in this great enterprise, 
none have effected more important results. 

Mr. Easton was born at West Martinsburcrh 
Lewis county, New York, May 12, 1823, and 
is a son of Giles and Olive Easton. By de- 
scent he comes from one of the old New Eng;- 
land familes, his father, grandfather, and 
great-grandfather being natives of Hartford, 
Connecticut. His grandfather, Giles Easton, 
participated in the war of the Revolution. 
Jason C. enjoyed exceptional educational ad- 
vantages in his youth, and made the most of 
his opportunities. He was prepared for col- 
lege at Lowville, in his native county, and in 
1847, entered Yale College; his health failed, 

SS6 



however, before he had finished the Freshman 
year. 

Filled with political ambitions and interests 
in February, 1848 he purchased the Nortltern 
Journal, then published in Lowville, New 
York, in support of the Whig party; he was 
connected with this publication as editor and 
]iroprietor for five years, though not contin- 
uously. He next tried farming, but with indif- 
ferent success, despite his early agricultural 
training. Anticipating the future of the great 
West, Mr. Easton came to Minnesota in 1856, 
and there entered upon a career that has car- 
I'ied him to his present high position in the 
financial world. Going ti-> Chatfield, Fillmore 
county, Minnesota, lie opened the Root River 
Bank, a private institution which is still in 
operation, and lias the distinction of being the 
oldest bank in Minnesota. He continued its 
proprietor until May, 1888, when he trans- 
ferred his interest to George H. Haven- 
From the first Mr. Easton dealt largely in 
lands in Minnesota, and is still the owner of a 
good many improved farms; at one time he 
owned something like thirty farms which had 
been cultivated under his personal direction. 

In addition to these farms, Mr. Easton owns 
some thousands of acres of wild lands in Min, 
nesota and Dakota. He has bsen instrumen- 
tal at different times in establishing eleven 
private banks, but has disposed of most of his 
interests in that direction. 

Durino- 1872 and 1873 he was engaged in 
the purchase of large shipments of grain and 
other farm products along the Southern Min- 
nesota Railroad. As his operations enlarged 
and his capital increased, he determined to 
have a part in the railroad enterprises which 
were destined to develop that section- To 
record these investments in detail would take 
us beyond the Hunts of this notice, but the 
more important movements will be noted- 
In 1875 he purchased a controlling interest 



383 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORV. 



in tlie stock of the Soutlierii Minnesota Kail- 
road, which was at that tiinu in the liands of a 
receiver; soon afterward he was elected a 
ineinl)er of the Hoard of Directors. In 1877 
the Southern Minnesota Railway Extension 
Company was organized, of which Mr. Easton 
was president and a director. This company 
entered into important negotiations, extended 
their line, secured rich land grants from the 
Government, and in May, 1879, sold a large 
|)ortion of the stock to the Chicago, Mil- 
waukee & St. I'aiil Railway Company. Soon 
afterward the road of the former was merged 
into the latter corporation. 

In June, 1879, Mr. Easton was elected a 
director of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railway Company, and remained a member of 
that hoard until 1889. In 1881 he organized 
the Chippewa Valley & Superior Railway 
Company, of which he was made President. 
In 1882 he and associates purchased the entire 
stock of the Chicagi) & Evanston Railroad, of 
which he was made president. With charac- 
teristic energy he completed this road from 
the union station to the village of Evanston, 
a distance of twelve miles, and secured to the 
road all the privileges enjoyed by lines enter- 
ing tlie Chicago Union Depot. He was also 
President of the Dakota & Great Southern 
Railway, and was one of the original promo- 
ters and stockholders of the Fargo & Southern 
Railroad. 

He is at present largely interested in rail- 
road enterj)risos in Jamaica, West Indies, and 
is a stockholder and director of the company 
owning the entire system of railway on tha^ 
island, where he has spent two winters 
finding the climate more agreeable than in 
any other part of the world. 

In 1SS3 he removed from Minnesota to La 
Crosse, where he has invested a large sum in 
an elegant residence and grounds. Upon a 
visit to his home the strangers' attention is 



readily attracted to the most extensive private 
conservatory within the State's limits. Flow- 
ers from almost every clime are found here, but 
space will not admit of mention, even of 
those most rare. 

Mr. Easton is a lover of fine horses, and has 
recently started the Hillview Stock Farm, 
where he has many tine standard-bred animals. 
This farm is under the supervision of an ex- 
perienced superintendent and trainer. It is 
located within the city limits and adjoining 
both the City Park and the La Crosse Inter- 
state Fair Grounds, occupying a slight eleva- 
tion from which the beautiful valley of the 
Mississippi can be viewed in each direction 
with the grand old bluffs for a back ground. 
No pains has been spared to make tliis farm 
complete in every detail. The barns are of 
the most modern construction, a line half- 
mile track, numerous paddocks and pastures, 
and cozy cottages for the men complete the 
grounds and make it a beautiful park. Among 
tiie many tine animals found at Hillview the 
following brood mares are deserving of 
special mention: Hebe Von Arnira, by Von 
Arnim, dam Hebe by Belmont; Belle Von 
Arnim, by Von Arnim, dam Belie Blackwood) 
by Blackwood, Jr.; Bnrrie Patronage, by Pat- 
ronage, dam Burrie, by Captain; Mamnut, by 
Nutwood Mambrino, dam by Tramp, and 
AUie E., by All So, dam Thais, by Theseus. 

A valuable addition was made to his stock 
in October, 1891, when Mr. Easton purchased 
from wellknown breeders of Lexington, Ken- 
tucky, the following members of distinguished 
trotting families: Red Flush, a three-year- 
old stallion sired by the great Red Wilkes, 
dam Belle Brino, by Hambrino; Bradford, a 
two-year-old stallion by Almont Wilkes, dam 
Susan Brady, by C. M. Clay, Jr.; second dam 
by Abdailah 15; Lillian, brown mare, six 
years old, sired by Hambletonian Mambrino, 
dam by Kingsley; second dam by Black 



BIOQUAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



383 



Prince; Tliistle Dew, a two-year-old filly 
with a pacing record of 2:25, sired by Sentinel 
Wilkes, dam Belle II., by Clark Chief, Jr.; 
second dam by Live Oak; Red Strath, one- 
year-old stallion, by Red Wilkes, dam by 
Strathmore; second dam by Balsora; McWil- 
ton, weanling stallion by Wilton (lie by 
George AYilkes), dam Lady Mclvinney (dam 
of Idol Gift and Ynm Yum, each 2:29^), 
by Sweepstakes, second dam by Robert Fill- 
int^ham, Jr. ; Elecleeo, weanling stallion by 
Anteeo (he by Electioneer), dam Lillian; 
and Maestro, by Rumor, dam by Slander; 
second dam by General Knox. The last 
three named will be developed early and are 
expected to give a good account of themselves. 
He also has the very promising four-year- 
old stallion. Lucky Cross, by Belmont (sire of 
Nutwood), dam Mona Wilkes, by George 
Wilkes; also the fast three-year-old filly 
Abbadonne, that got a two-year-old record in 
1891 of 2:B2; she is sired by Wilkes Boy, 
dam Lulu Patchen, by Tom Patchen; also 
Miss Nutwood, by Nutwood, dam Sister 
Rnth, by Jim Monroe; also lola McDowell, 
by King Rene, dam Rebecca, by Ilamble- 
tonian 10. 

At Hillview are a number of the sons and 
daughters of Waxford, the sire of Belmont 
Prince, with a three-year-old record of 2:17;|. 
Of these Baity Bunting, Lady Woodman, 
Champion Belle and La Crosse Maid bid fair 
to become very speedy. Hillview is a new 
enterprise, and, although under the manage- 
ment of men skilled in the art of horse- 
manship, Mr. Easton gives to the business 
much of his personal attention, and is always 
pleased to show his stock to lovers of good 
horses. 

The old Hermit farm, now the property of 
Mr. Easton, comprises 160 acres, most of it 
rich and level land lying between the bluffs 
and the prairie sand hills. Many improve- 



ments have been made by the present owner 
in buildings, fencing, etc. The most im- 
portant work has been the preparation of a 
new vineyard. The old vineyard has 1,300 
vines, all Concords; the new one has 3,000 
vines of choice varieties. It is in charge of 
a German of long experience in the culture 
of grapes and is now the largest vineyard in 
the State. 

He has been an extensive traveler, having 
visited the principal cities of Europe, the Ter- 
ritory of Alaska and ail the principal places 
of the United States. He has been too closely 
connected with important business enterprises 
to give any attention to politics. He cast his 
first presidential vote for Henry Clay and the 
old Whig party and now votes the Republican 
ticket. He is well preserved physically, and 
time and the cares of life have dealt very 
gently with him. He is a man of the highest 
honor and has employed those strict methods 
in business which have won for him the 
entire confidence of the Northwest, where he 
is recognized as one of the highest types of 
the business men of America. 

He is now practically retired from active 
business, having only a general oversight of 
his affairs and leaving details to his son 
L. F. Easton. 



i^^^ENJAMIN B. MERCEREAU. a resi- 
dent of Wes^ Salem, La Crosse county, 
is a man of that type which gives char- 
acter to a community, and is worthy to be 
recorded among the leading citizens of the 
country. He was born in Broome county. 
New York, June 2, 1857, and is a son of 
Israel P. and Elizabeth M. (Benedict) Mer- 
cereau, who were also born in that State. 
The father was for many years a farmer at 
Union, New York; his death occurred in 



S84 



JilOaiiAPlUC'AL IIISTORT. 



1877, at the age of sixty-eiglit years. He 
was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for 
more than forty years, and iiis wife was also 
a devout member for a great many years. 
They were people of those sterling traits of 
character which won them the respect of all 
with whom they came in contact. They 
reared a family of six children, five of whom 
are liviticr. 

Benjamin B. is the youngest child; he was 
reared to manhood in New York, and learned 
the undertaking business and furniture trade 
with his father. In 1887 he came to La 
Crosse and worked for a year in a sash and 
blind factory. At the end of twelve months 
he came to West Salem and opened a store, 
where he keeps the largest and best selected 
stock of furniture in the county, outside of 
La Crosse. He does a thriving business, and 
his patronage is constantly increasing. He 
has won an enviable place in the commercial 
circles of the county, an<l by a continuance 
of the success that has attended him he will 
rank second to none in a few years. 

Mr. Mercerau was married in 1873 to Miss 
Florence D. Smith, and of this union three 
children have been born: Florence, Benjamin 
M. and Lulu. The parents are members of 
the Fresbyterian Church, of wiiich Mr. Mer- 
cereau is a trustee. He belongs to the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, and in his j)olitical opinions 
is an ardent Ilepublicaa. 

Two brothers, Beterand Dudley, were l)0th 
soldiers in the late civil war; they enlisted in 
the One Hundred and Twenty- second New 
York Volunteer Infantry. Dudley Mercereau 
lost his life in the battle ol' Cliancellorsville, 
May 4, 1863, aged sixteen years; lie had seen 
but five months of service, but it was a young 
life freely sacrificed in behalf of a cause the 
young patriot deemed just beyond a question. 
Peter served through the entire war, and was 
in many of the most noted engagements of 



the conflict; he marched with General Sher- 
man to the sea, and took part in the Grand 
Review at Washington, District of Columbia, 
after the cessation of hostilities. He was 
devoted to the Union cause, and rendered his 
service freely and cheerfully, believing the 
end worthy of the means. 



iVERILL E. SAWYER, deceased, was 
for many years closely connected with 
the lumber industry of LaCrosse county. 
He vas a native of the State of New York, 
born in Cattaraugus county, November 14, 
1827, and a sou of Colonel Earl and Polly 
(Davis) Sawyer, natives of Vermont. Colonel 
Sawyer was a farmer, and a man possessing 
many sterling traits of character. His death 
occurred on the farm in New York, where he 
felled the first trees and made the first im- 
provements, about the year 1870; his wife 
passed away five years later. They had a 
family of seven sons and five daughters, and 
four sons still survive. Averill E., the fifth- 
born, received his education in We.'tern New 
York, where he had more than ordinary ad- 
vantages. The firtit business in which he 
embarked was the mercantile trade in his 
native county in New York; he drifted into 
the lumber business while he was still inter- 
ested in merchandising. In 1855, however, 
he bade farewell to the scenes of his youth, 
and cauarht in the tide of western emiyra- 
tion. and lauded in Beloit, Wisconsin; here 
he embarked in the Yankee notion business, 
which he carried on until he came to Prairie 
du Chien, where he again became interested 
in the lumbering industry; he devoted all his 
time and energies to this enterprise, and after 
a few years had made a decided success. 
About thirteen years ago he came to La 
Crosse and established the same business. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI:iTORY. 



385 



His home for a time was in Black River 
Falls, and later in Milwaukee, where he died 
March 14, 18S5, aged tifty-eight years. 

He was very liberal in his religious views, 
and gave a generous support to all denomi- 
nations. He was an lionored member of both 
the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders. 

Mr. ISawyer was married June 10, 1851, to 
Miss Lydia J. Baillet, a daughter of Frances 
E. Baillet, of New York; the fatiier died 
February, 22, 1880, aged eighty-three years; 
his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth 
Horton, is still living; she was born Novem- 
ber 27, 1800, and though feeble in body re- 
tains all the mental vigor of her youth. 

William E. Sawyer, son of Averill E. and 
Lydia J. Sawyer, married Miss Estella La- 
rowe, of Portage, Wisconsin. He is carrying 
on the business established by his father, and 
is exhibiting those sterling traits that char- 
acterized his father and won him the un- 
bounded confidence of all with whom he came 
ill Contact. He is secretary of the Sawyer & 
Austin Lumber Company. 



-^ 



^*- 



fRANK J. SAMUELS, one of the rising 
and progressive young business men of 
La Crosse, is a native of La Crosse 
county, born February 5, 1861, a son of 
David and Ann (Thomas) Samuels, natives of 
Wales. The father was born about the year 
1828, aud at the age of eight or ten years he 
emigrated with his brothers and sisters to 
America. He was reared in the State of Ohio, 
in the mining districts, and his first employ- 
ment was in the coal mines of that locality. 
He remained there until 1856, when he came 
West with his family and located on the farm 
which he had previously purchased in Barre 
Mills township. La Crosse county; the tract 
consisted of 160 acres, but it was uncultivated 



and without improvements of any kind. Mr. 
Samuels went resolutely to work, and the 
results of his efforts have been most satisfac- 
tory; he has added to his first purchase until 
he now has 820 acres, 300 of which are in one 
body; the buildings are of a substantial style, 
and meet with all the requirements of modern 
agriculture. In his early life Mr. Samuels 
affiliated with the Republican party, but since 
1872 he has voted with the Democrats. He 
is a self-made man, his success in life being 
due solely to his own eflorts. 

In 1855 lie was united in marriage to Ann 
Thomas, one of his country-women, born 
about the year 1842. To them were born 
eleven children: Daniel T., a resident of 
Woonsocket, South Dakota; Charles J., a re- 
sident of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, agent for the 
Wisconsin Central Railroad; Frank J., the 
subject of this notice; Annie, Nellie E., the 
wife of George L. Pettingill, a merchant of 
Iron River, Wisconsin ; David, Jr., mail agent 
between Chicago and Minneapolis; Winnie, a 
student at Winona, Minnesota; Thomas E., 
Mary, Harry M. and Lillie H. Frank, Nellie, 
Winnie and David are all well-known teachers 
in the county. The parents are associated 
with the Congregational Church. 

Frank J. Sam uels remained at home until 
he was twenty years of age, and then came to 
La Crosse for the purpose of taking the high - 
school course of study; this he did and then 
turned his attention to teaching, devoting his 
time and energies to the profession for several 
years. For one year he was clerk on a river 
boat, and for two seasons was with the Dia- 
mond Joe Transportation Company; for two 
years he was associated with the Three Star Ice 
& Fuel Company as secretary and treasurer. 
In 1890 he was elected secretary of the Jeffer- 
son Club, a position which he still holds; he 
is also engaged in the real-estate business. 

Politically Mr. Samuels is identified with 



386 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



the Democaatic party, and is an ardent sup- 
parter of the issues of that body. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge 
No. 45. In liis efforts to develop tlie re- 
sources of the county he lias been unremittiii<^, 
and has early in life taken up the responsi- 
bilities borne so lieroically by the pioneers. 



(HARLES W. FLETCHER, one of the 
most industrious and prosperous farm- 
eis of La Crosse county, resides on 
section 28, Burns township. He was born 
in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 
1826, a son of Charles Fletcher, a native of 
Plymouth, New Hampshire, who was a son 
of Joshua Fletcher; the paternal grandfather 
was a member of the company that went to 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, about ninety years 
ago; he was absent twelve years before any 
tidings were received from him, and after 
eighteen years he returned. Charles Fletcher 
was nine years old when his father left home, 
and, being the eldest son and second child, 
much responsibility fell to him. He made a 
trip from New Hampshire to Erie county, 
Pennsylvania, accomplishing the journey on 
foot and carrying his books and clothes on 
his back; he employed every leisure moment 
in study, fitting himself for teaching school. 
He followed this profession during the win- 
ter season, and in the summer he worked on 
a farm. After teaching many years he en- 
gaged in mercantile pursuits in Saegerstown, 
I'ennsylvania. Through the dislionesty of 
his partner he lost heavily in this operation, 
surrendering everything but his personal 
property. Gathering his effects together he 
joined the caravan of emigrants wending 
their way to the Western frontier, arriving in 
Chicago in 1836, when that great metropolis 
had but live hundred people. He was offered 



eighty acres of laud, now in the heart of 
the city, for $2.50 per acre. His family 
were ill with scarlet fever, two of them 
dying of the terrible disease; so the follow- 
ing year he left Chicago and went to Knox 
county, Illinois, where he farmed until 
1840. He removed thence to Kane county, 
Illinois, where he owned 800 acres of land. 
Owing to a failure of his health, however, 
he returned to Erie county, leaving his farm 
in charge of his sons. He passed from 
this life in November, 1879, at the age of 
eighty years. His wife, Mary (Minium) 
Fletcher, was a native of Crawford county, 
Pennsylvania; they liad fourteen children, 
si.x of whom are living: Sebastian; Charles 
W., the subject of this biograjdiical sketch, 
Amos, Samuel W., Julia, now Mrs. Wilson, a 
resident of Richfield, Minnesota, and Emily, 
now Mrs. Hitchcock of Waterford, Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Charles W. Fletcher in early manhood be- 
gan looking up the reports of different agri- 
cultural localities with a view of securing a 
home for himself. In 1854, accompanied by 
his stepbrother, W. A. Thomas, he came to 
Wisconsin and found some excellent farming 
lauds in La Crosse and Jackson counties; mak- 
ing their selections, they entered the tracts, 
and returned to Illinois to lay their plans for 
for the future. 

In his childhood Mr. Fletcher had instilled 
in him the highest principles of honor and 
morality. At the age of fourteen years he 
signed the temperance pledge, and now re- 
calls with pleasure the satisfaction with which 
lie signed his name in "the big book of prin- 
ciples," as it was then called. He was 
taught the worth of a man of integrity, one 
possessed of the courage of his convictions. 
He was also taught that order is a law of life, 
and was trained to be systematic in all his 
operations. When it came to purchasing an 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



387 



outfit for his frontier farm, he quite aston- 
ishel and shocked the entire community by 
the princely outlay he made for his team and 
wagon. He bought a span of colts for wiiich 
he paid $176 in gold, and a wagon for $120. 
The whole sum invested was $333.50, a fab- 
ulous amount. 

The next and most essential thing was to 
find a companion to share the privations and 
hardships of the first years in this new lioine. 
In Ruth A. Field he found a woman of good 
judgment, a wise counselor; she was a teachei" 
of talent, having entered the profession be- 
fore she was fifteen years of age; a very pre- 
cocious child, she mastered the principles of 
arithmetic and a]gel)ra in girlhood, and was 
ready to give instructions to her elders. To 
this brave, loyal woman Mr. Fletcher was 
married January 15, 1857, fully appreciating 
the sood fortune that had befallen him when 
lie won her hand and heart. She was born 
in Cornwall, Addison county. Vermont, May 
9, 1835, a daughter of Norman and Happa- 
lonia (Chadderdon) Field. Her father was 
born in Vermont, September 28, 1803, and 
died March 26, 1886. During the last twenty 
years of his life he made his home with Mr. 
and Mrs Fletcher. The maternal ancestors 
were from Rhode Island; Elisha Field, her 
grandfather, was a shoemaker and farmer by 
occupation; he was one of the first settlers of 
Cornwall, Vermont, and was a soldier in the 
war of the Revolution; Orrin Field, her 
uncle, was a Major in the war of 1812. 

In 1857 Mr. Fletcher and his brother, with 
their wives, returned to Wisconsin. After 
some very amusing experiences, Mr. Fletcher 
relinquished to his wife all domestic cares 
and responsibilities, finding her much better 
adapted to that branch of the business. He 
has devoted himself indefatigalily to agricul- 
ture, and has been very successful. He 
makes a very philosophical explanation of 



the failure of agricultural industries, attrib- 
uting it to the poor management and idleness 
of farmers. "Without labor there is no re- 
ward." Here Mr. Fletcher has proved the 
wisdom of his investment in horses and 
wagon referred to above; the latter is still 
good, though it has been in service thirty- 
seven years, and the labor performed by the 
horses and the returns from ofEspring have 
been a capital investment. 

Mr. and Mrs. Field, the parents of Mrs. 
Fletcher, had a family of six children: Ruth, 
the eldest; Lydia M., now Mrs. Sisson; Fran- 
cis, Alma M., now Mrs. Caldwell; Steukley 
S., and Charles C. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher have had born to 
them five children, four of whom survive: 
Kittie M., Ella, Charles and Orrin; the eldest 
child, Cephas J., died January 5, 1883, at 
the age of twenty-three years; he was an 
intelligent young man, and an accomplished 
singer. He was fond of his home and its 
associations, was a dutiful son and brother. 
In his death the family were greatly bereav- 
ed and the community lost one of its most 
valuable members. 



R. JOHN SHANKLAND, deceased, 
late of Bangor, was born in Hebron, 
Washington county, New York, October 
22, 1812, a sou of John Shankland, who was 
for many years a merchant at Argyle. New 
York, near Hebron. Our subject was reared 
at Argyle, and graduated at the Castleton 
(Vermont) Medical College, but taught school 
several years previous to this. He came 
West when a young man, and taught some 
time in Illinois, and also spent one year in 
Scotland on business, the family being of 
Scotch ancestry. He practiced medicine 
some time in Lawton, Michigan, and at one 



BIOGRAPUIGAL HIsrOHY. 



time drove from New York to tliat State, and 
thence to this county, locating at Holland, 
wliere he practiced for some time; next to 
Whitehall, and soon afterward to Bangor, 
where he purchased a one-half interest in a 
drug store. Here he also engaged in prac- 
tice, which lie soon afterward gave up to at- 
tend to the store. The Doctor also owned a 
line farm of 120 acres in Burns township, 
whicli liis widow now owns. 

Mr. Shankland was married March 15, 
1869, to Ellen A., daughter of Thomas and 
Christie (Scott) Cummings. Mr. and Mrs. 
Shankland liad no children, but Mrs. Shank- 
land's niece is now living with her. Our 
subject died April 29, 1888, after a pro- 
tracted illness. He was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, a consistent Christian, 
and always gave liberally of his means to 
support the gospel, and various benevolent 
purposes. In his death the community lost 
a valuable member of society, and the wife a 
tender and loving companion. 

— ■•• ■S - i"; - ^ -^ 

^AKL PISKE is another example of what 
energy, industry and perseverance, when 
intelligently applied, have accomplished 
for those of foreign birth who have seen fit to 
locate within the limits of this' county. He 
was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1826, and 
is strongly imbued with the characteristics of 
that race of people as far as energy and hard 
work goes, and he has thus far shown himself 
to be a useful and progressive citizen and a 
strong advocate of all measures of morality, 
education, temperance, etc. He came to Barre 
township. La Crosse countj', Wisconsin, in 
1866, and pnrchased eighty acres of land in 
section 15, which he has since increased to 
280 acres, and which he has finely improved. 
On this most desiraiile piece of property he 



has a large two-story house, large basement 
barns, wind pump and other conveniences, 

all of which are kept in the best repair and 
are models of neatness and thrift. He was 
married in 1855, to Augusta, daughter of 
Carl and Willielinina Kuel. The marriage 
of Mr. and Mrs. Piske has resulted in the 
birth of the following named children: Theo- 
dore, born in 1856; Otto, born in 1859; Al- 
bert, born in 1863, and William, born in 
1867. All are married excepting William, 
and living on farms in the same township 
with their father, which he has aided them to 
secure, and they are upright and substantial 
citizens and acquisitions to the section in 
which they make their home. Mr. Piske is 
a Democrat politically', and he and his family 
are members of the Lutheran Church of 
Bostwick valley, of which he has been a 
trustee. 

AVID HEMSTOCK.— If industry and 
ceaseless activity, united with a strong 
and determined perseverance, can ac- 
complish anything in tliis world, Mr. Hem- 
stock is bound to succeed, for in him are to 
be found the characteristics mentioned, and 
indeed he is deserving of more than ordinary 
credit for his carter thus far in life. He was 
born in llacine, Wisconsin, in 1857, to Will- 
iam and Elizabeth (Steadman) ilemstock, the 
former of whom was born in England. In 
1836 he removed to Canada with his parents, 
where he obtained his education and his 
knowledge of farming, remaining with and 
assistina: his father until he attained his ma- 
jority. lie was married in Canada and re- 
moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1856, 
where he made his home for a short time, 
after which Racine became his home for 
about one year. In 1859 he removed to La 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOMr. 



389 



Crosse county and settled at Neshonic, where, 
after renting land for about two years, he 
purchased a 125-acre tract in I'urns town- 
ship, on which he still resides. 

David Hemstock worked with his lather 
until he was twenty-five years of age, then 
bought 200 acres of land, to which his wife's 
estate of 160 acres has since been added, 
which makes him a tine farm of 360 acres. 
In 1883 he was married to Mrs. Clara (Ilurl- 
burt) Bradley, widow of John Bradley, by 
whom she became the mother of three chil- 
dren: Horace, Nellie and John. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hemstock are blessed in the birth of 
one child. Vena Ray. They are attendants 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 
his political views he is a Prohibitionist. 
He is one of the progressive young farmers 
of the township, and has a good and comfort- 
able home, and all necessary buildings for the 
storing of grain and the comfort of his live- 
stock. Pie keeps about six head of horses, 
twenty-one head of graded cattle, about forty- 
tivc hogs and the same number of sheep. 
All kinds of grain can be raised in abun- 
dance on his land, and his career thus far as 
a tiller of the soil has resulted most satisfac- 
torily. His wife is a fine housekeeper, and 
for some time past has been devoting con- 
siderable attention to the raising of poultry 
of a good grade, and in the last six montiis 
has sold over 100 dozen eggs, and in 1891 
fattened about thirty turkeys for the Thanks- 
giving market. At the La Crosse county 
fair she secured the special prize for the best 
sample of butter exhibited. 



-^ 



I}- 



fACOB BECKEL.— Among the worthy 
pioneers of La Crosse county who have 
passed away, none were more widely 
known or highly honored than he whose 



name heads this biographical sketch. He 
was of German nativity, born in 1819, a son 
of Philip and Christena (Webber) Beckel. 
The parents lived and died in the Fatherland, 
honest, active and industrious, and a credit 
to their numerous posterity. Jacob Beckel 
was the last of a family of ten children to 
pass from this life to the reward beyond; 
after a long and useful life he peacefully 
l)reathed his last January 8, 1892. He emi- 
grated to the United States in 1840, and after 
arriving on this shore continued his journey 
to Mansfield, Ohio, where he engaged in the 
shoemaker's trade, which he had mastered in 
his own country. He followed tliis calling 
live years, and in the spring of 1845 he came 
to La Crosse, which was then a hamlet of 
four houses. He took up a farm which he 
cultivated one season, and then returned to 
Ohio, where he remained eleven years. He 
worked at his trade, at butclierina, and still 
later established a drug store, in 1856 he 
came back to La Crosse and purchased 160 
acres in section 27; this tract he converted 
into one of the finest farms in the county; 
it is good valley land, well watered, and in 
a high state of cultivation. The improve- 
ments in the way of l>uildings are of a sub- 
stantial character and well suited to the de- 
mands of agriculture. For many years after 
coming to the county Mr. Beckel kept a 
hotel, and until the railroads were built ho 
had an excellent patronage from the traveling 
public; the reputation of his house spread to 
the end of each guest's journey, and no one 
ever had cause to regret giving it a hearty 
recommendation. 

Mr. Beckel was married in 1846 to Miss 
Frank, a daughter of Adam and Barbara 
Frank, who emigrated to America in 1835. 
Twelve children were born to them, eight of 
whom are living: Mary married John Wack- 
er, and they have five children; Christena is 



390 



BIOOBAPHICAL U I STORY. 



the wife of Kaymond Tausche, and they are 
the parents of scvmi cliildren; Elizabeth; 
Louisa marrii'd Lute Stiiisou; Louis; Einiiia 
is the wife of John Bauer; Lia married a 
Mr. Pope; Lena is the youngest. Mrs. Eliza- 
beth (Frank) Beckel passed out of the bond- 
age of this life October 15, 1879; this was a 
sad atilic.tion to the husl)and and cliildren, to 
whom she had Ix^eii all that a wife and mother 
could be. 

Mr. Beckel held various township oiiices 
and was Postmaster, dischargint); all the dutief 
that fell to his lot with a fidelity that won 
tiie confidence of the eiiMre community. The 
hai)its of industry and the high and honor- 
able j)rinciple8 by which he was reared re- 
mained with him through life, and developed 
within him a maidiood worthy of all respect. 



-*}^ 



3^1 GUIS P. BECKEL, a member of the 
jnto? enterprising firm of Lamb & Beckel, 
=?F^ was born in La Crosse county, Wiscon- 
sin, August 8, 18G2, a son of Jacob and 
Elizabeth (Frank) Beckel. lie acquired a 
good cotnmon-scliool education in the public 
schools of La Crosse, and for two years was a 
student in the Wallace Business College. 
After leaving school he clerked in a cigar 
factory for six months, but at tht^ end of that 
time entered the employ of C. W. Rodman, 
dealer in poultry and fish, with wIkmu he re- 
mained five ye.ars. lie then became asso- 
ciated with J. J. Lamb, giving him very 
efficient service as clerk for two years. In 
1887 they formed a co-partnership, and since 
that time have been doing a jirosperous busi- 
ness, jicrhaps the largest of the kind in the 
city; they handle fruits of all kinds, and 
some vegetables. They are both young men 
of excellent business ability, and merit tiie 



generous patronage they have received at the 
hands of the citizens of La Crosse. 

Mr. Beckel was married December 10, 
1883, to Miss Emma Bailer, and of this mar- 
riage two children have been born: Lillie and 
Florence. Mrs. Beckel is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, and her husband is a liberal 
supporter of the same, although he has no 
membership in the society. He belongs to 
the Modern Woodmen, but takes little inter- 
est in politics, merely exercising his right of 
suffrage. 

The pioneers of La Crosse county set an 
example of industrious perseverance which 
has been closely followed by the present gen- 
eration, and which insures the future success 
and development of the entire resources of 
the country. It is to this class of citizens 
that Louis P. Beckel belongs, and as such his 
name is worthy of record among the honored 
residents of tlie county. 



►^«t- 



fOIIN G. MOORE, a well-known citizen 
of Onalaska, has been identified with the 
interests of La Crosse county since 1866. 
He was born in Somerset county, Maine, 
November 10, 1844, a son of Ilirara and 
Eliza (Coleman) Moore, also natives of the 
State of Maine. His paternal grandfather, 
Joseph Moore, was a Scotchman, and the 
maternal grandfather, James Coleman, was 
born in Maine. The father of John G. died 
in his native State at the age of four-score 
years; the mother survives, at the age of 
eighty years, and is a resident of Massachu- 
setts. Our subject passed his youth on a 
farm and in attending the district school. 
There was no unusual event in his life until 
in 1864; in October of that year he enlisted 
in the Nineteenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, 
C'ompany C, and was first under fire at 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



391 



Petersburg, lie was present at the time of 
the surrender of General Lee, April 7, 1865. 
Was on the "big" review at Washiiigtoni 
May 24, 1885, which will long be remem- 
bered by those present. After receiving an 
honorable discharge he returned to his home, 
but in a short time went to the oil regions of 
Pennsylvania. Having investigated that in- 
dustry to his satisfaction he came on to Wis- 
consin in 1866, and settled in La Crosse 
county. He located in Onalaska, and for the 
past twentv-six years he has been engaged in 
tlie lumber business, in the woods and on tlie 
river. There is no phase of the business 
which he does not know from actual experi- 
ence. He has filled various positions of trust 
and responsibility, and for the past ten years 
has been in the employ of the La Cross Lum- 
ber Company, superintending their river 
interests in summer and being foreman in 
the woods winters. In summer he usually 
has charge of a crew of men on the river at 
the mouth of Black river, taking care of the 
company's logs and running them to the 
mill. Possessed of great executive ability, 
in this vocation he has found a use for all 
his faculties, and lias used them to the 
advantage of his employers and to the credit 
of himself. 

Mr. Moore was married in Onalaska in 
August, 1872, to Miss Mary A. Collins, a 
daughter of William and Ann (Hutchins) 
Collins, natives of England, now living in 
Onalaska Mrs. Moore was also born in 
Eno-land, but was brought to America in her 
childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are the 
parents of three children: Abby J., Flora A. 
and Edith E. In his political inclinations 
Mr. Moore is Republican. He is h member 
of the G. A. R., Wil-.m Caldweh Post, No. 
38, Department of Wisconsin. He belongs 
to Onalaska Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which 
he is Master. He was made a Mason in 



1874, joining North La Crosse Lodge, No. 
190. He has served the people of his town- 
ship as Marshal, and he has also been a mem- 
ber of the village board, and is at present 
Supervisor on the county board from the 
First Ward of the city. During the palmy 
days of the Good Templars he was an active 
and zealous member; he belonged to the Sons 
of Temperance and to the Temple of Honor, 
of which he was Worthy Chief Master. In 
his religious views he is a Methodist, while 
his wife is an Episcopalian, in which belief she 
was reared. Mr. Moore has been fortunate in 
his business ventures, and has been enabled 
to surround his family with all the comforts 
of the present civilization. 

p. STKOM, traveling salesman for 
Calm, Wampold & Co., Chicago, was 
® born in Christiania, Norway, Novem- 
ber 20, 1857, and at the age of ten years was 
brought to America by his parents, N. P. and 
Hannah (Olson) Strom, residents of La Crosse. 
The father was a shoemaker by trade, but is 
now retired. On coming to this conntry he 
first settled in La Crosse, but in the spring of 
1868 he went to Northwestern Mitmesota to 
look for a homestead; he located in Swift 
county, where he tilled the soil for a number 
of 3'ears. He and his wife had a family of 
nine children, live of whom died in infancy, 
and were buried in Norway. Nicholi, the 
oldest son, came to La Crosse in 1866, having 
stopped in New York city for three months 
on landing there. He was lirst employed as a 
clerk for W. S. Hanscom ; he was thus occupied 
eight or nine years, and then embarked 
in the boot and shoe trade on his own account, 
the firm name being Strom & Peterson. 
Before his death, which occurred August 
15, 1876, he sold his mercantile interests to 



393 



BIOQRAPUICAL HIHTURT. 



Mr. Peterson. His wife's maiden name was 
E-egina Severs, and they were the parents of 
two children, both of whom are deceased. 
Julia, daughter of N. P. ai.d Hannah Strom, 
was the wife of S. J. Stenerson, manufacturer 
of furniture in Chicago; she died in 1874, at 
the age of twenty-four years, leaving one son, 
John, who died at the age of sixteen years. 
Josephine is still a member of the home 
circle. The father is now seventy-live years 
of age, and the mother is seventy -eight; both 
are in excellent health, and, considering the 
toil, trials and hardships they have endured, 
are remarkably well preserved. 

O. P. Strom, the youngest of the family, 
was educated in the common schools of La 
Cro85e,atBen8on,Minnesota, and in a business 
college under the late Prof. Wallace. He 
first attempted to learn the blacksmith's 
trade, but after two years devoted to this 
occupation his health gave way, and he went 
to clerking in the store of Webber & Rogers; 
later he was with Fred Croiier a year; then 
he went to Mower county, Minnesota, and 
settled in a small town called Taupi, where he 
was in the employ of Mr. (). N. Olberg for 
seven years; he had entire charge of the busi- 
ness, and at the expiration of seven years he 
purchased tlie concern, which was managed 
by Bradbury & Strom for two years. Mr. 
Strom then sold out and came to La Crosse, 
securing employment with Marcus Ander- 
son; at the end of twelve months he entered 
the employ of L. Ooren, merchant; Mr. Coren 
made a trip to the old country, and during 
his absence Mr. Strom assumed the responsi- 
bility of the store. Upon Mr. Coren's return 
he went to work as traveling salesman for 
Hanson & Seilstad, remaining with this firm 
one year. lie has now been in the clothing 
business for four years, and has given a high 
degree of satisfaction. 

Afr. Strom has held various local offices in 



the towns where lie has lived; he is a member 
of the Masonic order, and deraitted from Le 
Koy Chapter, No. 34, in Mower county, 
Minnesota; he now belongs to St. Bernard 
Commandery, ^o. 13, at Austin, Minne- 
sota. He takes an interest in the govern- 
ment of his adopted country, and affiliates 
with the Pepublican party. He is a man of 
more than ordinary capacity, and has proven 
himself i.n every way capable of fulfilling his 
duties as an American citizen. 

fOHN L. YOUNG, Burr Oak, Wisconsin, 
was born in Saxony, Germany, Septem- 
ber 27, 1844. His parents, Sebastian 
and Elizabeth Young, were both natives of 
Saxony, Germany, and were reared, educated 
and married there. John L. was two years 
and a half old when the family emigrated to 
America. They sailed from Bremen and 
landed at New York, thence across the lakes 
to Racine, Wisconsin, and from there to 
Walworth county, settling near Lake Geneva. 
In 1853 they came to La Crosse county, and 
here he grew to manhood on a farm and re- 
ceived both an Englisli and German education. 
For thirty-eight years he has resided in this 
county, and is well known and respected 
here. The father has been a farmer all his 
life. He votes with the Democratic party, 
and is a member of the Lutheran Church. 

During the war John L. Young tendered 
his services to the Union, enlisting in March, 
1865, in the Fifty-lirst Wisconsin Infantry 
Volunteers. His regiment was stationed for 
a time in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and 
afterward in various parts of Missouri. He 
was honorably discharged August 15, 1865, 
returned to liis home in La Crosse county, 
and engaged in farming. He owns an 120- 



BTOGRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



393 



acre farm, with first-class improvements on 
it, and keeps everything in good shape. 

March 30, 1869, Mr. Young married Emma 
Jane Pfaif. She was born in Walwortli 
conntj, Wisconsin, June 3, 1851, daughter 
of William and Margaret (Batalya) Pfaff, 
natives of Germany and Switzerland res]3ect- 
ively. Mrs. Young was reared and educated 
in this county. To Mr. Young and his wife 
six children have been born, five of whom 
are living: George C, Libbie E., wife of 
Frank Rommel, of Burns, this county, Wal- 
ter A., William M. and Elwin F. Oscar M. 
died at the age of seventeen months. The 
parents are members of the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Young is a Republican, and a member 
of Melson Quygle Post, No. 238, G. A. R., 
of Mindoro. He is a man of the strictest 
integrity, is frank and cordial with all, and 
and stands high in the community where he 
resides. 

... 'I' ll « 3n; « | i ■! > -»■■ 



jjATHANIELO. PlTTENGERisagood 
example of wiiat can lie accomplished 
in life when thorough determination to 
succeed is coupled with energy, perseverance 
and a close application in the directions 
chosen. Mr. Pittenger was brought up to a 
farm life, applied himself to his calling upon 
starting out for himself, and is now the 
owner of a tine farm of 165 acres. He is one 
of the old settlers and prominent citizens of 
Onalaska, and is popular and well liked by 
all who have had business relations with him. 
He was born in Richland county, Ohio, 
November 25, 1822, a son of Abraham 
Pittenger, who was born near Cadiz, Ohio, 
and grandson of Peter Pittenger, of Virginia, 
who was a soldier in the war of 1812, the 
latter being a son of a Revolutionary soldier 
of Dutch descent. The family was first rep- 



resented in this country by three brothers, 
who came to America before the Revolu- 
tion, and they have always been classed 
among the useful residents of this cocintry, 
many members of whom have won enviable 
reputations as soldiers and statesmen. Abra- 
ham Pittenger was married to Eleanor 
Ferguson, daughter of John Ferguson. She 
was born and reared near Cadiz, Ohio, and 
inherited Scotch blood of her ancestors, a 
number ()f the early members of which 
family were Revolutionary soldiers and par- 
ticipants in the war of 1812. Mrs. Pittenger 
was called from life in 1846, having borne 
seven sons and two daughters: James, who 
was a Union soldier, and died at Harper's 
Ferry, while still in early manhood. Abraham 
Pittenger took for his second wife Lucy 
Rand, who bore him three sons and one 
daughter. He came to La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, in 1852, followed the calling of a 
farmer throughout life, and died in Tempea- 
leau county, this State, in 1879. He was a 
Republican in politics during the latter part 
of his life, and was an earnest member of the 
Methodist Elpiscopal Church. Nathaniel O. 
Pittenger was educated in the public schools, 
and after reaching manhood lived for eleven 
years in Williams county, but became a resi- 
dent of La Crosse county in 1865, and pur- 
chased the William Bowman farm of 165 
acres, on which he erected a good residence, 
16 X 24 feet, and a barn, 22 x 36 feet. This 
farm is well cultivated and well watered, and 
is considered a valuable one. He was mar- 
ried in 1846, to Miss Ann Stevenson, a 
woman of much intelligence, who was born, 
reared and educated in Richland county, 
Ohio, a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth 
(Kennedy) Stevenson, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania. To Mr. Pittenger and his 
wife two children have been born: Abraham, 
who was born in Richland county, Ohio, 



394 



BIOORAFHICAL HISTORY. 



August 20, 1851, received liis education in 
that and Williains county, was married in 
1875, to Eva Sanderson, of Micliigan, daugli- 
ter of Cyrus and Phcebe (Weston) Sanderson, 
and by lier is the father of two cliildren: 
Jjurton and Cora. He lias a good farm of 
106 acres near liis father, in a good state of 
cultivation and well improved with buildings. 
He has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. 
lodge at La Crosse since 1874. The other 
child born to Nathaniel O. Pittengeris Mary 
Ellen, wife of J. C. Keizer, a merchant of 
Midway. Mr. Pittenger's cliildren who are 
deceased are as follows: Alfred, who died at 
the age of twenty-one years; Levi, who died 
at twenty-eight, leaving three children: Wes- 
ley, Milton and Laura; and Samuel, who 
died wliile a student at Galesville College, 
when nineteen years old. Mr. Pitteiiger is a 
Democrat, and has been a Mpson since 1852. 
He has held a number of minor positions in 
his township, and is one of the most substan- 
tial citizens of La Crosse county. He is now 
sixty-nine years of age, and twenty-five j'ears 
of his early life was spent at biacksmithing. 



■y^-iy^ruir- 



•innn^^ 



^RS. CHARLOTTE FRENCH is the 
relict of Joseph French, one of tiie 
^^^ first settlers of La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, who came here in May, 1851. 
He was born in Great Bowden, Leicester- 
shire, England, December 3, 1821, a son of 
Joseph and Hannah ((tIII) French, the former 
of whom was a farmer and cattle dealer, and 
became a well-to-do man. He died at the 
age of sixty- live years, at which time of life 
his wife also died, in this county. They were 
the parentsof three children : Hannah Martha, 
deceased; Lydia, still living, and Joseph. The 
latter was married April 24, 1844. to Miss 
Charlotte Rogers, who was born in P^ngland 



December 16, 1823, daughter of Thomas 
Rogers and Martha (Riddy) Rogers, and 
granddaughter of John Rogers. Thomas 
and Martha Rogers became the parents of 
nine children: Charlotte, Joiin and Elizabeth 
(twins), Robert, Mary Ann, William, Emily, 
Rebecca and George. Thomas Rogers died 
in England in 1877 at the age of seventy- 
eight years, and his wife passed from life in 
her native land February 6, 1890, at the age 
of ninety. Seven years after his marriage 
Joseph French came to America, sailing from 
Liverpool and landing at New A'ork, and soon 
after came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 
then to La Crosse, which at that time con- 
sisted of seven or eight houses. He made 
the first road to the place, where he settled 
on a farm, and the country was a complete 
wilderness, inhabited by wild animals and 
numerous Indians. March 7, 1865, he 
enlisted in the Union army; his service 
closed in August, when he was honorably 
discharged, and he returned home. The farm 
which he now owns, consisting of 360 acres, 
is one of the oldest in the county, but the 
soil is still exceedingly productive and is 
carefully tilled. It is improved with good 
buildings of all descriptions and is a valuable 
place. The following are the names of. his 
children: Martha E., George G., natives of 
England; Charlotte E.,of Winona, Minnesota, 
now Mrs. Webb; Joseph O., of thio townsiiip; 
Emily I., at home; Robert R., also at home; 
and the following children, that are also de- 
ceased: Charlotte Ann, Willie Gill, Lydia 
Maria and Alice Agnes. 

Joseph French, the father, was called from 
life July 6, 1889, when in his sixly-eighth 
year. He had been a prominent man of his 
township, but aside from holding the position 
of school Treasurer twenty-one years, he held 
no other office. He was a member of John 
Flynn Post, No. 77, of North La Crosse, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



395 



iu his business and social relations showed 
that lie was a man of broad views. lie was 
kind and considerate in his family, and his 
death was deemed a great loss to the com- 
munity in which he resided. Mrs. French 
is a i-emarkably well preserved woman, and 
her agreeable and cordial manners have ob- 
tained for her the affection and respect of a 
large circle of acquaintances. 



-|^4w^^.^ 



fOHN UOBBS.— This gentleman has been 
a resident of La Crosse county since 1851. 
lie was born in Cornwall, England, near 
the city of Bristol, July 15, 1832, and his 
parents, Archleus Hobbs and nee Mary Jol- 
ler, were natives of the same place. He was 
fifteen months of age when the family sailed 
for America, landing here after a stormy 
voyage of nine weeks. They settled near 
Albany, New York, where they lived for 
seven years, after which they moved to a 
place near Sandusky, Huron county, Ohio. 
Later they emigrated to Canada and settled 
near Fort Maiden. Their next move was to 
Fond du Lac county, "Wisconsin. In 1851 
the subject of our sketch came to La Crosse 
county and purchased 160 acres, the first land 
sold here— State land — for which he paid 
$1.25 per acre. A short time afterward he 
was joined by his parents. His father was 
twice married, and John was the only child 
by the second marriage. By the first union 
four children were born, three sons and one 
daughter. One son lives in Kansas City, 
Missouri, and another in Arizona. The 
daughter resides in Nebraska. Mrs. Hobbs 
died here in 1870, at the age of seventy years, 
and Mr. Hobbs passed away in 1874, at the 
age of seventy -four. The latter was a farmer 
by occupation; politically, a Whig; relig- 
iously, an Episcopalian. 



John Hobbs was reared to farm life and 
was educated in the common schools. He 
was among the first settlers in this county. 
La Crosse, in 1851, contained only a few 
houses and log cabins, and Deacon Smith and 
Kublee had started a store just before Mr. 
Hobbs came here. Mr. Hobbs at first built 
a log cabin on his farm, which was subse- 
quently replaced by a board house. 

On the 17th of November, 1861, Mr. 
Hobbs enlisted in the Second Wisconsin 
Cavalry, a regiment that made a good record 
by valiant service. He participated in a num- 
ber of important engagements, and at one 
time was thrown from a horse, receiving 
serious injuries, from the effects of which he 
has never recovered. During the latter part of 
the war he was in Texas with General Custer. 
He was honorably discharged at Austin, 
Texas, after a service of four years and one 
month. 

Mr. Hobbs now owns a good farm of 240 
acres, near Mindoro, in Farmington town- 
ship; has a two-story residence, substantial 
barn and other improvements; and is engaged 
in general farminD; and stock-niisino'. 

He was married at the age of twenty-three, 
to Miss Mary Newcom, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and a daugliterof Herald and Sarah 
(Spencer) Newcom, natives respectively of 
New York State and England. They died in 
Arcadia, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs 
have eleven children, four sons and seveu 
daughters, viz.: John Gr., of Wyoming; Mary 
E., wife of Harry Duffield, of Billings, Mon- 
tana; Rachel, wife of William Barclay, of 
Ked Lodge, Montana; Clara A., wife of 
James Barclay, also of Red Lodge; Elva 
Isabella and Martha Eleanor, of the same 
place; Sarah T., at home; Gracie E., also 
at home; Cyrus Edwin and Bishop H., of 
North La Crosse; and Albert Monroe, of 
Billings, Montana. 



BIOGRA rilICA L IITSTOR T. 



Mr. IIol)l)s in a Ropuhlican, and a meinher 
of Nelson Quy^rle l*..st, No. 23H, h(Mn<r a 
cliarter member ami Junior Vice-Commander 
of the same. 

t LARSON, a member of tlie tirm of 
iJohnsoii ife Larfion, ffciuM'iil merclianti?, 
* We^t Salem, is one of the most promi- 
nent hnsiness men in La Crosse county. He 
!•* an American citizen by adoption, his native 
country beinji^ Norway, where he was born 
February 11, 1851). His ])areius, Christian 
and Camolia (Johnson) Larson, are also 
natives of Norway, but are now residents of 
this connty; the fatlior is a farmer by occu- 
j)ation, l)nt when he einiffrated to America in 
1850 he came without capital excepting that 
with which nature had endowed him. lie 
went to work with a will and tletermination, 
was frugal and industrious, and is now the 
owner of 390 acres of land, the greater fjor- 
tioii ot which is unilcr cultivation. He was 
married in this country in 1853, and has 
reared a family of ten chililreii: the oldest 
one is the subject of this tiiography; Nettie, 
the wife of J. K. .lohnson; Mattio, Hen, 
Julia, the wife of fi. Johnson; Edward, 
Theresa A., Oscar, John and Clara. L. Lar- 
son was raised on a fai'in, and followed agri- 
culture with good success until ISSl, when 
ho embarked in mercantile trade, having 
formed a partnership with Mr. Johnson at 
West Siilem. This is next to the oldest firm 
in the place in the general mercantile trade. 
They ki^ep a large and well selected stock of 
dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats and 
caps, groceries, crockery, and glassware, and 
their sales probably agiijregate more than any 
other firm in town. Their trade has been 
increasing from yeai' to year, anil has neces- 
sitated the addition from time to time of 



competent clerks. Their ]irosperity is due to 
good manaijenient, honoral)le dealimr, and an 
i^arnest desire to supply the demands of the 
market. Their location is easy of access, and 
their patronage is probably tlu; largest in this 
portion of the county. 

IMr. Larson has always madt^ it a point to 
investigate all public movements and to give 
a generous support to tho.se enterprises which 
have for their object the best interests of the 
community. Politically he adheres to tlie 
principals of the Republican party. 

Li the year 1883, October 24, lie was 
nniteti in marriage to Miss Cornelia .L)hnsiin, 
a daujjhter of Christian .lohnson and Helen 
Johnson. Two children have blessed this 
union: Clyile C. and Harvey G. Roth the 
father and mother arc members of the Njr- 
wegi:in Lutheran Church. They are people 
of sterling traits of character, and live a life 
according to their higliest convictions. 



5fcKV. JOHN J. VAUGHAN, acontrac- 
tor and builder at Bangor, Wiscotisin, a 
sou of John and Jane Vanghan, de- 
ceased, was born in North Wales, Great 
Britain, April 19, 182(5. 

The fath(M- of the subject of this ske'ch 
brought his family to Oneida county. New 
Yi)rk, in 1831, settling on a farm in Remsen 
township, and was a laborer during the build- 
ing of the New York Central railroid, 
between Troy and Schenectady. Our subject's 
early boyhood wa< spent on a farm, and re- 
ceived his education at Whitestown Seminary, 
New York, and he attended the Biblical In- 
stitute, which was then a part of said semi- 
nary. He afterward pursued a theological 
course in the Baptist Theological Seminary 
at Morsxan Park, near Chicago. Illinois. 

He helped raise several companies for the 




(^e^nA^ Cl ^J^. 




BWORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



397 



Union army. He took on active part in the 
cainpiijin of 1860, and also in the campaign 
of 1864, in electing Roscoe Coiikling to Con- 
gress; lie likewise nsed his influence to secure 
Roscoe Conkling's flrst nomination to Con- 
gress in 1858. 

Mr. Vaughan taught school many winters 
both before and after the war. He received 
a State certificate from the Department of 
Public Instruction at Albany, New York, 
when the Hon. V. M. Rice was the State 
Superintendent. A great number of his 
former pupils enlisted in the Union army, and 
every one acted his ])art well in service of his 
country. 

He came to Wisconsin in 1865, and located 
at Baneor, where has resided ever since, ex- 
cent three or four summers which he spent 
in Brown and Clark counties. South Dakota. 
He taught three winters at Bangor, and also 
eight terms in the Prairie school, two miles 
southeast of Bangor village, and six winters 
at Rockland, Wisconsin. 

He was pastor of the Baptist Church at 
Bangor, four years, and has acted as a supply 
for fceveral years besides. He has followed 
the carpenter's trade at different times since 
he came to Wisconsin, except while he was in 
Dakota, where he was employed as a mis- 
sionary, and while there he helped organize 
three or four churches, paying much of his 
own funds in erecting church edifices, etc. 

Mr. Vauirlian was twice married. He was 
married the lirst time to Miss Mary A. 
Thomas, a native of Oneida county. New 
York, a daughter of Richard E. and Mary 
Thomas. There were three children born to 
them — two survive: Richard M. and Jennie, 
his first born. Mrs. Vaughan died Septem- 
ber 27, 1873. On December 31, 1885, he was 
married the second time, to Maggie E., daugh- 
ter of John T. Edwards, of Leon, Monroe 
county, Wisconsin. They have two children: 

27 



John J., Jr., born November 18, 1888; their 
little daughter, Margretta May, was born May 
7, 1891. 

Mr. Vaughan served as a Justice of the 
Peace for two years. He is a Republican 
politically, and was present at one of the first 
conventions when the Republican party was 
formed in 1855. He was one of the first to 
oppose the "Know- Nothing" party in his 
locality. 






[fSENRY 1. BLISS, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
a civil engineer and a member of the 
American Society of Engineers, is one 
of the pioneers of La Crosse county, and has 
for many years held positions of trust in the 
same. He was born in Hartford, Connecti- 
cut, graduated at Yale in the class of 1853, 
and has since graduation practiced his pro- 
fession excepting that during three months 
in 1855 he was engaged as principal of the 
classical department of the High School of 
Hartford, Connecticut. Before coming West 
he was engaged on the survey of the New 
Yorkifc Boston Air Line Railroad; afterward, 
at the West, on the survey of the Milwaukee 
& Fond du Lac Railroad; subsequently on 
the survey and construction of the La Crosse 
& Milwaukee Railroad, the Southern Min- 
nesota Railroad, the La Crosse & Prairie du 
Chien Railroad, the La Crosse, Trempealeau 
& Prescott Railroad, a preliminary survey of 
a line of railroad from La Crosse to Winona; 
also several preliminary and trial railroad 
lines in Southern Minnesota and Western 
Wisconsin. 

He came to La Crosse in the fall of 1855, 
but did not locate here permanently until the 
spring of 1858, since which time till the 
present he has had an office here for the 
practice of civil engineering and surveying. 



398 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



at tirst in partnership with George Gregory, 
afterward with Mr. Gregory and Wallace M. 
Spear, then with Mr. Spear until 1860, since 
which time he has had no partner. 

From the conirnencement of the city gov- 
ernment in 185t) until 1860, either he or one 
of his partners held the office of City Engi- 
neer, and after 1860 he held it until 1884. 
He also held the office of County Surveyor of 
La Crosse county for a considerable 'ime. 
He planned the La Crosse City Water Works, 
and, with a few other citizens, against the 
vigorous opposition of a large majority of 
voters, succeeded in securing their construc- 
tion. He has always been forward in the 
promotion of public improvements, and has 
carried on, in connection with his civil engi- 
neering and surveying, a real-estate business 
for Western Wisconsin and Sonthern Minne- 
sota, and by the sale of cheap lots in La 
Crosse city to be built upon and occupied, he 
has greatly promoted the growth of the city. 
In 1870, with Alex. McMillan and W. R. 
Sill, he contracted with the Postoffice De- 
partment of the United States Government 
for the rental of a postoffice to them and 
erected the block on the northeast corner of 
Main and Third streets, in the comer room 
of which the La Crosse postoffice was located 
for a term of ten years. 

lie is a Congregationalist, and was for 
many years a deacon of the First Congrega- 
tional Church of La Crosse and a trustee of 
the society. He has been a Republican in 
politics since the origin of the party. 



i^ON. FRAJNK POOLER, a member of 
the C. H. Nichols Lumber Company, 
Onalaska, Wisconsin, is one of those en- 
cerprising and progressive business men who 
give life and activity to all circles in which 



they move, leading spirits without whom 
there would be no growth, no development. 
He was born in Somerset county, Maine, 
October 23, 1847, a son of George and Har- 
riet (Rogers) Pooler, natives of Canada and 
people of great stability of character; they 
went from the Dominion to Maine, where 
they were married, and in 1876 removed to 
Onalaska. Their son Frank, the subject of 
this biographical sketch, received his educa- 
tion in his native state. At the age of eight- 
een years he concluded that he would try his 
fortune in the AVest, and accordiugly in 1865 
he came to Wisconsin. The first employ- 
ment he secured was in the lumber industry; 
for three years he was on the river and in the 
woods, and then he went to Clarksville, Pike 
county, Missouri, where he remained two 
Years. Returning to La Crosse county in 1871, 
he became a member of the C. H. Nichols 
Lumber Compan}', and since that time has 
been one of the most energetic and intiuen- 
tial of the company's forces. Afterwards 
Col. Nichols sold his interest to Charles H. 
and Frank E. Nichols, his sons, and Frank 
Pooler, his son-in-law; he gave to each of 
his sons $10,000, and loaned to the new iirm 
$20,000. 

Mr. Pooler was united in marriage January 
6, 1870, to Miss Cornelia F. Nichols, a 
daugiitor of Colonel C. M. Nichols, a native 
of Dane county, Wisconsin. Four children 
have been born of this union: Blanche N., 
Earl, Don Cameron and Vance B. 

In addition to the enterprise already men- 
tioned, Mr. Pooler has time to devote to the 
following corporations: he is a director of 
the Black River Improvement Company, of 
the Black River Driving Association, of the 
East Fork Improvement Company, in the 
organization of which he assisted, and of the 
Street Railway Company, of which he was a 
director at the time of its organization in 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



399 



1890. He has represented the people of La 
Crosse connty iu the State Legislature, where 
he guarded their interests with such fidelity 
as to win their entire confidence. Politically 
he affiliates with the Republican party; he 
has been a member of the county board of 
Supervisors, of which he was chairman for 
two years. He belongs to the Masonic order, 
being a member of tlie blue lodge, chapter, 
and consistory. The family attend the 
Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Pooler con- 
tributes a generous support. 

He has also served as Mayor of the city, in 
addition to other positions of trust and honor 
which have been accorded him, but in no 
condition or surroundings has he ever 
wavered from the couj-se which he esteemed 
the true one, and best adapted to the needs 
of those whom he represented. 



|ETER FIERS, farmer, Midway, Wis- 
consin, ranks amono; the well-known 
^^ and successful men of foreign birth 
who make their heme in La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin. He was born in Holland, on the 
25th day of June, 1845 and is a son of Peter 
Fiers, Sr., the surname having been for seven 
generations in the family, it being a favorite. 
The mother's maiden name was Anna Yans 
Van Hasinga, and both she and her husband 
were born, reared and educated in Holland. 
They were well respected and passed their 
entire lives in their native country. They 
were the parents of two children: Henrietta, 
who died in Holland, and Peter, Jr. The 
father was a man of education and for more 
than twenty-live years was a successful school 
teacher. He was secretary of an insurance 
company and held the position of trustee and 
Notary Public for years. 

Peter Fiers, Jr., received a good education 



in his native country, for his father wanted 
him to follow the same professson as him- 
self. Peter, Jr., was not of the same mind, 
and his greatest desire was to be a sailor and 
go round the world He ran away two or three 
times, but was returned, for he could not leave 
the port without his father's consent. How- 
ever, on the 7th of March, 1869, he left Har- 
lingen, Holland, and went to Hull, England, 
thence to Liverpool and took the ship "Ne- 
vada" for New York. He was thirteen days 
in making the voyage to the United States, 
and here he has made his home ever since. 
He has worked on the railroads, steamboats, 
at lumbering and farming. He has visited 
his native country twice, once in 1874, and 
again in 1876, when liis father was very sick. 
Mr. Fiers located on his present farm in 
March, 1888, and has 228 acres of excellent 
land, two dwelling-houses on it and two 
barns. He is thoroughgoing and progress- 
ive, and is one of the substantial men in this 
section.. 

He was married on the 3d of March, 1871, 
to Miss Anna Mary Ingelbery, a native of 
Stanga, Norway, near Christiania. She was 
reared and educated in her native country 
and when eighteen years of age came to the 
United States, settling in Wisconsin. Her 
parents, Ligelbsry and Mary (Gilbert) Ingel- 
bery, were natives of Norway and there passed 
their entire lives. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Fiers were born eight 
living children: Peter William, at home; 
Edwin, Mary, Henrietta, Gustalf Adolph, 
Anna Dorotha, Lawren C, John and Ma- 
bel Grace. One son, John, died at a little 
over eleven months. He was the sixth child 
in order of birth. 

In politics Mr. Fiers is a Democrat and 
socially he is a member of the Farmers' Alli- 
ance. In religion lie was reared a Mennon- 
ite, but his wife holds membership in the 



400 



BIOGKAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Lutheran Churcli. Slie is the only one of 
her family now living. Mr. Fiers is a man 
of learning and has seen much of the world. 



-^\ 



jUKT DAYL, dealer in agricultural im- 
plements, West Salem, is one of the 
most enterprising business men of that 
place, and is entitled to more than passing 
mention in this record of the leading citizens 
of La Crosse county. He is a native of Nor- 
way, born October 6, 1856, and is a son of 
Jacob and Ilelga Johaneson; they are also 
natives of Norway, but emigrated with their 
family to America in 1865; they settled on a 
farm in Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, and 
resided there six years; thence they removed 
to Martin county, Minnesota, and at the end 
of four years went to Hamilton county, Iowa, 
where they are now living; the father is 
seventy-eight years of age, and the mother is 
ten years younger. They reared a family of 
ten children: Johanes, Ingeborg, Magrete, 
Lars, Ed, Martha, Jacob, Burt, ti»e subj-jct of 
this notice; Angel, and Maggie, the wife 
of Ole Maakestad. 

When Mr. Dayl was a lad of fourteen years 
he assumed the responsibility of his own 
support, and for foi>r years was employed by 
the farmers in the neighborhood of his home. 
He formed a partnership with L. O. Kerms, 
and for five years they two conducted a black- 
smith and wagon shop at West Salem; they 
built up a profitable trade and won an envi- 
able reputation in commercial circles as honor- 
able, upright men. Previous to this, how- 
ever, Mr. Dayl had had an experience of ten 
years as a blacksmith, having learned the 
trade in his early manhood. When he severed 
his relationship with Mr. Kerms he embarked 
in the agricultural implement business; his 
sales in 1890 amounted to more than $3,000, 



and in 1891 to more than $4,000. He car- 
ries a full stock of all kinds of agricultural 
implements, including threshing-machines, 
and in all his dealings he is known to employ 
the moot correct business methods. 

He was united in marriage August 30, 
1884, to Miss Bertha Larson, a daughter of 
Erick and Agnete Larson. Mrs. Dayl's par- 
ents emigrated from Norway to America about 
twenty-six years ago, and settled in La Crosse 
county; they had born to them seven children: 
Mary, Lars, Mrs. Dayl, Ole, deceased; Otilda, 
Anton B., deceased, and Anna Emelia. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dayl are the parents of three 
children: Hilma, Elmer and Alice. They 
attend the services of the Norwegian Lu- 
theran Church, and contribute liberally to its 
support. 

^RIK B. RYNNING, dealer in clothing 
and men's furnishing goods, 727 Rose 
street. La Crosse, is one of the leading 
spirits in commercial circles in his adopted 
city, for he is not a native American. He 
was born in Norway, February 14, 1858, a 
son of Fredrik and Wilhelmina (Jachwitz) 
Rynning, also Norwegians by birth; the 
father was editor of a newspaper in the 
northern part of that country, and was widely 
and favorably known. He died in 1889, at 
the age of sixty-eight years; his wife died in 
1863, at the age of thirty-two year-; they 
were both consistent members of the Nor- 
wegian Lutheran Church. The family, num- 
bering four children, were named as follows: 
Erik B., the subject of this biography; 
Fredrik Wilhelm, a painter in Tacoma, Wash- 
ington; Marie, who died among the pine-clad 
hills of her own land at the age of four years; 
and J. George M., a druggist at Merrill, 



B I OQRAPniGAL HI8T0B r. 



401 



Wisconsin; lie was formerly in business at 
West Salem. 

Mr. Rynning acquired an educatiun in one 
of the leading schools and high schools of 
Christiania, Norway, and in the Polytechnic 
College of Gothenberg, Sweden; he was 
graduated from the latter as a civil engineer 
in 1876, and following this event he was em- 
ployed in a bank for a period of twelve mouths. 
The opportunities and advantages of America 
being pictured to him in glowing colors, he 
determined to cross tiie sea and investigate 
for himself. Accordingly, in 1877, he bade 
farewell to the scenes of his childhood and set 
sail for the United States. He came at once 
to La Crosse after landing here, and the first 
employment he had was with the Southern 
Minnesota Railroad; he worked on the survey 
of this line for two summers, and during the 
winter did whatever presented itself. He 
then secured a permanent position with N. B. 
Holway as book-keeper and general manager 
of the office. 

In the fall of 1885 he formed a partnership 
with Ole Pederson, the firm name being 
Pederson & Kynning; this relationship con- 
tinued with great success until July, 1887, 
when Mr. Rynning purchased Mr. Pederson's 
interest in the business. He has been doing 
a thriving business, and has received his share 
of the patronage of La Crosse county. He is 
a self-made man, the only capital he had be- 
ing that with which nature and a good educa- 
tion had endowed him. He is an excellent 
type of the Norwegian thoroughly American- 
ized; he is enthusiastic in his support of the 
Government of the United States, and his 
experience has proven that thrift brings its 
own reward, and that enterprise rarely fails of 
reaping its just harvest. 

Mr. Rynning was married. May 18, 1883^ 
to Miss Cathinka Steen, a daughter of Thor 
Steen, who came to America from Norway 



about 1867; he died in 1884, at the age of 
fift3'-two years; his wife lived to be sixty years 
of age. Tiieir children were: Gunda, wife of 
A. Magnusson, who had three children; Mrs. 
Rynning; Thora, wife of P. A. Bjorn, who 
has two children; Inga, wife of Frank H. 
Emery, of Mayville, North Dakota; and 
Agnes; Theodore is deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rynning have had born to 
them four children, three of whom are now 
living: Albert Jerome, Rolf Steen and Paul 
Bertheau. They are members of the Nor- 
wegian Lutheran Church. Mr. Rynning be- 
longs to the Masonic order, is an honorary 
member of the Norwegian Workingmen's 
Society, secretary of the Normanna Sangerkor, 
a male chorus numbering thirty voices, with 
a membership of eighty; he was for many 
years the leader of this society. He has for 
years been the leader of the choir of his 
church, and also superintendent of its Sunday- 
school. Politically he affiliates with the 
Republican party. 



fAMES WILSON was born August 5, 
1856. His father, James Wilson, Sr., 
a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, was 
reared on a farm in that country and received 
his education there. For a time he was em- 
ployed in a mill. He married Janet Bar- 
clay, who was a daughter of David Barclay, 
and who was born, reared and educated in the 
same neighborhood with Mr. Wilson. Shortly 
after their marriage, June 12, 1855, they 
came to America and direct to La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, in the summer of 1855, 
where they had relatives, James Barclay 
being a half brother of Mrs. Wilson. They 
first settled in Hamilton township, where 
they lived for some years. In 1865 they 
moved to the town of Campbell, and in 1869 



402 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



came to the farm near Stevoiistown, on which 
the subject of our sketch now lives. Their 
family was composed of nine children, seven 
of whom are now living, viz.: James, Kate, 
Alex., Jessie, Marj. Maggie and Lizzie. Ale,\. 
is now in Montaiui. Mary is a graduate of 
tlie West Salem High School, and since her 
graduation has been engaged in teaching 
school. Margaret and David died in infancy, 
the former at the age of eighteen months, 
and the latter at the age of three years. 
James Wilson, Sr., departed this life on the 
12th if January, 1878, when in his sixty-first 
year. Politically he was a Republican; re- 
ligiously a Presbyterian. His wife died on 
the 8th of October, 1881, at the age of forty- 
eight years. She too was a member of the 
Presbyterian Church. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on a 
farm, and received liis education in the pub- 
lic schools of tiie neighborhood. After the 
death of his father he took charge of the 
farming ope^'atlons, and has successfully con- 
ducted the same. On him devolved the care 
of the younger children, a duty he has most 
faithfully discliarged. The Wilson farm con- 
sists of 100 acres of fine land, and is well 
improved, with a nice cottage home, good 
barn, modern windmill, cribs, sheds, yards, 
etc., and on it general farming and dairying 
are carried on. 

Mr. Wilson was married April 24, 1889, 
to Mary Dick, who was born in Trempealeau 
county, Wisconsin, daughter of William and 
Rose (Neal) Dick, natives of Scotland and 
early settlers of that county. This union has 
been blessed with one daughter. Lulu Janet. 

Mr. Wilson is a Republican, and is one of 
the wheel-horses of his party. He has served 
three years as Township Clerk, and is now a 
Justice of the Peace. He has been a mem- 
ber of the School Board for eight years. 
Socially he is an I. O. 0. F., being a member 



ot Mindoro Lodge, No. 318. A man in the 
prime of life, frank and cordial with all, and 
honorable in his every dealing, Mr. Wilson 
is regarded as a good citizen and a popular 
man. 



C. CROOK dates his arrival in La 
Crosse county in 1853, and since that 
time has been a resident of Farming- 
ton township. He is one of the enterprising 
and successful farmers of the county, and as 
such is deserving of appropriate mention on 
the pages of its history. 

Mr. Crook was born in Orange county, 
Vermont, June 7, 1833. His father, Orlan- 
do Crook, was a native of the same county, 
and was a son of Benjamin Crook, also a New 
Englander. The Crooks trace their ancestry 
back to a sea captain who came across 
the Atlantic. Mr. Crook's mother was, be- 
fore her marriage, Sarah Elkins; and she too 
was a native of Vermont and a descendant of 
English ancestry. J. C. Crook was thirteen 
years of age wlien his parents came to Wis- 
consin and settled in Rock county, eleven 
miles east of Janesville. In 1853 they came 
to this county and settled on the land where 
he now resides. When Mr. Crook was eight 
years old he had the misfortune to lose his 
mother, who died in Vermont, leaving four 
children: Mai-cia, James C, Sarah and Helen. 
His father was subsequently married to Har- 
riette Piper, by whom he had two daughters, 
Ruth and Alma, born in this county. Mrs. 
Crook died in Oregon. The father departed 
this life in March, 1888, at the age of eighty- 
two years. He had been a farmer all his 
life. Politically he had at ditferent times 
afliliated with the Whigs, Democrats and Re- 
publicans; in religion he was a zealous and 



BrOGBAPHIOAL III STORY. 



40o 



active Methodist, having served for years as 
class-leader and steward. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on 
a farm and was educated in the common 
schools. Six months he worked in a printing- 
office at Galena, Illinois. The farm on which 
he now resides consists of 160 acres, and is 
well improved, with a comfortable cottage 
home, good barn and other buildings, modern 
wind pump, fences, etc., and is conveniently 
arranged for successfully carrying on agri- 
cultural pursuits. 

Mr. Crook was married when he was 
twenty-nine years of age, to Catharine Ivanck, 
who was born in New York city and reared 
in La Crosse county, Wisconsin. Her parents, 
John and Elizabeth Ranck, are deceased, the 
father dying in New York, and the mother 
in this county. By his marriage with Miss 
Ranck, Mr. Crook had five children, viz.: 
George, who resides in Montana; Marcia, 
wife of George Travis, of Holland township, 
this county; Elvin C, of Montana; Minnie, 
a successful scliool-teacher; and Harvey, in 
Montana. The mother of these children died 
in July, 1876. In 1879 Mr. Crook married 
Mrs. Mary L. (Cook) Jones, by whom he had 
two sons, Albert and Jesse. By Mr. Jones she 
had one daughter, Ida. who is now at Gales- 
ville College. Both Mr. Crook and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 



'"-'iA/J/^- 



-q/mn^^ 



|AMUEL DAVIS, one of the prosperous 
and reliable citizens of Farinington 
township, has resided here since 1854- 
He was born at Amesbury, Esse.x county, 
Massachusetts, May 20, 1818, and is a son 
of John and Betsey (Bagley) Davis; the 
paternal grandfather was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, and was of English ances- 



try; his wife was of Irish extraction. John 
Davis and wife were natives of Massachusetts 
and lived in that State all their lives. Their 
families were early settlers of that Common- 
wealth, and were among the leading manu- 
facturers in colonial days. 

Samuel Davis was reared and educated in 
Massachusetts, at Amesbury, and at the age 
of nineteen years went to work on a railroad, 
the Lower Eastern. His first work was exca- 
vating, but he soon had charge of a gang of 
men, and later on was road- master; this was 
one of the first railroads built in the State, 
and afterwards he was employed on the Old 
Colony. In 1852 he came West, stopping 
in Chicago for a time, and arriving in La 
Crosse October 19; by the 21st of the month 
he was laving the first rails of the North- 
Western Railway on Kinzie street. His wide 
experience in railroad building in the East 
rendered iiim a very valuable man at this 
time, and his services were duly appreciated. 
When he settled in La Crosse county, in 
1854, he purchased a farm in Farmington 
township, buying Government land at $1.25 
per acre. He first built a log cabin, which 
in after years was replaced with a comfort- 
able structure, after a more modern style of 
architecture. Tlie dwelling is surrounded by 
a good wind-break of forest trees, and the 
barns and cribs are neat and substantially 
built; the farm consists of 240 acres, 120 of 
which are iti Jackson county. 

Mr. Davis was married at the age of 
twenty-three years, at Newburyport, Massa- 
chusetts, to Lavinia B. Merrill, a daughter 
of James and Betsey Merrill, members of very 
highly connected families. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Davis were born eight children, five of whom 
are living: Josephine Goodenough, James 
M., who served in the United States army 
three years during the civil war, Lavinia F., 
Lura Quackenbush ami Washington L. 



404 



BIOGRAPHICAL IIISrORY. 



Lavinia B. died at tlie age of seven years' 
Fiaiikliii iit the age of three years, and one in 
infancy. 

Politically our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party. He has been Assessor of 
the township, and is a mem,ber of the board. 
He has always lent a cordial support to edu- 
cational enterprises, and has given his chil- 
dren advantage of the best schools in the 
State. He is now seventy-three years old, 
but bears his age lightly and bids fair to 
see many more useful days. 



SLE O. BLACK, Jk., Assessor of Hol- 
land township, La Crosse county, is one 
of the prominent and well-to-do men of 
this vicinity. 

He was born in Norway, March 26, 1849. 
His father, Ole O. Black, Sr., was among the 
Srst settlers of this township, he having 
located here in 1852, when all was new and 
wild. When he settled here his nearest 
neighbors on the south were at Holmen, four 
miles away, and on the north at Gordon, also 
a distance of four miles. Mr. Black's mother 
was Johanna (Gilbertson) Black. His parents 
were both born and reared in Norway, and 
lived there until 1850, when they came with 
their family to Wisconsin. They are still 
living on the old farm where they have 
passed thirty-nine years of their lives. Here 
they have reared a family of children that 
are now occupying useful positions in life. 
The name of their eight children are as fol- 
lows: Ole ()., Jr.; Gilbert; Johanna and 
Carl, twins; Anna; Frederica; Anton, a mer- 
chant and the Postmaster of llolmen; and 
Bertena. 

The subject of our sketch was three years 
old when he came here, and in the district 
schools of this county he I'eceived his educa- 



tion. After Ills marriage he settled on the 
farm where he now resides. This place, 
which consists of 130 acres of tine land, is 
located four and a half miles from Holmen 
and is opposite the school building in die- 
tr'ct No. 2. He has a modern cottage home, 
other good buildings, windmill, etc., and 
ketps every thing in the best of order. 

Mr. Black was married in 1871 to Johanna 
Larson, a native of Norway, and a daughter 
of Lars and Johanna Johnson. They have 
five children living: Julia, Ida, Oscar Lud- 
ovic, Frederick and Emma. Two of their 
children, Ida and Lena, are deceased. 

Mr. Black is an active and enthusiastic 
Republican. He has acceptably filled the 
office of Township Assessor for two years; 
has been a member of the board of Super- 
visors four years; has been Clerk of the 
school board ten years. He is a member of 
the Lutheran Church, and is one of its trus- 
tees; is also a member of the Farmers' 
Alliance. 

OHN A. JOHNSON, a well known and 
liighly respected citizen of Holland town- 
ship. La Crosse county, Wisconsin, al- 
though a foreigner by birth, has lived in this 
State ever since he was two years old. 

John A. Johnson was bora in Norway, 
June 8, 1848, son of Andrew and Martha 
Johnson. In 1850 the family came to this 
country and settled in Racine county, Wis- 
consin, where the father worked two years to 
get money to come further west; and in 1852, 
with a yoke of steers and a wagon, he brought 
his wife and children to La Crosse county and 
located at Half- Way Creek, on what is known 
as the Andrew Johnson farm, now owned by 
R. R. Lafleur, Esq., of this township. The 
Johnsons were among the first families to 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



405 



settle here. The city of La Crosse could at 
that time boast of only six houses, and Ona- 
laska had but three. There were no bridges 
here, and the pioneer forded the streams to 
and from his primitive cabin; Indians and 
wild game were plenty on all sides, and La 
Crosse county was then on tlie frontier of 
civilization. This family came to Holland 
township in 1862. John A. was the oldest 
of the eight children born to his parents. 
Tiie names of the others are Betsey, Hans, 
Louie, Mat, Minnie, Anna and Helen. The 
father and his son Louie are conducting the 
old farm, which consists of 180 acres of 
well-kept land, and on which they have lived 
since 1862. Being the oldest of the family, 
much of the work devolved on John, and he 
remained on the farm, assisting his father 
until he was twenty-three years of age. He 
attended the district schools near his home, 
receiving the usual education that was 
afforded here during those days. At the 
age of fifteen he was confirmed in the 
Lutheran Church. 

Like many of the early oCttlers of this 
section of the country, Mr. Johnson got his 
start by working in the woods, an employ- 
ment that was open to all. He worked in 
the woods nine winters. Li 1871 he came 
npon his present farm, 140 acres of as good 
land as can be found. His comfortable and 
attractive Jiome was built in 1890; is 28x28 
feet, two-stories, and is on a rock foundation. 
It is well finished and furnished throughout, 
has a good cellar and all modern con- 
veniences, and everything about this rural 
home indicates that the Johnson family are 
people of taste and refinement. The barn, 
30x18 feet, a modern wind pump, other 
buildings, good fences, etc., are among the 
improvements that add value to this farm. 

Mr. Johnson was married September 30, 
1870, to Martha Monson, also a native of 



Norway. She was seven years old when she 
came to Wisconsin, and here she was reared 
and educated. Her parents, Thomas and 
Mary Monson, live in this township. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson eleven children iiave 
been given, nine of whom are now living: 
Adolph, Minnie, Olaf, Bertenna, Henry, 
Mabel, James, Selma and Elmer. Bennett, 
the fourth-born, died at the age of seven 
months, and Male, the sixth-born, died when 
three years old. 

Mr. Johnson is an active member of the 
Farmers' Alliance. He has been Clerk and 
Treasurer of the School Board for several 
years, always discharging his duty faithfully; 
is now serving as a member of the Town 
Board. He is enterprising, intelligent, pro- 
gressive, and favors the advancement of any 
measure that will promote the good of the 
community in which he resides. From his 
youth up he has been a consistent member of 
the Lutheran Church. 

Aside from his general farming, Mr. John- 
son has been operating a threshing-machine 
during che autumn season for seventeen 
years, and in this business has been very 
successful. 



-^-'Vj/z/O' 



-q/irux^^ 



EOEGE B. HEWITT has resided near 
Mindoro in Farmington township, La 
Crosse county, Wisconsin, since 1857. 
He was born near Ottawa, Canada, April 22, 
1846, sou of James and Eleanor (Barton) 
Hewitt, his father being a native of Europe. 
The family lived in Canada until 1857, when 
they came to Wisconsin and settled in Farm- 
ington township. James Hewitt purchased 
a farm of M. B. Ladd, wiio had made some 
improvements on it, and here he lived until 
his death, which occurred at the age of 
seventy years. His wife survived him, pass- 



400 



BIOORAPUWAL HISTORY. 



ing away at the age of eighty-one. They had 
a family ol' four sons and three daughters: 
Isaac, Ann, Jane, Eliza, James C, Eleanor, 
"William E. and George B. The father was a 
farmer all his life; was, politically, a Repub- 
lican; religiously, a memher of the Christian 
Advent Church. He was a zealous and active 
Christian man and a deacon, and was a liberal 
supporter of the church. 

George B. was a boy of eleven years when 
his parents came to Wisconsin, and he was 
reared on the old farm on which he still lives. 
His education has been only that of the 
common schools. He worked some time in 
the lumber woods, and for seventeen years 
operated a thresher during the autumn. His 
farm contains 240 acres, has good house, 
barn and other improvements. It is located 
in the Lewis valley, and in the bottom land 
is a fine grove of tamaracks. 

Mr. Hewitt was married, May 22, 1887, to 
Anna Kocum, a lady of rare culture and of a 
good family, and a native of Melrose. Jackson 
county, "Wisconsin. She is a daughter of 
Matthew and Anna Kocum. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hewitt have two children: Barton Matthew 
and Nelly. 

Mr. Hewitt is one of the enterprising men 
of this vicinity. lie affiliates with the Kepnb- 
lican party, and is actively identified with the 
Farmers' Alliance, being president of his club. 
No. 187, of Mindoro. 



fESSE J. JOHNSON, a prominent repre- 
sentative of the agricultural interests of 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin, is a brother 
of John W.Johnson, a sketch of whom appears 
in this work. In his sketch is embodied a 
brief mention of his ancestors, and the subject 
of this sketch has in his possession a chopping 
knife which belonged to his maternal great- 



grandfather, Jacob Kent, and which he values 
very highly. Jacob Kent was born in New 
England June 11, 172G, his wife being Mary 
White, also of New England. 

Jesse J. Johnson was reared on a Vermont 
farm, and was educated in the common 
schools of Orange county. At the age of 
eighteen years he went to Boston, Massachu- 
setts, and clerked in a hotel and store until 
1853. In 1857 he removed to Galena, Illi- 
nois, for a short time and then went to 
Lake City, Minnesota, and for some time 
was in the mercantile business on the Indian 
Reserve. At the end of one year he went to 
Iowa City, where he had charge of a store for 
the same length of time; then went back to 
Galena, Illinois, and from 1862 to 1868 was 
clerk on a steamboat running from St. Louis 
to St. Paul, Dubuque and other points on the 
Mississippi river. His residence within the 
borders of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, dates 
from 1868, where he soon after purchased a 
track of wild land, which, by a judicious use 
of brain and brasvn, he has put in a high state 
of cultivation. In addition to the land being 
fertile, a considerable amount of money has 
been spent on it in the way of buildings, 
fences, etc., and at a glance it can be seen 
thac Mr. Johnson is a man of sound and 
practical views in conducting his agricultural 
operations. He has a commodious and hand- 
some residence, built in modern style, and 
heated by furnace, handsomely arranged and 
furnished. The grounds are spacious, and it 
can with truth be said to be one of the most 
beautiful places in the county. 

Aucrust 27, 1857, he was married to Miss 
Martha Elizabeth Hardon, a retined and in- 
telligent lady, who is well fitted to dispense 
hospitality in her beautiful home. She was 
born in Mansfield, Massachusetts, was reared 
and educated there, and prior to her marriage 
was engaged in the millinery business, a call- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



407 



inj^ her exquisite taste adtnirably fitted her for. 
Her parents, Jacob and Sarah (Field) Ilardon, 
were native New Englanders and died in 
Massachusetts, the mother at the age of forty- 
one and the father when seventy years of age. 
Of seven children born to them, two survive: 
Abljie Bellows, of Albany, New York, and 
Mrs. Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have 
two children, Elsie Anna and Abbie Louisa. 
The latter was married January 20, 1892, to 
Carroll Wilcox, of Lavalle, Wisconsin. Will 
iam H., their eldest child and only son, died at 
the age of four months. Mr. Johnson is a 
Republican, and st-cially belongs to the Masonic 
order, of which he became a member in 1865. 
He also belongs to the La Crosse county 
Agricultural Society, of which he has been 
president since 1890, and was Treasurer of 
Pomona Grange while it was in existence. 
He was born in Orange county, Vermont, 
May 23, 1830, and is therefore sixty-two 
years of age, but does not look it. He is 
broad and liberal in his views on all subjects, 
is well posted on the general topics of the 
day, and his home is noted for its hospitality, 
which is dispensed without regard to politics 
or reliaion. 



►^^J-^-^ 



P. QUALL. — Not without justice Mr. 
Quail is conceded to hold an enviable 
"** position among the prominent and 
successful men of La Crosse county, and has 
rendered it valuable service as a law abiding 
citizen. He was born in Lille Hammer, 
Norway, June 2, 1849, to Peter and Bertha 
(Anderson) Olson, who are still residents of 
Norway. To them three sons and three 
daughters were born, and of this family O. P. 
Quail was the eldest. He attended school 
until he was fourteen years of age, and at the 



age of fifteen lie was confirmed in the Lu- 
theran Church. 

He then worked on a farm until May, 
1871, when he took passage on board a 
steamer from Christiania to New York, soon 
after came to Wisconsin and for one year was 
a resident of Dane county. In 1872 he 
became a resident of La Crosse county, and 
for eleven winters worked in the woods. He 
was married July 3, 1877, to Miss Isabelle 
Maria Johnson, daughter of Ole Johnson, one 
of the early settlers of the county, who was 
born at Skien, Norway, in 1800, where he 
was reared, educated and first married. 
His first wife bore him two children: John, 
who was a soldier in the civil war and died 
while in the service, and Anna, who died after 
having borne her husband a number of chil- 
dren. Ole Johnson's second marriage oc- 
curred in Kacine, Wisconsin, to Gertrude 
Sammelson, who was born in Norway, a 
daughter of Samuel and Carrie Johnson. She 
was twenty-five years of age when she came 
to Wisconsin in 1850, and now makes her 
home with her daughter, Mrs. Quail. Ole 
Johnson died at the age of seventy-five years. 
To him and his wife four children were born: 
Isabelle Maria; Caroline, who died at the age 
of nineteen years; Mary, in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, and Andrew. Mrs. Johnson is 
seventy-seven years of age, but is yet an act- 
ive and intelligent old lady. O. P. Quail 
and his wife have five children: Caroline, born 
September 23,1878; Orville Guy, January 
21, 1881; Perry Burns, May 1, 1884; Milan 
Sidney, November 18, 1886; and Stella, 
August 11, 1891. Mr. Quail is independent 
in politics, but has held the following otticial 
positions: Justice of the Peace, School Direc- 
tor three years, Constable four years, and Clerk 
of the school board. His services were very 
satisfactory in the different positions he held 
and he is considered one of the upright men 



408 



BIOGRAPUICAL UI STORY. 



of tlie county. He is a inemljer of the Far- 
mers' Alliance, is a Proliiljitionist, and be- 
longs to the Lutheran Church. He is very 
liberal in his views, is genial in disposition, 
and his sound judgment and active mind have 
proven good friends throughout his career. 

^*^# 




H. CRONK, farmer, Onalaska, Wis- 
consin, a man of marked character 
i' and more tliaii ordinary prominence 
in the material affairs of La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, is the elder of two children born 
to S. B. and Eunice A. (GilfiUan) Cronk. 
The father was a soldier in the civil war, en- 
listed at La Crosse, and served six months. 
He was born, reared and educated in New 
York State, and when a young man went to 
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where he met and 
married Miss GilfiUan, a daughter of William 
GilfiUan, wlio resided for years at West Sa- 
lem, and who there passed his last days. She 
was born July 9, 1832, in Barnett, Caledonia 
county, Vermont, and moved to Beaver Dam, 
Dodge county, Wisconsin, in June, 1848. 
Sibley B. Cronk, born September 23, 1827, 
in Naples, Ontario county. New York, moved 
to Beaver Dam in August, 1853, married 
August 25, that year, at that place; moved to 
Onalaska, La Crosse county, in March, 1855; 
enlisted March 14, 1865, in Company F, 
Fifty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and 
is now living at Crystal Lake, McHenry 
county, Illinois. His second child, Jennie, 
becanie the wife of Bert Dillingham, and 
resides at Crystal Lake, Hlinois. W. H. 
Cronk was born in La Crosse county, Wis- 
consin, December 27, 1854, attained his 
growth on a farm., and was educated in the 
schools of tliat county. He resided in Burns 
valley for sevei-al years, and in 1879 caiTie to 
his present farm, which now consists of 160 



acres of excellent land, well improved and 
well cultivated. His farming operations are 
conducted in a manner indicative of a pro- 
gressive, thorough agriculturist, and bis stock 
is of a liigh grade, for long ago he found that 
it was poor economy to raise inferior animals. 
Energeticand public-spirited, he never allows 
any worthy movement to drag for want of 
support if he can help it. 

He was married on tiie 26th of September, 
1876, at La Crosse, Wisconsin, by Esqnire 
Stemlen, to Miss Eliza Jane Roddle, of one 
of the prominent pioneer families, and the 
danghter of Charles and Sarah (Jerrel) Rod- 
die, botii natives of Ambridgeshire, England. 
In politics Mr. Cronk is a Republican, and is 
one of the county's most worthy citizens. 



jjjETER DENGEL, farmer, Sigel, Wis- 
consin. — Owing to the fertility of the 
soil in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
and l>y energy, industry and economy, Mr. 
Denijel has become one of the successful 
farmers and stock-raisers of this section. He 
is a self-made man in all that that much 
abused term implies, for when he first came 
to tins county he had but the modest sum of 
twenty-five cents. He was born in Prussia 
in 1834, and his parents, Peter and Marga- 
rette (Lonie) Dengel, lived and died in that 
country. Peter Dengel, Jr., came to the 
United States in 1857, and his first work was 
in the butcher shops of Milwaukee. In June 
of that year he came to La Crosse county, 
worked on a farm for three years and then 
bought forty acres in section 19. To this he 
has added to as his means allowed, and he 
now has 280 acres of as good land as is to be 
found in tlie vicinity. He has a good two- 
story house, and his substantial barn and out 
buildings indicate the quality of farmer that 



BIOORAPEICAL HISTORY. 



409 



he is. He has his farm in a good state of 
cultivation, that is, 125 acres of it, and the 
balance is in wood land. He has a young 
orchard of 300 trees that are looking reinark- 
ably well, and he annually raises much small 
fruit. He keeps about twenty head of cattle, 
four horses and twenty-live pigs. Mr. Den- 
gel was married in 1860, to Miss Theresa 
Stelzig, daughter of Joseph and Theresa 
Stelzig, the parents residing with Mr. and 
Mrs. Dengel. To this union were born six 
children: Katie, married Ed Johns, is the 
mother of three children, and now resides in 
Greenfield; Joseph, at home; Peter, married 
Eitima Hess, and is the father of two chil- 
dren; he resides on a portion of his father's 
farm ; R. married George Belts and is the 
mother of one child; William, resides at 
home, and Anna is also at home with parents. 
Mr, and Mrs. Dengel are members of the 
German Reformed Church of Mormon Cooley, 
and the children hold membership in the 
same. In politics Mr. Dengel is a staunch 
Democrat. 



-^-a/j/2/Z/- 



.^l/mri^^ 



iLBERTUS VAN LOON, New Amster- 
dam, La Cro^ise county, Wisconsin, is 
another one of the old settlers and rep- 
resentative citizens of Holland township. 

He was born in Holland, Europe, Septem- 
ber 27. 1845. His parents were natives of 
that country, and his father died there. His 
mother came to Wisconsin, and her death 
occurred in this county. It was in 1854, at 
the age of nine years, that the subject of our 
sketch landed here, and in La Crosse county 
he was reared on a farm and received a com- 
mon-school education. While a youth he 
spent some time at work in the woods. 

When the civil war came on Mr. Van Loon 
was not slow to answer to the call of his 



adopted country, and to go forth in her 
defense. He enlisted August 11, 1864, in 
Company I, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, one of the best regiments that went 
out from Wisconsin, and one that made a 
brilliant record. It was known as the Eagle 
Regiment. In the battle of Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, he was wounded by a minie ball 
below the knee cap. He was confined for a 
time in the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, 
and afterward at Jeffersonville, Indiana; re- 
turned home on furlough, and before his 
leave of absence expired was ordered to the 
nearest mustering-out place and was honor- 
ably discharged. This was May 5, 1865. 
After his return home it was some time 
before he could abandon his crutches, and his 
wound is very troublesome to this day; it 
resulted in ulceration. He also had three 
brothers who served in the war. L. E. was 
a member of a Minnesota regiment; now re- 
sides at Tomah, this State. Raynard, who 
served four years in. the Eighth Wisconsin 
Infantry, is deceased. Paul, who also did 
good service on the field, is now a resident of 
the State of Washington. 

In 1870 Mr. Van Loon located on his 
present farm. He owns 255 acres, some of 
which is as good meadow land as there is in 
the township. He sells about $800 worth of 
hay each year. He has a story-and-a-half 
cottage home, good barns, granary, sheds, 
wind pump, hay scales, and all the necessary 
conveniences for successfully carrying on 
agricultural pursuits. 

November 18, 1866, he was united in 
marriao-e with Emma Olson, a native of Nor- 
way, who came to this country at the age of 
six years. She is a daughter of Albert and 
Jane Olson. Her father died in this county 
in 1882. Her family, like her husband's, was 
one that had its representatives on the field 
of battle during the war. Four of her 



410 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



brothers — Nelson, S. Olson, Chester and 
Cimrlie, served in the Union armj. Mr. and 
Mrs. Van Loon have six children living, viz.: 
Batike Jane; Abbie May, wife of Dan Plan- 
son, has two danghters, Fernie and Lotta; 
Eaynard A; Ward Dan; Emma A., and 
Willie O. They lost three children by death: 
Arthur F. in his fifth year, Emmet E. in his 
third and Clifford II. in his fifth. 

Mr. Van Loon is a strong and radical 
Republican, and a member of John Flynn 
Post. No. 77, North La Crosse. He is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, Frontier 
Lodge, No. 45, of La Crosse. 



-l-^^-l-- 



m 



ILLIAM C. RODDLE, one of the 
early settlers of La Crosse county, 
' „■-• J Wisconsin, and a brave and faithful 
soldier during the civil war, was originally 
from the Empire State, his birth occurring 
in Cayuga county, April 14, 1842. His 
father, Cliarles Roddle, was born near Lon- 
don, England, where he attained his growth 
and received his education. When eighteen 
years of age he bade farewell to relatives, 
Iriends and country and came to America to 
make his fortune. He was married in Cay- 
uga county, New York, to Miss Sarah Jarred, 
a native also of London, England, and they 
afterward moved to Huron county, Ohio, 
from there to Illinois, thence to Wisconsin 
and, in 1857, to La Crosse county of the 
last named State, where the father pre- 
empted and liought a large tract of land. 
This is now one of the best farms in the 
neighborhood and here the father resided 
until his death in February, 1880, when 
si.xty-four years of age. The mother resides 
with our subject and although seventy years 
of age is quite hearty. The four children 
born to this union are named as follows; 



William C. ; Stephen, died when thirty-two 
years of age and left a widow and one son, 
Charles Roddle, of Dakota; John C. and 
Eliza Jane, wife of Henry Cronk, of Mid- 
way, Wisconsin. The father was a success- 
ful farmer and was well thought of by all. 
In politics he was a Republican, and in 
religious views he was a Uuiversalist. Mrs. 
Roddle is a worthy and consistent member 
of the Episcopal Church. 

William C. Roddle was but fifteen years 
of age whe he came to La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
and the principal part of his education was 
received in this State. When the war broke 
out he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Infantry, 
Company G, and served one year. The regi- 
ment was stationed most of the time at 
Nashville and Paducali, and during that time 
he was on detailed duty until honoral)ly 
discharged. He returned home, and subse- 
quently went to Iowa, where he resided in 
Buchanan county, near Independence, for 
three years, and then in Cooper county, Mis- 
souri, for one year. Since that time he has 
resided in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and 
now owns 240 acres of excellent land, the 
same being known as the Poler or jN ichols 
farm. On this is a tine modern residence, good 
barns and other buildings, a fine windmill, 
and everything goes to prove the owner to 
be a progressive and enterprising man. Mid- 
way was laid out on a portion of this farm. 

Mr. Roddle was married, in September, 
1880, to Miss Ella Suttye, a lady of more 
than ordinary intelligence and a successful 
and popular teacher iu the county for some 
time. She was born in Michigan, was reared 
and educated there, and was the daughter of 
William and Eliza Suttye. Her death, which 
occurred on December 24, 1890, was a sad 
blow to Mr. Roddle, who fully realizes the 
irreat loss he has sustained. She was a mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



411 



was prominent in all good work. Mr. Reddle 
is also a member of the same church, and is 
steward and trustee in it. lie is one of the 
county's best citizens, and is universally 
respected. In politics he is a Kepublican. 



-^ 



|LLIS B. USHER was born June 21, 
jSI. 1852, at Buxton, York county, Maine, 
and two years later was brought to 
Muscatine, Iowa, by his parents. In 1855 
they came to Wisconsin, and spent nearly a 
year in Clark county, removing in the spring 
of 1856 to Onalaska, La Crosse county. In 
1858 the parents settled on a farm one mile 
cast of Onalaska, where they resided until 
1868, with the exception of two years (1868 
and 1864) spent in La Crosse city, when the 
father, Isaac L. Usher, was Sheriff of the 
county of La Crosse. With the exception of 
one year, 1867-'68, spent in Lombard Uni- 
versity, at Galesburg, Illinois, Ellis B. Usher 
received his education in the public schools. 
In 1868 he began keeping the books of Judge 
S. S. Burton in the office of Burton & Wood- 
ward; Judge Burton was then Receiver of the 
United States Land Office and Deputy Col- 
lector of Internal Revenue. Mr. Uslier did 
the clerical work of these two offices (or two 
years, and then was employed by N. D. 
ITaylor as clerk. At the age of eighteen 
years he became a partner in the business 
with Mr. Taylor, and they had a thriving real- 
estate trade for a year. Later he entered the 
employ of G. C. Ilixon, lumberman, and 
kept books for him until 1874. 

Here Mr. Usher's journalistic career began, 
as a reporter on the Republican and Leader: 
he had some knowledge of the publishing 
business, acquired while assisting Mr. Taylor 
in the publication of a monthly real-estate 
paper. April 1, 1875, he purchased a half 



interest in the Daily Liberal Democrat of 
John Syines; this was an evening paper, but 
was changed to a morning publication in 
1876, and the firm of Symes & Usher did 
business until July 30, 1878, when Robert 
Howard bought Mr. Symes' interest, and the 
name of the paper was changed to The Horn- 
ing Chronicle. Novemberl, 1879, Usher & 
Howard dissolved partnership, Mr. Usher be- 
coming sole owner, a proprietorship which he 
till retains. 

He was for three years secretary of the 
La Crosse Board of Trade, and inaugurated 
the system of annual reports since continued 
by Secretary Calvert. In 1887 he was chosen 
chairman of the Democratic State Central 
Committee of Wisconsin to fill a vacancy 
occasioned by the resignation of W. A. 
Walker. He was re-elected for two years at 
the State Convention held in 1888, his term 
ending January 1, 1891. In January, 1890, 
he resigned, the death of his father making 
it necessary for him to give more time to 
private business affairs. 

Mr. Usher was married November 27, 1888, 
to Anna M. Bliss, of La Crosse. 



IS- ' fe 







Ijy^HRISTIAN HATZ, late of section 27, 
Bangor township, was born in Switzer- 
land, May 16, 1834, a son of John Hatz, 
deceased, a native of the same country. The 
latter came to the United States in 1857, 
settling in this township, where he died in 
1888. Our suliject came to this country in 
1856, locating in Bangor township, which 
has since been his home. He settled on the 
farm, now occupied by his family, in 1866, 
of 200 acres in the Dutch Creek valley, 
where he had one of the strongest and 
best springs in the county. It comes from a 
hillside sixty feet above the house, furnish- 



412 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



ing the means to supply every room in the 
house if he so desires. It is soft water and 
always maintains the same temperature, iifty- 
two degrees Falirenheit. He built the fine 
two-story brick house, 28x38 feet, in 1872, 
and the large frame barn, 38x48 feet, with 
eighteen-foot posts, in 1875. The basement 
of the barn is of solid stone masonry, eight 
feet high. 

Mr. llatz was married June 8, 1867, to 
Bertha, daughter of Ulrich Wettstein, a na- 
tive of Switzerland. They had live children, 
viz.: John, Susan, Anna, Rosa, Julia, all of 
whom are at home. Mr. Hatz was a member 
of the scliool board several years, a member 
of Concordia Society, of Bangor, and a Re- 
publican politically. He died August 12, 
1891, of paralysis. 



^RS. ESTHER M. RANDALL, a 
well-known and popular lady of Ona- 
laska. La Crosse County, was born on 
the 7th of September, 1886. Her father, H. B. 
White, was a native of Tioga county, 
Pennsylvania, born in 1813, and her grand- 
father, Eiisha White, who was alsoanativeof 
the Keystone State, was of Dutch ancestry. 
Elisha's wife, and the grandmother of our 
subject, was a Miss Esther IngersoU, sister of 
Colonel Robert IngersoU's father. Her parents 
were taken prisoners by the Lidians in Mo- 
hawk valley, and held two weeks. H. B. White 
was reared in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, 
and Steuben county, New York, and was mar- 
ried in the former county, to Miss Tut- 

tle, a native of Steuben county, New York. 
The latter was the daughter of Ebenezer and 
Lucy Ann (Piatt) Tuttle and Miss Piatt was 
the daughter of Sally Jackson, a sister of Gen- 
eral Jackson, of New Orleans fame. H. B. 
White resided in Steuben county until 1855, 




and then came to La Crosse county. Wis., 
whtre he made his home until 1872. He and 
his estimable wife lived together fifty-five 
year.<, and she was killed by accident on the 
2Sth of June, 1889. 

They M-ere the parents of eight children, 
four now living: Esther M., Lucy, of Mon- 
roe county, Wisconsin, Sylvia, of St. 
Paul, Minnesota, and Simeon H., who re- 
sides in Turner, Oregon, and is a man- 
\ifacturer of fine steel tools. He was 

a soldier in the Fourteenth Wisconsin 
Infantry for twenty months. The four 
children deceased were: Royal P., who died 
in Oregon, when twenty-one years of age; 
Leonard B. died when thirteen yiars of age; 
Mary M. was eight years of agj at the time 
of her death, and Deloss was a babe of six 
months. Esther M. White attained her 
growth and received her education in Ti- 
oga and Steuben counties, and was in her 
nineteenth year when she married Albert 
Randall, who was of a very prominent family 
of Cortland county. New York. 

After marriage, or in 1856, Mr. and Mrs. 
Randall came to Onalaska township, La- 
Crosse county, Wisconsin, and here Mrs. Ran- 
dall has made her home since. Her marriage was 
blessed by the birth of three sons: Charles 
E., a stone mason of Onalaska; David W., at 
Ffirgo, Dakotn, and Albert E., a young man 
of twenty. Mrs. Randall lost one child, a 
daughter two years and two months old. She 
has a good farm of 120 acres, on which is a 
comfortable frame house and a commodious 
barn, and this is two and a half miles from 
Onalaska, a convenient distance. The farm is 
well cultivated and divided up into pastures, 
meadows, wood lots, etc., etc., and she has a 
modern wint'mill. Mrs. Randall is a lady 
of intelliirence, has considerable executive 
ability and business acumen. She is highly 
respected by all acquainted with her, ami has 






ri^i 



^/7^^!^e^/^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



413 



inanj warm friends in the county. Mrs. Ran- 
dall was married the second time, on the 
24th of November, 1891, to Abner Maj'nard, 
a native of Steuben county, New York, who 
was a soldier in our late war, in the Twenty- 
Second Wisconsin Volunteers, and served 
over three years. 



.^H^ 



jICHOLAS BINTGEN, deceased, was 
P/I born in Luxemburg, Germany, Jan- 
nary 17, 1825. He received liis educa- 
tion in his native land, and at the age of 
twenty-three years came alone to America, 
believing that he might better his condition 
in life in the United States. He stopped in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he resided 
for several years. Later he decided to come 
to the West, and after reaching Wisconsin he 
settled for a time in Kenosha; thence he went 
to Prairie da Chicn, and finally, in 1851, he 
came to La Crosse. Here he embarked in 
the grocery business and continued in active 
commercial pursuits until his death. He was 
at one time interested in gardening, and was 
very successful in this industry. He took. 
a deep interest in good government, and 
served the city as Alderman for one term. 
He was a member of the Roman Catliolic 
Church, and in all the walks of life he proved 
himself a man of the highest integrity of 
character. 

Mr. Hintgen was married, September 17, 
1853, to Miss Mary E. Green, a daughter of 
Henry H. and Abigail J. Green, of La Crosse. 
Mr. Green was a native of the State of New 
York, and a farmer by occupation. He emi- 
grated to La Crosse county in 1852, and 
engaged in agricultural pursuits. His death 
occurred in California in 1860, while he was 
there on a business trip. His wife is still 
living, an honored resident of La Crosse; she 

28 



is a native of the State of New York, and is 
now seventy-seven years of age. Mrs. Hint- 
gen was born in Orange county. New York, 
the second of a family of fifteen children. Mr. 
Hintgen and wife had born to them three 
children: Lansing H., the oldest son, died in 
1888, at the age of thirty-four years; Jose- 
phine died at the age of one year, and Em- 
ogene died in 1877, at the age of eighteen 
years. Mrs. Hintgen is a woman of great 
force of character, having the affection of a 
wide circle of friends and the confidence of all 
who know her. Both her paternal and mater- 
nal ancestors are well connected, and her life 
is an honor to their name. 

pUGENE JOHNSON was brought up to 
\ the life of a farmer boy by his father, 
William Johnson, and like the majority 
of sons has followed in his father's footsteps 
and is now the successful manager of a good 
farm of eighty acres, situated one and one- 
half miles from Onalaska. On this place is 
a comfortable residence, surrounded by hand- 
some shade trees, and his barn, stables and 
sheds are also well constructed and in good 
condition. He had made a specialty of sheep- 
raising, and his animals are all of a good 
grade and have proven a profitable source of 
revenue. 

He was born in Orange county Vermont, 
October 7, 1847, and in 1860 became a resi- 
dent of La Crosse county. A history of his 
progenitors is given in the sketch of his 
brother, John W. Johnson, which appears in 
this volume. While a resident of his native 
State Eugene Johnson resided on a farm, and 
in the different localities in which his parents 
resided he attended the common schools and 
acquired sufficient education to fit him for 
the practical duties of life. In 1879 he went 



414 



BIOGRAPIIIUAL HI STORY. 



to Kansas, in which State he spent two years, 
but has been a resident of La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, since that time, and since 1882 
the owner of his present farm. His intelli- 
gence, integrity and many other estimable 
qualities have acquired for him a popularity 
not derived from any fictitions circumstances 
but a permanent and spontaneous tribute to 
liis merit, and he numbers among his warm 
personal friends the most reputable citizens 
of this section. 

Eva M. Gardiner, an amiable and cultured 
lady, became his wife September 13, 1877. 
She was born in North Oxford, Massachu- 
setts. She is a daughter of James E. Gardi- 
ner and Abbic (Money) Gardiner, the former 
of whom died in 1869, at the age of 57 years. 
His widow, who was born in South Kingston, 
Massachusetts, is now a resident of Webster, 
Massachusetts. Her father, Henry B. Money, 
was one of the early settlers of La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, and died here in 1867. 
James E. Gardiner and wife became the par- 
ents of six children, and their daughter, Mrs. 
Johnson, is the mother of two sons: Leroy 
E., born November 5, 1878, and Dan Ray, 
born August 9, 1888. 

She is a member of the Baptist Church, 
and earnestly endeavors to live up to its 
teachings. Mr. Johnson is a Kei)ublican 
politically and is broad and liberal in his 
views on all subjects, political, religious and 
social. 

He and his wife dispense a refined hos- 
pitality at their pleasant home, and intelligent 
and cultured people are delightfully at home 
with this genial couple. 



-*s 



3^' 



'i' j_'_j{ i«- 



^ E. KEIZER, the prosperous proprietor 

I of a general mercantile store at Mid- 

" way, keeps a large and select stock of 



goods, which he sells at very reasonable prices. 
He has constantly on hand a full line of dry 
goods, boots, shoes, clothing, staple and fancy 
groceries, queensware, glassware and notions. 
His store room is a good building 24x54 
feet, well arranged, ventilated and lighted 
and Mr. Keizer has the knack of displaying 
his goods to a good advantage. He purchas- 
ed the stock of goods of P. G. Kribs in the 
spring of 1891, and as he is a good business 
man and perfectly honorable and upright in 
his dealing-'^ he will without doubt make a 
success of his enterprise. His patronage is 
already large and is constantly on the increase, 
and forcibly illustrates the fact that "coming 
events cast their shadows before." 

He was born at Westlield, Marquette coun- 
ty, Wisconsin, Decemljer 6, 1862, to Renard 
and Mary (Heimstra) Keizer, natives of Hoi- 
land. They became residents of America in 
1848 and of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, in 
1865, locating at Nine Mile Tavern. Here 
the father died July 15, 1881, his widow still 
surviving him. The farm on which they set- 
tled comprised 240 acres, was a very fertile 
tract of land and was put in an excellent farm- 
ing condition by Renard Keizer. Their chil- 
dren are: Nicholas, Martin, John H., James E., 
Alvin E., Elizabeth, Anna, a teacher; and 
Mary. John H. was educated in the Univer- 
sity of Galesville for the ministry, but is now 
a business man in Madison. James E., the 
subject of this sketch, was educated in the 
common schools and at Galesville, and made 
the most of his opportunities. He purchased 
a farm in Holland township in 1884, but sold 
it two years later; he is now the owner of an 
excellent farm of 120 acres on iirice's prairie, 
which he rents. 

He was married September 17, 1884, to 
Miss Mary Ellen Pittenger, a daughter of 
Nathaniel Pittenger of Onalaska, and by her 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



415 



is the father of two children: Inez Genevieve 
and Lester Alvin. 

Mr. Keizer is a Republican, and for the 
past three years has served in the capacity of 
Town Clerk. He is a member of the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, is superintendent of 
the Sunday-school, and is an earnest supporter 
and patron of educational as well as religious 
institutions. 



^ 



4Ch> 



^ 



O. BLACK, the leading general mer- 
chandise dealer of Holmen, Wiscon- 
'® sin, has been in business here since 
1887. Until 1890 he was in company with 
Corin McOue. He then purchased his part- 
ner's interest, and has since conducted the 
business alone. His large store building, 
24 X 60 feet, is stocked with a well assorted 
line of dry goods, boots and shoes, staple and 
fancy groceries, glass and queensware, cloth- 
ing, notions, etc. By his extensive acquaint- 
ance in this vicinity, his reputation for fair 
dealing, his reasonable prices, and his uniform 
courtesy, he^ias established a fine trade and 
is doing a thriving business. He is ably 
assisted by his popular and accommodating 
clerk, N. H. Tolvstad, who has been with him 
for the past three years. Mr. Black has 
served as Postmaster of Holmen since 1890, 
and is also town Treasurer. He is manager 
of the Holmen Creamery Association, which 
firm does a business of $20,000 per year, and 
under his eiScient management is in a flour- 
ishing condition. He is, without doubt, the 
most successful and popular business man in 
Holmen. 

A. O. Black was born in Holland township, 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin, September 20, 
1863, son of Ole O. Black, Sr., one of the 
pioneer settlers of this township, he having 
located here in 1852. He still lives on the 



old home place. The subject of our sketch 
was reared on his father's farm, receiving his 
education in the district schools. He subse- 
quently took a course of study at the La 
Crosse Business College. 

He was married in February, 1889, to 
Miss Anna Oswald. Of the two children 
born to them, Oswald is living and Joel 
Elexo is dead. 

Mr. Black is a Republican and is identified 
with the best elements of his party, being 
one of its wheel-horses at this place. He 
and his wife are both worthy members of the 
Lutheran Church. He is progressive in his 
views, and favors the advancement of educa- 
tional and religious interests. 

Such is a brief review of one of the rep- 
resentative citizens of La Crosse county. 



ETER KEAVENY, one of the oldest 
employes of the Chicago, Milwaukee 
^' & St. Paul Railroad, at La Crosse, was 
born in Ireland in 1825, a son of John and 
Mary (Feany) Keaveny. The father died on 
his native isle in 1860, aged seventy-five 
years; the mother is now living at La Crosse, 
with one of her sons, having attained the 
advanced age of eighty-six years. There 
were eight children in the family, seven of 
whom are living, all citizens of La Crosse, 
hicrhly respected by the entire community. 
Peter Keaveny emigrated to the United 
States in 1854, and after landing came to 
Wisconsin, securing employment with the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; he 
resided at Sparta until 1858, and then moved 
on with the road to La Crosse, where he still 
resides, being in the employ of the same 
company. About 1867 he was promoted to 
the position of track master in the yards at 
La Crosse, which he still holds. 



41i> 



BfOGRAPUlCAL HISTORY. 



Mr. Keaveny was nnitpc] in marriage Oc- 
tober 2, 1860, to Miss Marguerite McDonald, 
a daiigliter of Hugh and Ann McDonald of 
Sparta, AVisconsin, who removed from Albany, 
Now York, to this State; they had two chil- 
dren: Mrs. Keaveny and a son, John H.; the 
latter was for many years a passenger con- 
ductor on the St. Faul & Sioux City Railroad, 
but is now retired and living in St. Paul. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Keaveny have been born 
nine children, seven of whom are living: 
Michael, Francis, Peter, Thomas, William, 
Mary Ann and Marguerite; Peter is engaged 
in railroading in Dakota, and Francis and 
Michael are both in the employ of the Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Com- 
pany, at La (h'osse. The other children are 
in school; the faniiiv belong to the Roman 
Catholic Church. Mr. Keaveny is a member 
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Polit 
ically he adheres tothe principles of the Demo- 
cratic party, and is an ardent supporter o- 
the issues of that bc^dy. 

W. NUTTING, hotel proprietor, Mid- 
way, Wisconsin — The poet who found 
• "his wannest welcome in an inn" 
must liave had in mind one of those hostel- 
ries in which the conveniences of home are 
forever present without the disagreeable and 
exacting duties tliat make home life domestic 
slavery. Such an abode is that of the 
Charleston House of Midway, a family hotel, 
of which Mr. Nutting is the genial proprie- 
tor. This is a commodious structure, two sto- 
ries in height, and fitted with all the modern 
conveniences. What is of primary inipor 
tanee in this connection is the quality of the 
cuisine and the service. Thesi', like all other 
arrangements of this comfortable house, are 
of the best order. The whole aspect of the 



house and the interior arrangements, as more 
close acquaintance will specify, are suggestive 
of comfort, the best word of all to those who 
seek a home. There is a good hall in the 
upper story of the house, and this is used for 
public entertainments of all kinds, lectures, 
shows, dances, etc. Mr. Nutting, who is host 
and proprietor, has had twenty years experi- 
ence in this business and is master of the 
difficult art of hotel-keeping. 

He was born in Somerset county, Maine, 
January 3, 1839, and is a son of Seth and 
I^eersheba (Hlackwell) Nutting, both of 
Scotch descent: the father was a stone- raason 
liy trade, and in politics was a staunch Deiri- 
ocrat. He and wife received their final 
sununons in Maine, the mother dying when 
C. W. Nutting was a babe, and the father at 
the age of seventy-six. 

One of their sons, Jewitt Nutting, was a 
member of the First Maine Cavalry, and 
served all through the war. He jiarticipatf'd 
in thirty-six prominent engagements, and bar! 
tiiree horses shot from under him. He is 
now a resident of the Pine Tree State. 

C. W. Nutting was reared in his native 
State and was thoroughly educated in the 
common schools. In 1852 he went to Cali- 
fornia, by way of the Isthmus, and for eighteen 
months was engafed in minino;. He returned 
to Maine in 1855 and subsequently came to 
Wisconsin, where for six years he worked in 
the woods and on the river. In 1861 he 
settled at Midway and embarked in the hotel 
business, which he has since carried on. 

He was married in La Crosse county, Wis- 
consin, to Miss Alice May Welch, a native of 
Walworth county, Wisconsin, and the 
daughter of Freeborn Welch, one of the 
oldest settlers of the county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nutting's union has been 
blessed by the birth of five children, all sons: 
Adelbert S., born February 23, 1872. died 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORV. 



417 



October 14, 1880; Jewitt, Ray and George. 

Mr. Nutting is a member of the I. O. O. F. 
and in politics affiliates with the Uemocratic 
party. 

ITe is tlie owner of some fine colts that 
give promise of being good road and track 
horses. One is sired by Robin and another 
by Good-bye. 

Mr. Nutting is an extensive traveler, is 
well informed, and is a jovial and popular 
man. 



i-jt-tf. 



sALVER E. STRAND was born in Nor- 
way, October 23, 1843, a son of Eric 
and Rachel (Halverson) Strand. The 
father was a farmer by trade and lived to be 
fifty years old. He emigrated to America 
with his family in 1856, and the following 
year he passed to his rest beyond. There 
were eight children in the family, six of 
whom are now living: Mrs. Julia Olson 
Mary, wife of Ole Severson; Rachel, wife 
of Sever Julson, Halver E., the subject of 
this notice; Ole and Betsey, wife of Ulrick 
Knutson. The mother died iu La Crosse at the 
home of her son, Halver, in December, 1889, 
having reached the age of four-score years. 
Mr. Strand was a lad of thirteen years 
when the family crossed the sea and landed 
on American shores. He received his edu- 
cation both in this country and his native 
land. Agriculture was the first business to 
which he turned his attention, and in 1884, 
he came to La Crosse for the purpose of 
embarking in another enterprise, that of mer- 
chandising. He is a man of great enterprise, 
quick perceptions, and good judgment. He 
has always employed business methods above 
question, is conscientious, courteous, and uni- 
formly fair in all his dealings. Before estab- 
lishing his business in La Crosse, Mr. Strand 



had been a resident of the State of Iowa for a 
period of seventeen years; he held public 
office in Monona county, where he owned 
lands, which he still retains. 

He was united in marriage, iu 1868, to Miss 
Mary A. ToUefson, a daughter of Ole Tollef- 
son, and the oldest of a family of six children 
named as follows: Sarah, wife of Halver A. 
Heyer; Tollef, who married Lissie Wage; 
Louisa, wife of Carl Albrecktson; Emma, 
wife of O. N. Tweet, and Julia, wife of John 
Knutson. Mr. and Mrs. Strand have two 
children living, Lillie M. and Emma L., 
pupils of the public schools. The parents 
are consistent members of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Church. 



fAMES A. MOSHER.— This gentleman, 
who resides near Holmen in Holland 
township, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
is one of the early settlers of this section of 
the country. He came here in 1852, when 
this place was a frontier settlement, and in 
La Crosse county he has since made his 
home. 

James A. Mosher was born in Montgomery 
county, New York, September 1, 1826. His 
father, Peter Mosher, was of German ex- 
traction, and was also a native of the Empire 
State, while his mother, whose maiden name 
was Sally Aimes, was born in Connecticut 
and was a descendant of an old Connecticut 
family. They had a family of thirteen chil- 
dren, six sons and seven daughters. The 
mother died in the town of Holland, La 
Crosse county. His father and mother, came 
to Wisconsin at an early day, and died in 
this county, at the age of fifty-six. Four of 
their sons — Millford, Peter Josiah, William 
and James A. — served in the late war; two 
are still living. 



418 



BIOORAPUIUAL HISTORY. 



The subject of our sketch was reared on a 
farm in New York, and received a coininon- 
school education. In early life he was em- 
ployed as a lumberman, working in the 
woods. Then for a number of years he was 
enjjafred in boatinif, first on the Erie Canal, 
six or seven years on the Allegheny river, 
for a time on the Ohio river, and afterward 
for one season on the lakes. In 1852, as 
already stated, he took up his abode in La 
Crosse county, and here for three winters he 
worked in the woods. During the war he 
enlisted, January 1, 1864, in the Second 
Wisconsin Cavalry, Company L (afterward 
Company B), and was on the Red Kiver ex- 
pedition with General Banks. He was with 
his regiment at Memphis for some time, and 
afterward participated in a number of other 
engagements. He was honorably discharged 
and returned to Wisconsin, where he has 
since been engaged in farming and working 
in the woods and on the river. He owns an 
eighty-acre farm with a cottage home on it, 
and other suitable farm buildintrs. 

Mr. Mosher has been twice married. At 
the age of twenty- one he wedded Harriette 
N. Bill, a native of New York State, and a 
daughter of Amos and Hannah Bill. She 
bore him four children, two of whom are 
living, viz.: Martha, wife of William Dale, 
of this township, and Harriette, wife of 
James Dale, also of Holland township. His 
wife died in January, 1885, and the follow- 
ing year lie was united in marriage with 
Caroline Swenson, his present companion. 
She was born in this township, daughter of 
Gooden and <Lena Swenson. Their union 
has been blessed with two children: Laura 
May and Millford Anthony. 

Mr. Mosher is a man in whose make-up 
are found those elements which are character- 
istic of the pioneer. He has traveled in 
seventeen diflFerent States, and during his ex- 



tensive travels has had many experiences 
that, were they written up, would make an 
interesting volume of no small proportions. 
He is a fair type of the early settler, the 
lumberman, and the war veteran, and is 
withal a genial, whole-souled man, and a 
most worthy citizen. 

^H AKLES SCHALLER, who is success- 
fully engaged in the business of con- 
tracting and building in Onalaska, 
Wisconsin, has aided very materially in de- 
veloping the resources of the county, and is 
entitled to representation in this work. He 
was born in Miluaukee, Wisconsin, May 8, 
1855, and is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth 
Schaller. The father was born in Germany, 
but emigrated to the United States in early 
life; he is still living, but his wife passed 
away in 1888. In 1857 they removed to La 
Crosse county and settled in Campbell town- 
ship, where the father now resides. Charles 
was reared on a farm, and in his youth be- 
came accustomed to the hard work accom- 
panying the settlement of a new country. 
He attended the district school which was 
near the old homestead, and there secured a 
knowledge of the fundamental principles of 
the " three R's." At the age of eighteen 
years he began working at the carpenter's 
trade, being convinced that agriculture was 
not his calling. By faithful, conscientious 
work he has arisen to a high position among 
the contractors and builders of his county; 
he employs good material in all his construc- 
tion, and his assistants are skilled workmen. 
One very important piece of work which he 
did was on the bridge for wagons, crossing 
the Mississippi at La Crosse; he had the con- 
tract for all the wond-work and pile-driving, 
and carried it out to the letter, giving great 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



419 



satisfaction to all parties conceraed. He also 
built the bridge over Black river at Onalaska, 
and has been connected with the construction 
of many other bridges in the county. During 
the busy season he has in his employ six 
men. Several of the best modern residences 
in Onalaska have been erected under his 
supervision. His own dwelling is one of the 
most attractive in the place; it was erected 
in 1887, is of a good style of architecture) 
and is an unusually convenient house. 

Mr. Schaller was united in marriage at 
West Salem, January 21, 1886, to Miss Sarah 
Erickson, a native of Norway and a daughter 
of Hans and Mary (Fossum) Erickson, natives 
of the same country. One child has been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Schaller, Agnes Beat- 
rice, whose birthday was February 16, 1891. 

Politically our subject is identified with 
the Democratic party. He belongs to the 
Modern Woodmen of Onalaska. 

Mr. Schaller is a member of the prosper- 
ous mercantile tirm of Gunderson, Krueger & 
Co., of Onalaska. He is yet a young man 
in the prime of life, and being possessed of 
excellent business qualifications he has every 
prospect of future success. 



fOHN ASSELIN has been a resident of 
this county since 1856, but was born in 
Quebec, Canada, January 6, 1836, a son 
of John and Josephine (Chamberlain) Asse- 
lin, both of whom were born and reared near 
Quebec, Canada, and there resided until their 
respective deaths. John attained manhood 
in his native city, in the schools of which 
city he obtained a thorough knowledge of 
books. At the age of twenty he came West 
and tirst found work near St. Paul, Minne- 
sota, at cutting cord wood, later working in 
a brick-yard. Succeeding this he came to La 



Crosse county, where he was engaged in cut- 
ting, rafting and selling cord wood. He has 
been a driver on the river in rafting logs, and 
his many years of experience in this work 
and in the woods admirably Utted him for 
the lumber business. In 1869 he purchased 
a small farm, but is now the owner of 360 
acres of valuable land, on which are good 
buildings of all descriptions and a line wind- 
mill. 

He was married on the 17th of September, 
1860, to Miss Clara Seals, who is an intelli- 
gent lady and has made him a model wife. 
She was born at Nauvoo, Hancock county, 
Illinois, a daughter of Charles Seals, who 
was born in Montreal, Canada, but who died 
in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, in 1857. 
His wife died when Mrs. Asselin was a babe. 
Mrs. Asselin has a brother, William Seals, 
and a sister, Mary Bruett, who reside in this 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Asselin have ten 
children: Charles, who is married and has 
three children; Illwick, who was born in 
Canada while his parents were there on a 
visit, is married; Maggie is the wife of 
James Cotty; Ella; Josephine; Willie and 
Tillie are living, and the following, who are 
deceased: Joseph, who died at the age of 
thirteen months; William, who died when 
nine months old, and Exelina, who died at 
the age of three years. Mr. Asselin is a 
well posted man and is a patron of all good 
works. In 1882 he was Supervisor of the 
town of Campbell; since 1883 he has been 
Assessor of the same town, and he has been 
Clerk of the School District for the last ten 
years. 



fOHN J. OTT, deceased, late of section 
35, Bangor township, was born in Ba- 
varia, Germany, August 12, 1824, came 
to this country in 1847, and for many years 



420 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



worked in various parts of the United States, 
making his headquarters at Chicago. He 
removed to tiiis county in 1857, settling on 
the soutiieast quarter of section 35, Bangor 
townsliip, where iiis widow now resides. He 
owned 206 acres of vaiuai)le land, where he 
built a tine twostory brick residence in 1878. 
He was married in Chicago, October 28, 
1854, to Agatha Weber, a daughter of 
Joseph Weber, now deceased, who brought 
his family to the United States from Bavaria 
in 1848, settling in Chicago, where he 
worked at the carpenter's trade several years. 
He died in Milwaukee in May, 1886. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ott liad six children, tive of whom 
are now living: Matthias, Joseph, Mary A., 
Edmund, John G. One son, Frank A., died 
at the age of fourteen years. Joseph was 
married to Josephine Cavadine, by whom he 
had one child, Katie A. The wife died, 
after which he married Gertrude Bedessen, 
and now lives in North La Crosse, where he 
works in a sawmill. Mr. Ott was a mem- 
ber of the school board many years. He 
died March 2'J, 1891, at his home in Bangor, 
a member of the orders of Odd Fellows and 
Knights of Pythias, and also of the Catholic 
Church, of which his family were also mem- 
bers. 



^LDEN PUTNAM is a prominent pio- 
neer of both Monroe and La Crosse 
counties, and is entitled to an extended 
notice in this history of the heroic men and 
women who braved the hardships and dan- 
gers of the frontier to prepare the way for 
the advance of civilization. Mr. Putnam 
was born in Bethel, Windsor county, Ver- 
mont, November 26, 1818; his father, Reu- 
ben Putnam, was born in the same place, 
and was a son of Reuben Putnam, Sr., a 



second coneiii of General Putnam. Reuben 
Putnam, Jr., married Eleanor Ai)bott, a na- 
tive of New Enirland, descendetl from Pnri- 
tan stock, and to them were born ten children, 
seven sons and three daughters, eight of 
whom survived in 1891. The parents re- 
moved to Cook county, Illinois, and there 
passed the remainder of their lives; the 
father died at the age of seventy years, and 
the mother attained the age of eighty-nine. 
Alden Putnam was reared in Vermont, and 
at the age of twenty years was driving a 
stage for A. W. Hyde. Two years later he 
came to the West, arriving in Chicago in 
1840, and secured a situation with Frink & 
Walker, the most widely-known stage men 
in the Mississippi valley; he remained with 
them three years, driving from Chicago to 
Joliet, from Rockford to Galena, and other 
points; lie often drove six horses, carrying 
freight, passengers and large sums of money. 
He became acquainted with many distin- 
guished men in those days, and gained a 
wide knowledge of human nature. 

In 1844 he purchased some land in Lake 
county, Illitiois, and engaged in farming. 
When the gold excitement reached Illinois, 
he abandoned every enterprise and went over- 
land to the scene of the craze. The journey 
consumed six months; he was one of four 
men to discover Grass valley, and was en- 
gaged at "Rough and Ready Diggings." 
In 1850 he came back to Illinois, where he 
resided until 1857; in that year he removed 
to Jackson county, Wisconsin, and settled 
twelve miles from Black River Falls; he 
purchased a fine farm of 417 acres, in an ad- 
vanced state of cultivation and well imjjroved 
with good buildings. In 1872 he went to 
Balck River Falls and conducted the Mer- 
chants' Hotel of that place for six years; he 
was in the hotel business at other points 
until 1888, when he came to Onalaska and 



BIOGRAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



421 



erected a residence on Second street, where 
he is pleasantl^y surrounded with many of 
tlie comforts of life, 

Mr. Putnam was married at Dundee, Illi- 
nois, at the age of twenty-eight years, to Miss 
Eliza Smith, a daughter of Orrin Smith, an 
honored pioneer of the county. Two sons 
were born of this union: Hosea Ballon, a 
railroad conductor of Los Angeles, (Califor- 
nia, and Theodore, deceased. Mrs. Putnam 
departed this life in August, 1891. 

Mr. Putnam affiliates with the Republican 
party; he has served as Justice of the Peace, 
but has not been an aspirant for political 
honors. He has been a Mason for twenty- 
live years, and in every association of life he 
has shown hinself a genial companion, a 
loyal citizen, and a tried and stanch friend. 



fOIIN CROOK, Jr., dealer in groceries, 
provisions and feed, La Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Devonshire, England, 
August 13, 1848, a son of John and 
Charlotte Crook, natives of the same place. 
The parents moved to Cornwall, England, 
and resided there until 1854, emigrating 
thence with their family to the United States. 
They settled in Vernon county, Wisconsin. 
John Crook was connected with his father 
in the farming business until he was twenty- 
two years of age. Mr. Crook was married 
November 13, 1870, to Miss Frances Letta, 
whose parents were George and Nathaniel 
Letta, of Vernon county. The father is liv- 
ing, at the age of seventy-one; but the mo- 
ther died in 1878, at the age of fifty-one 
years; and so also Mr. Crooks' mother died, 
the 11th of February, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. 
Crook, Jr., have three cliildren born to them. 
Lewis Crook is at present at the wholesale 
house of Mr. Diebold, the provision dealer 



and he has proved himself successful as clerk 
in the store. Austin Crook is at present in 
the store with his father; John Crook, Jr., 
and Lewis and Austin belong to the Epworth 
League of the Colman Cluirch at La Crosse. 
Dotty also belonged to that and the W. C. 
T. LF. Both the boys also belong to the 
Y. M. C. A. of La Crosse. 

Miss Dotty Crook, only daughter of Mr. 
and Mrs. John Crook, Jr., No. 1425 Market 
street, died at her home November 13, 1891. 
The deceased was born near Viroqua, May 
28, 1871; she was therefore a little over 
twenty years of age. She was educated at 
Viroqua, where she became quite an accom- 
plished organist, and received a county cer- 
tificate to teach before she was fourteen years 
of age. Preferring, however, to clerk in a 
store rather than teach, she began a very suc- 
cessful career as such at Westby, which was 
continued at La Crosse with much satisfaction 
to the family, herself and her employers. 
Dotty was proficient in three languages, — • 
English, German and Norwegian. At the 
age of twelve she was converted, but a change 
of residence of the parents hindered church 
membership, so that she did not join the 
church until the winter of 1888. From child- 
hood she manifested a great interest in re- 
ligious work, and aided those who thus 
needed Christian help or advice in a manner 
much beyond her years. She won the love 
and respect of all who knew her, as was amply 
attested by the very large audience which 
gathered at Colman Church Sunday afternoon 
amidst a driving rain to pay their last tokens 
of respect to the one they held most dear. 
Many said it was the saddest funeral they 
ever attended. Rev. Mr. Ohalfant, of Mel- 
rose, a former pastor, was present and pro- 
nounced the funeral sermon from John 14: 
1-3. Rev. Mr. Benson, pastor of Colman 
Church, and W. S. Sweet, of the First Bap- 



423 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



tist Church, assisted. This being the first 
time the dark angel had entered this family, 
it was felt most keenly, and all said indeed 
that " Death loves a shining mark." The 
sympathy of a large circle of friends is most 
sincerely extended to the father, mother and 
brothers, and also to him whose life-plans 
were bound up in the one that was taken. 
Our loss is her gain, and therefore let us 
comfort one another with these words: " Let 
not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in 
God: believe also in me." 

We miss thee from our home, dear Dottie; 

We miss thee from thy place; 
A shadow o'er our life is cast; 

We miss the sunshine of thy face. 

We miss thy kind and willing hand, 

Thy fond and earnest care ; 
Our home is darlt without thee; 

We miss thee everywhere. 

But how vey lonely is the home 

In which she left a vacant chair I 
She's missed by all who go or come; 

She's missed in time of family prayer. 

Yes, our dear daughter has gone to rest; 

Her loving voice we do longer hear; 
But God knows all things best, 

And has taken one we loved so dear. 



|EV. CARL GOTTLIEB REIM, pastor 
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church 
(German), residence 336 South Fifth 
street, is a native of Oberturkeim, kingdom 
of Wiirttemburg, Germany, where he was 
born March 14, 1836, and received his edu- 
cation principally in his native country. He 
was a student at Stuttgart from 1842 to 
1854, and then engaged in teaching for three 
years, but his avowed purpose was to become 
a missionary, and he entered a theological 
institution at Easle, Switzerland, with this 
end in view. lie pursued his studies here 
from 1857 to 1862, being ordained a minis- 



ter August 17, of the year last named, and 
the following October came to America, in 
company with Pastor Muhlhausen, then of 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Arriving here and becoming a member of 
the Wisconsin Synod, he was assigned to 
missionary duties, his first work being the 
organization of a church at Green liay, Wis- 
consin. In this enterprise he was eminently 
successful, and became the pastor of the new 
church at Green Bay, serving that people 
until May, 1870, when he was transferred to 
La Crosse. Mr. Reitn's superiors in the 
church in Wiirttemburg desired him to go to 
Africa as a missionary; but being in rather 
delicate healtii his physician did not consent, 
and hence permission was granted him to 
come to America. Frledens-Gemeinde (Peace 
Society) is the German name of the church 
over which Mr. Reim has presided for the 
last twenty-one years. This society was or- 
gauiAd in 1859. The first minister was Rev. 
Fachtman, who remained till the autumn 
of 1862. Rev. Stark succeeded him, who 
remained till September, 1865, and was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Kittel, who remained till the 
coming of Rev. Mr. Reim. The church in 
which the congregation now worship was 
commenced in 1868, and completed suffi- 
ciently to be used the following year, 
though the church debt and the building of 
the tower and inside furnishing were largely 
provided for under the administration of 
Rev. Mr. Reim. In 1873 the old parsonage 
was purchased, and a new one built in 1886, 
and a new schoolhouse in 1880. The old 
church was extensively repaired in 1888-'89, 
having. A new roof, windows and side gal- 
leries, a new organ had been added some 
years previously. 

In the school are 110 children of the 
parishioners, who are taught the English and 
German languages in connection with the 



BIOORAPHIOAL BISTORT. 



423 



eominon-scliool subjects and religions in- 
struction. The school is in charge of two 
teacliers at ])resent, and all under the general 
supervision of Rev. Mr. Reim. 

Four years ago, i. e., in 1887, the Emanuel 
Society was organized in North La Crosse, 
this being a subdivision of the original or- 
ganization. Mr. Reim supplied tlio people of 
North La Crosse and also of Onalaska up to 
the date of their subdivision, often preaching 
four or five times daily. 

Onalaska and North La Crosse each have 
a ciuirch supplied by one minister. The 
North La Crosse congregation also have a 
school connected with the church. 

IHARLES L. REED, M. D., physician 
and surgeon, ofiice Rodolf's block, cor- 
ner Main and Third, was born in Wall- 
ingsford, Vermont, July 4, 1822. 

J>uring his four years' private study, he 
attended three courses of lectures at Castleton 
(Vermont) Medical College, at which hegrad- 
uated in the fall of 184(3, engaging in practice 
at Clarendon Springs, Vermont. He contin- 
ued till the winter of 1851-'52, when he went 
to California, via Cape Horn, and engaged in 
practice at Auburn, Placer county, where 
he also owned and operated a drug store 
about three years. His wife and two-year- 
old child joined him in California after he 
had been there two years. The wife died, 
leaving the doctor in a new country with a 
helpless child. He therefore returned with 
the child to his parental home in Vermont. 
About a year afterward he raaiTied his second 
wife, and in the spring of 1856 came West 
and located in Dodge county, Wisconsin, 
where he remained ten years. 

In the fall of 1866 he located at La Crosse. 



He has been in active practice in this city 
ever since. 

Dr. Reed enjoys the rare distinction and 
honor of liaving been a member of the Board 
of Examining Surgeons of the United States 
Pension Department, and for years was the 
only examiner in his territory. He has occu- 
pied this position without interruption for 
about twenty years. He is the present sec- 
retary of the board, and has never missed a 
Wednesday's meeting until recently, wiien 
attacked with a severe illness from la grippe. 

The Doctor was twice married and is now 
a widower. His first wife was Eliza Ives, a 
native of Cranville, New York, and they had 
one child, Ella, now deceased. For his sec- 
ond wife he married Mary H. Nicholson, a 
native of Wallingsford, Vermont, born near 
Saratoga, in 1831, and died in this city, Au- 
gust 22, 1890. 

The two daughters born by this marriage 
are living in this city: Addie A., now Mrs. 
L. A. Smith, has two children; Jessie M. is 
unmarried, and is her father's housekeeper. 

|EV. JAMES MILFORD PAYSON, 
pastor of St. Paul's Uiii versalist Church, 
La Crosse, was born in Freedom, Waldo 
county, Maine, April 13, 1848, the son of 
Sion Wentworth and Mary (St. Clair) Pay- 
son, both natives of Maine. The father was 
born in Hope and the mother in Warren. 
There were four sons and five daughters, of 
whom the subject of this sketch was the 
youngest. His brother Sion W. was a soldier 
in the Nineteenth Maine Regiment, and died 
of disease and now lies buried at Port Hud- 
son, Mississippi. Henry Lowell enlisted in 
1863, and served in the Twenty-sixth Maine 
Regiment till the close of the war; he is 
now superintendent of a stock farm at Cam- 



424 



BIOGRAPHICAL U ISTOR T. 



den, Maine; Erastus A. was a teacher for 
many years, and is now living a retired life 
on a farm in his native State. Bnt two of 
the sisters are living, both residing in their 
native State. 

Mr. Payson tinished his theological educa- 
tion at St. Lawrence University, at Canton, 
^ew York. He began his classical course at 
Freedom Academy, continuing at Westbrook, 
and finishing in the nniversity. He was 
ordained a minister of the Universalist 
Church, in October, 1874:, and had charge of 
the Universalist Church at Sherman, Chau- 
tauqua county, New York, until the fall of 
1881, when he was called to Grace Church, 
Rochester, Minnesota. He remained there 
till the close of the year 1886, when he was 
called to his present charge. Has spent 
seventeen years in act'"e ministerial duties. 

Rev. Mr. Paysou was married at Camden, 
New York, June 13, 1874, to Miss Flora A. 
Bassett, a native of Canton, New York. 
They have no children, bnt have adopted two, 
a boy and girl now seven and-a-half years of 
age, named Clarence Milford and Clara. 

Mr. Payson is independent in politics, and 
frequently votes only the local ticket; has 
never voted for a president; is an ardent 
temperance advocate from principle. He is 
a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows 
orders. 



--— g - : " S ' g " 



ARAH H. SMITH, relict of Samuel 
1). Smith, whose death occurred on 
March 12, 1889, is a lady of education 
and refinement, and one who has the respect 
and esteem of all who know her. 

Mr. Smith was born in New Hampshii-e, 
in 1824, to the union of Samuel and Char- 
lotte (Wheeler) Smith, both natives of New 
England. He remained in his native State 



and received his education in the common 
schools until thirteen years of age, when he 
moved with his parents to Cook county, Illi- 
nois. They settled at Plum Grove, and there 
the father died when eighty years of age. 
The mother died at Rockford, that State, 
when eighty years of age, also. 

Samuel B. Smith was married January 8, 
1850, to Miss Saiah H. Smith, daughter of 
Orange Smith, and two years later he moved 
to this county, settling on the farm where his 
widow now resides. To this union were born 
eight children: Ilarriette, who was the wife 
of Aaron Mowrey, of Onalaska, died and left 
two sons, Frank and Joe; Zitella M., wife of 
Carl Palmer of Onalaska; Marian, wife of 
William Betz of Minnesota; Ellen Smith at 
home; Betsey, wife of Adelbert Delamater; 
William G., of Salem; Abner E., who has 
charge of the old homestead with his mother; 
and Orange, who died when about three years 
old. 

Mrs. Smith has been a resident of this 
county for the past thirty-nine years and has 
a very comfortable home. Her father. Orange 
Smith, who was an old settler of the county, 
was originally from Chateaugay, Franklin 
county. New York, born (October 18, 1801, 
and was the son of Thomas and Sally (Board- 
man) Smith, both natives of Vermont, the 
father born in Shelburn in 1776, and the 
mother in Canterbury, May 31, 1775. Or- 
ange Smith was married November 17, 1822, 
in Chateaugay, to Harriette Ketchum, a 
native of Orville, Vermont, born June 20, 
1804. In 1835 Orange Smith and family 
came with team and wagon to Cook county, 
Illinois, settled at Plum Grove, and there 
resided for three years. Mr. Smith then 
moved to Lake county of that State and resided 
at Mill Creek until 1852, when he settled in 
Onalaska township, La Crosse county, Wis- 
consin. His wife died in Lake county, lUi- 



BIOaRAPHTGAL HI8T0RT. 



425 



nois, February 24, 1851. She was a nieiriher 
of the Methodist Church. Nine children 
were born to this union: Mrs. Mary E. Guile, 
Julia M. Armstrong, Ann Eliza Putnam, 
Sarah H. Smith, Ellen P. Jackson, Thomas, 
deceased; Henry, Franklin E., Casper, de- 
ceased, and Levisa L. Orange Smith died 
September 19, 1885, when eighty-four years 
of age. He was a Mason, being a member 
of Frontier Lodge. He resided at Salem 
many years, and kept a half-way house, whicli 
was very popular. 



^^\yzn/l- 



■^jir-j-^ 



^ANIEL HALL, wlio resides on a farm 
near Stevenstown, La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, is one of tiie intelligent, 
enterprisino- and successful men of Farming- 
ton township. A resume of his life will be 
of interest to many, and is as follows: 

The original ancestors of the Hall family 
were English, but many generations of them 
have lived in America. Daniel Hall was 
born in Morris county. New Jersej', January 
27, 1821. His father, Daniel Hall, Sr., was 
born in the same county. The latter was a 
soldier in the war of 1812, and in 1812 helped 
to fortify the country around New York. 
Our subject's mother was also a native of 
Morris county. Her maiden name was 
Elizabeth Anderson and her father's name 
was Eliakim Anderson, her parents being 
French people. Daniel Hall, Sr., and his 
wife were the parents of seven sons and four 
daughters. The youngest son, Dr. Joseph H. 
J. Hall, won distinction as a skillful physi- 
cian, being especially noted for the magnetic 
influence he wielded over his patients. The 
father died when Daniel was young, and he 
was called upon to assist in the support of 
his mother and the younger children, which 
he did until he was twenty-two years of age. 



His father was by trade an iron-worker, and 
was foreman in a shop. He was an intelli- 
gent and well-read man, and was religiously 
inclined. The mother was a woman of rare 
strength of mind and force of character, and 
reigned over her large family in a queenly 
manner. She was a member of tlie Presby- 
terian Church. Her death occurred in 1851. 

Daniel Hall was reared on a farm in New 
Jersey, and received his education in the com- 
mon schools of the neighborhood. When 
eight years of age he was employed in a large 
rollling mill, beginning at the lowest posi- 
tion, and by his honest and earnest efforts 
being promoted from time to time until he 
was made superintendent. In February, 
1850, ho went to Pittsburg, and there with- 
out difficulty secured a good situation. The 
year 1855 found him iti Minnesota, he being 
among the first settlers of Burr's valley. 
Union county. Three years later he sold out 
for $1,100, and came to Lewis valley. La 
Crosse county, Wisconsin. He worked one 
year in a mill and the ne.xt year took a claim 
of Government land. This he has developed 
into a tine farm, well improved with two- 
story residence, good barn and outbuildings, 
fences, etc. 

Mr. Hall was married, in April, 1843, to 
Caroline Tuttle, a native of Morris county. 
New Jersey, and a daughter of Henry Tuttle. 
Their union has been blessed with ten chil- 
dren, viz.: D. H., who served during the war 
as a member of Company I, Eighth Wiscon- 
sin Infantry, is now a resident of Fayette 
county, Iowa; Daniel T., who was a member 
of the Forty-ninth AVisconsiii Infantry, died 
in 1884; Jennette and Cornelius, twins, the 
former dying at the age of eight years and the 
latter when two years old; Caroline, wife of 
J. M. Hill, resides at La Crosse; William L., 
at home; Margaret, at Galesville, Wisconsin; 
Clara died at the age of twenty-one years; 



43G 



BIOGRAPHICAL UiaTORT. 



Elwenie, wife of Delbert Wood, of Galesville, 
Wisconsin ; Delpliiiia, wife of T. B. Anderson, 
of La Crosse. All were educated and crrew 
up respected and honored by all who knew 
them. 

Politically, Mr. Hall was first a Whig, then 
a Democrat, later a Republican, and now a 
Prohibitionist. He is a Methodist of long 
standing, having served as steward of the 
church for eleven years. He has also been a 
Sabbath-school superintendent for many years, 
and has done much good, training and direct- 
inp young people in the way that leads to 
liappiness and prosperity in this life and 
insures a reward in the world to come. 
Socially Mr. Hall is connected with the 
I. O. O. F., being a member of Lodge No. 
291 of North Bend. He has passed all the 
chairs in the subordinate lodge, and repre- 
sented his lodge at Ashland in 1891. 

|';;^EW1S KNUDSON, postoffice, Stevens- 
town, Wisconsin, is one of the intelli- 
gent, enterprising and successful men 
of La Crosse county. He has lived here 
since 1853, and is well known in this section 
of the country. 

Mr. Knudson was born in Norway, Sep- 
tember 16, 1836, son of Knud and Anna 
(Ingvaldson) Tollefson, natives of Norway. 
He was reared on a farm, and attended school 
until he was fifteen years of age. When he 
was seventeen he came to this country and 
settled in Wisconsin. Fi'om Milwaukee he 
made the journey to La Crosse county by ox 
teams. In his father's family were seven 
children, tliree of whom are living, namely: 
John, Ole, Lewis; deceased are, Thore, Inge, 
Randine and Agnethe. 

In 1863 Mr. Knudson purchased his pres- 
ent farm of Christ Evanson, who had partly 



improved the place. Previous to this he 
owned a fine farm in Hamilton township, 
which he sold. He now owns eighty acres 
of good land, on which are first class improve- 
ments. He has a story-and-a-half cottage 
home, 20 X 24 feet, and his barn, which is 
30 X 44: feet, has a rock basement. He also 
has good fences and a modern windmill. In 
1891 he had twenty-four head of fat cattle. 

Mr. Knudson has been twice married. At 
the age of twenty-four he wedded Martha 
Evenson, a native of Norway, and by her had 
three children, two of whom are living, viz.: 
Matilda, wife of Christ Mahlom of Stevens- 
town, and Clara, who resides with her father. 
The name of the one deceased was Christina. 
Mrs. Martha Knudson died in 1876. In 
1878 Mr. Knudson married his present wife, 
whose maiden name was Miss Hannah Han- 
son. She was born iu Norway, and came to 
this country in 1870. She is a sister of A. 
C. Hanson, of Mindoro, Wisconsin. By this 
union three sons have been born: Mathias, 
Lewis and Albert. 

Mr. Knudson is a member of the Farmers' 
Alliance of Mindoro. He is a man well in- 
formed on the general topics of the day, and 
is regarded as an influential and popular 
citizen. 

ILLIAM NEUMEISTER, Alderman 
for the Eleventh Ward, La Crosse, 
was born in this city November 27, 
1866, and is the son of August and Ernestine 
Neumeister. His father was born in 
Tiedersdorf, Germany. February 2, 1824; 
the mother was born in Scheubengrobs- 
dorf, Germany, and was the daughter of 
Gottlieb and Johanna Cella, and was born 
March 29, 1833. They were married in 
1854, and the same year emigrated to Amer- 




BIOGRAPBICAL HISTORY. 



427 



ica, landing in the city of New York; thence 
they continued their journey to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, where they resided two years; at 
the end of that time they came to La Crosse, 
the father engaged in farming. He died 
January 21, 1888, deeply mourned by a wide 
circle of acquaintances. He was buried with 
the honors of the Deutciier Verein, a German 
singing society, and with the religious ser- 
vice of the Lutheran Church. He was a lib- 
eral contributor to all worthy enterprises of 
a public character, and was an especially 
generous patron of educational institutions. 
He left a family of two sons: Ernest, born in 
Milwaukee July 14, 1854, now a mei'chant 
of Auburn, New York, and the father of one 
son and a daughter, Carl and Ernestine; Will- 
iam, thfi other son, is the subject of this 
sketch. 

He received his education in the public 
schools and supplemented this instruction 
with a private course of study. He then took 
up the occupation of farming, to which he 
has given more or less attention. 

Mr. William Neumeister was married in 
Milwaukee, November 20, 1890, to Miss 
Alice Conver, who was born in Chicago, a 
daughter of Anton and Annie Couver. Our 
subject is now serving his first term as city 
Alderman, and is a member of some of the 
most important committees. He is a man of 
public spirit and is well fitted to discharge 
the duties of this position. 



JLE FKEDRICKSON is a well-known 
citiz€n of Farmington township. La 
Crosse county, Wisconsin, and is an- 
other one of the many Norwegians who have 
come to the United States, have won their 
way to honorable positions in life, and have 



made for themselves happy homes, in this 
State. 

Mr. Fredrickson was born in Norway, No- 
vember 10, 1841, son of Fredrick Olson and 
Martha, his wife. In 1850 the family left 
Norway for America, sailing from Drammen, 
and landing at New York after a voyage of 
six weeks and three days. From New York 
city they came to Dane county, Wisconsin, 
via Albany, Buffalo and the great lakes, and 
in Dane county they lived two years. At 
the end of that time they came to La Crosse 
county and settled on Government land, 
where the subject of our sketch now lives. 
The journey to this county was made in a 
wagon with block wheels that had been sawed 
off the end of a log, the wagon being drawn 
by a yoke of steers. The parents had a fam- 
ily of twelve children, of whom Ole was the 
first born. All are dead save four. Evan 
and Matthias reside in Buffalo county, this 
State. Nettie, his sister, who is married to 
Mr. Hoff, lives in Trempealeau county. The 
father and mother are still living at the old 
homestead. 

Ole Fredrickson was nine years of age 
when he landed in Wisconsin, and here he 
grew to manhood, working on the farm and 
receiving only a limited education. Three 
winters he spent in the woods, and was some 
time on the drive. In September, 1864, he 
enlisted in the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, 
Company I, the Eagle Regiment. In the bat- 
tle at Nashville, Tennessee, he was wounded 
in the right thigh by a minie ball, and was 
in the hospital there and at Jeffersonville, 
Indiana, and at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. 
Later he joined his regiment at Montgomery, 
Alabama, and was stationed at Uniontown, 
Alabama, and served until he was honorably 
discharged at Montgomery, Alabama. Re- 
turning home, he again turned his attention 
to agricultural pursuits. lie now owns 160 



428 



BIOGRAPHIGAL UfSTORT. 



acres of well-improved land, which was his 
fatlier's farm. His house is 16 x 24 feet, a 
story and a half, with a one-storj kitchen 
12 X 16 feet. His barn is 24x 36 feet; stable 
17x60 feet; granary 16x24 feet; and every- 
thing abont his premises is kept in good order 
and shows the owner to be a man of thrift 
and enterprise. 

At the age of twenty-eight years Mr. 
Fredrickson was nnited in marriage with 
Sarah Simmonson, a native of Norway and a 
daughter of Simmon Christ Johnson and Ro- 
dina, his wife. To them have been given 
seven children, viz.: Minnie, Christian, So- 
phia, Josephine, Olof and Hilda, and Flora, 
who died in infancy. 

Mr. Fredrickson is a Republican, and a 
member of Nelson Quygle Post, No. 233, 
G. A. R., of Mindoro, Farmington township. 

n. AT WATER, an honored and 

i\\l'!i^l'jj I'iglil.y respected early settler of 
[-cjfe^]"' Farmington township, La Crosse 
county (postotKce Stevenstown), has made liis 
home here since 1856. 

Mr. Atwater dates his birth in Nova 
Scotia, August 3, 1834. His father. Ward 
Atwater, was born in Nova Scotia, of Scotch 
and English ancestry, and his mother, also a 
native of that country, was before her mar- 
riage Miss Mary Ann Biglow. Her father, 
Daniel Biglow, was a descendant of Scotch 
ancestors. The subject of our sketch was a 
lad of six years when his parents came to 
Wisconsin and settled in Waukesha county. 
Tiiere the family lived until 1856. Daniel 
Jiiglow, the maternal grandfather of Mr. At- 
water, was a wealthy and prominent man in 
Nova Scotia, where he owned a fishery, fleet 
and mills. He subsequently came to Wis- 
consin, and at one time owned eighty acres 




in what is now the heart of Milwaukee. He 
entered a large tract of Government land in 
Waukesha county, and there built a mill. 
Ward Atwater worked in the mill for some 
time. In 1856 the Atwater family came to 
La Crosse county and took up their abode in 
Lewis valley, where the father lived until his 
death, which occurred in June, 1881. He 
had in early life been a ship-builder and 
miller, and was an expert mechanic. He and 
his wife were the parents of nine children, 
six of whom are now living, viz.: Emma, 
Sarah Jane, W. B., Harriette, Reliecca and 
Milton. Those deceased are as follows: Jo- 
seph, who was a member of the First Wis- 
consin Cavalry, became prominent as an 
attorney, politician and statesman in Oregon, 
and died in 1891; James, a member of the 
Eagle Regiment, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, 
Company D, died while at home on furlough; 
Charlotte was the wife of Daniel Kennedy. 
The mother is still living on the old farm 
near Mindoro, and is now about ninety years 
of age. 

W, B. Atwater was reared on a farm and 
received his education in the district schools 
of the neighborhood where he resided. At 
the age of eighteen he began to learn tiie 
trade of carpenter, became a thorough me- 
chanic in his line of work, and has followed 
that trade the most of his life. He owns a 
good farm of 120 acres, which he purchased 
in 1856, and which is now well improved 
with a story-and-a-half cottage home, good 
barn, other out-buildings, lences, etc., all 
showing the hand of enter()rise and industry. 

Mr. Atwater was married in 1857, to Miss 
Caroline C. Post, a lady of education, refine- 
ment and culture, and for some time a popu- 
lar and successful teacher. She is a daughter 
of Joseph Post, deceased. Mrs. Atwater was 
born in (^hio, but was reared and educated in 
Wisconsin. They have three children. Jo- 




/ JW ,y 



.0 




BIOORAPHECAL HISTORY. 



429 



seph Truman, their oldest, has been engaged 
in teaching for eiglit years. He received his 
education in the Eiack River Falls, Gales- 
ville and La Crosse high schools. He mar- 
ried Stella Pettingill, and has one daughter, 
Millie G. The other members of the family 
are Leonard Frank and Grace. The former 
wedded Nettie Frank, and has one child, 
Leslie L., and the latter is at home. Mr. 
and Mrs. Atwater lost one son, Elmer, at the 
age of twentj-tvFo years. 

Politically Mr. Atwater is a Ilepublican, 
and has served as Assessor and Justice of 
the Peace for twent}' years. He is a member 
of the I. O. (). F., Lodge No. 291, of North 
Bend: 

SRED A. REMICK is manager of the 
Mutual Life Insurance Company of 
• If New York, and is also special agent of 
the Standard Accident Company of Detroit. 
He was born in Portland, Maine, March 5, 
1853, in which State John C. and Ann C. 
(Gratfain) Remick, his parents, were also 
born, the former in Cornish and the latter in 
Augusta. In October. 1861, Mr. John C. 
Remick brought his family to this city, and 
the following article concerning hini is given 
in the history of La Crosse county: "John 
C. Remick, general insurance agent, was born 
in Cornish, York county, Maine, in 1819. 
From 1842 to 1856 he engaged in the ship- 
ping business in Portland, Maine. Was first 
a member of the tirm of 'Simeon Pease,' 
later of the firm of 'Remick & Eaton,' im- 
porters. In 1857 he came to Wisconsin, and 
was about foi;r months in La Crosae, then 
returned to Portland and remained there until 
186 L He then returned to Wisconsin and 
soon after engaged in the insurance business. 

In 1881, when this history was written, he 
•^9 



was inspector of illuminating oils in La 
Crosse. He was a kind hr.sband, a loving 
father and an agreeable neighbor, who com- 
manded the entire respect of a large circle of 
acquaintances." 

He died on March 8, 1885, at which 
time he was holding the office of District Oil 
Inspector of the State. He was at one time 
general agent for the Insurance Company of 
North America of Philadelphia for Wisconsin, 
Minnesota and Iowa. His death resulted 
from influenza at the age of sixty-seven years, 
and for many years until up to his last illness 
he had been treasurer of Christ's Episcopal 
Church. His widow survives him, at the age 
of seventy years. Of their seven cliildren, 
two died in infancy and Fred A. is the fifth 
of the family. The latter succeeded his father 
in the fire-insurance business, which he con- 
tinued, in connection with life insurance, 
until 1888, when he sold out the former, and 
has since devoted his energies exclusively to 
the occupation of life and accident insur- 
ance. He pursues a sound conservative 
policy that has won for him the most enviable 
of reputations in financial circles. His 
policies are clear and explicit and he always 
looks to the best interests of his customers. 
He was married in 1884 to Miss Helen A. 
Rogers, daughter of Mrs. Emily Rogers, of 
Wausau, Wisconsin, who is now a resident of 
La Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Remick have two 
children: Marion Frances and Helen Kies, 
and they are all regular attendants of the 
Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Remick be- 
longs. He is a metnber of Frontier Lodge, 
No. 45, A. F. & A. M.; of Smith Chapter, 
No. 13, R. A. M. ; and La Crosse Commaud- 
ery, No. 9, K. T. He is succeeding well in 
the business, which occupies his attention, 
and has the unbounded confidence of all hav- 
ing dealings with him. He keeps himself 
well posted on the current events of the day 



430 



niOORAPUlCAL HISTORY. 



and feelb a lively interest in the affairs of 
State and nation. While not an acti%'e poli- 
tician his support is usually given to the 
Democratic party. 



'l/l2r^2/i^ 



--yyi/, 



lOARLES A. YOUNG, deceased, was 
one of the lionored and respected citi- 
zens of La Crosse county, Wisconsin. 
He was born in Walworth county, this State, 
in 1847, son of Sebastian and Elizabeth A. 
Young, both now living in Farniington town- 
sliip, La Crosse county, highly respected by 
all who know them. Charles A. was a boy 
of six years when the family moved to this 
county, and here he ffcew up and received a 
good Englisii and German education. He 
was married to Anna M. Dolf, in 1866, and 
fur two years after their marriage they lived 
witii Mr. Young's parents. In 1868 they 
located on the farm where Mrs. Young now 
resides. Mr. Young departed this life Octo- 
ber 16, 1881, leaving a widow and three chil- 
dren: Libbie M., Charlie A. and Clara L. 
He was held in higli esteem by all who knew 
him, and in their bereavement his family 
received the heartfelt sympathy of a limitless 
circle of friends. Politically he was a Demo- 
crat; religiously, a member of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Mrs. Anna M. Young resides on the home 
place with her children, all of whotn are still 
at home. Their farm contains 130 acrej of 
line land, with modern improvements; good 
house with rock wall and cellai', substantial 
barn, a windmill, etc. Everything about the 
premises is in good shape, and the visitor to 
tins home will soon learn that Mrs. Young 
is not only a lady of culture and refinement 
but tiiat she also possesses rare intelligence 
and executive ability. 

She was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, 



daughter of Harten and Anna M. (Batalion) 
Dolf, natives of Germany and Switzerland 
I'espectively. Her father died when she was 
a babe, and her mother was subseqnenly 
married to William Pfaff, by whom she liad 
nine children, five of whom are living. Her 
mother departed this life at Burr Oak, Wis- 
consin, at the age of sixty-one years. Anna 
M. was reared in Racine and Walworth coun- 
ties, this State, and when she was fourteen 
years of age came with her mother to this 
county. She and her family occupy respected 
and useful positions in society. 



►^«^>-~ 



fLE NYHUS, oneof the oldest and most 
favorably known of the contractors and 
builders of La Crosse, was born in Nor- 
way, in 1834, a son of Peter and Carrie 
Nyhus. His father was a farmer by 
occupation; the parents are both deceased. 
Young Nyhus obtained an education in 
the common schools, which he attended 
until he was sixteen years of age; he 
then went to learn his trade, and passed 
through all the grades, as required of appren- 
tices in that country. He followed the busi- 
ness in his native place until 1866, when he 
emigrated to the United States, believing that 
the opportunities were greater for young and 
ambitious men than in his own land. He 
came directly to La Crosse, wiiere he has 
been identified with the growth and develop- 
ment of the city, and has won a place in tlie 
front ranks of the members of his craft. He 
has erected some of the best buildings in the 
city, among them, the county jail, Scandia 
Hall, some of the largest churches and many 
of the most beautiful residences. 

He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of 
the Norden Society. He takes an active 
interest in all the work of these various 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0RT. 



431 



bodies, where his efforts are fully appreciated. 
Mr. Nyhiis was married in Norway, to 
Miss Tonette Hanson, whose parents were 
also of Norwegian I)irtli; her father is de- 
ceased, but the mother survives, at the age of 
eighty-four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Nyhiis 
have been born two children: Edward is a 
traveling salesman for a St. Paul drug house, 
he married Miss Louisa Peterson, and they 
have one daughter, Helen; the second child 
of Mr. and Mrs. Nyhus is deceased. 



-mmm'" 



fABEZ B. CO MAN, Mindoro, who is 
ranked with the intelligent and prosper- 
ous citizens of La Crosse county, also 
claims a place with the early settlers of the 
county, he having taken up his abode here in 
September, 1852. A brief outline of his life 
is as follows: 

Jabez B. Coman was born at Glens Falls, 
Warren county. New York, September 18, 
1834. His father, Allen Coman, a native of 
Salem, Washington county. New York, was 
a son of Isaac Coman, wlio was born at 
Providence, Rhode Island, a descendant of 
English ancestry. The mother of our sub- 
ject was, before her marriage, Miss Eunice 
Briggs. She was born in Queensbnry, War- 
ren county, New York, daughter of Walter 
Briggs, a native of Connecticut. Allen Co- 
man and his family came to Wisconsin in 
1845 and settled in Walworth county, and in 
1852 they moved to La Crosse county and 
located in Lewis valley. At the latter place 
Mr. Coman and his wife passed the remain- 
der of their days and died. They had seven 
children, viz.: Clara, wife of John Kenrick, 
died February 23, 1846; Cynthia, wife of 
Nelson Cameron; Eunice, who died Septem- 
ber 10, 1846; Walter B. died in May, 1880; 
Wallace died June 3, 1853; Warren died in 



Indiana, December 20, 1876; and Jabez B., 
whose name heads this sketch. The parents 
were honored and respected by all who knew 
them, and they reared a family of children 
that as they grew up occupied useful and 
honored positions in life. Before he came to 
this State the father was engaged as a lum- 
berman, and was Sheriff and Collector for a 
number of years, and a prominent man in 
politics. After removing to Wisconsin his 
principal pursuit was farming. He departed 
this life May 24, 1867, at the age of seventy 
years. The mother died in Mindoro, De- 
cember 11, 1889, at the age of ninety-five. 

Jabez B. was a youth of eighteen when 
they came to La Crosse county. He had re- 
ceived his education in Elkhorn, Beloit and 
Milton, this State, and in the winter of 1852 
and 1853 was engaged in teaching school 
here, he being one of the first teachers in 
this part of the county. For a number of 
years he was a successful and popular teacher 
here, and for five years was Superintendent 
of Schools. In other ways he was also 
prominently identified with the early history 
of this county: served two terms as Town 
Clerk; was chairman of the Board of Super- 
visors, and was Postmaster for a time. In 
1869 he went to Chicago and engaged in the 
drug business, subsequently turning his at- 
tention to the stock business, and being en- 
gaged in it for a number of years. At 
present he is successfully conducting a mer- 
cantile business at Mindoro. 

Mr. Coman was married July 4, 1856, at 
Lewis Valley, to Angela Arnold, who was 
born in Chenango county. New York, daugh- 
ter of John F. and Ruth (Brown) Arnold, 
both natives of New York State. Mr. and 
Mrs. Coman have two children, Wallace and 
Eunice Elberta. The former was born Sep- 
tember 19, 1859, and was reared and educated 
here. April 16, 1886, lie married Ella Pfaff, 



4^3 



BIOGHAPHICAL HISTORY. 



daughter of John and Loretta Pfaif, l)y whom 
he lias two cliildren, Angela and A\'^endell. 
The latter is now tlie wife of F. A. Phillips, 
of Chicago, and lias one child, Harry. 

Mr. Conian has been a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity since 1859. He is a popular 
and progressive citizen, and a man whose in- 
fluence is ever felt for good in the commu- 
nity where he resides. 



-^^-iy^n/if 



^q/inn^^ 



iSALVOU GUNDEUSON, a member of 
the firm of Gunderson, Krueger & Co., 
has been a resident of La Crosse coun- 
ty since 18G7. He was born in Norway, 
May 23, 1848, a son of Norske parents, who 
were born, reared and educated in Scandina- 
via. He remained in his own country until 
he was nineteen years of age; he received a 
good education in his native language, at- 
tending school until he was fifteen. Ambi- 
tious to advance his interests in the business 
world, he determined to come to America, 
believing his opportunities would he greater. 
In the spring of 1867 he arrived at La 
Crosse, and in a short time had located at 
Half-way Creek; the first winter he was in 
this country he went to school in order to 
gain a better knowledge of the language. 
After a few months he removed to Onalaska, 
where he obtained employment with the 
Nichols Lumber Company; he was with this 
firm for two years, and at the end of that 
time returned to Half- way Creek; there he 
turned his attention to agriculture, and also 
served as Postmaster of Half-way Creek, to 
which position he was appointed May, 1875. 
It was in 1883 that he once more returned 
to Onalaska; for one year he was with the 
Nichols Lumber Comjiany, and then he ac- 
cepted a position with the leading mercantile 
house of the town, Bailey & Thompson ; he 



was in their employ four years, wlien he be- 
came connected with Nathan Clark, wiiom he 
served until March, 1891. 

The firm of Gunderson, Krueger «& Co. 
was then organized; this is one of the 
most reliable and popular business houses in 
Onalaska; they carry a line of staple and 
fancy groceries, boots and shoes and hard- 
ware, each department having a large and 
well selected stock. The extensive acquaint- 
ance and high reputation of Mr. Gunderson 
have added greatly to their patronage, which 
is drawn from a wide range of territory. 

Politically Mr. Gunderson is a Republi- 
can, stanch and ti'ue, being one of the wheel- 
horses o<' the party in his townsiiip. He was 
considered the most available member of his 
party as candidate for Sheriff in 1890, but 
shared tiie defeat of the rest of the ticket. 
He has served as City Treasurer three terms, 
and has been Clerk of the school board, re- 
flecting great credit upon himself and giving 
entire satisfaction to his constituents. He is 
a member of the Modern Woodmen, lodge 
No. 418. 

Mr. Gunderson was married at Half-way 
Creek, to Mariam Anderson Bjerke, and to 
tiiem were born two children: Matilda, a 
popular teacher, and Caroline. Our subject 
is one of the most progressive men in On- 
alaska; he liberally supports all educational 
and religious enterprises, and makes every 
effort to advance the best interests of the 
place. He is a man of strict integrity of 
character, and no man is held in higiier 
esteem by his fellow citizens. 



C. KAYLOR is closely connected with 
tiie business interests of North La 
'* Crosse, and is well worthy of the 
space tliat has been accorded him in this 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTOHY. 



433 



history of La Crosse comity. He is a "IIoo- 
sier," born at Pierceton, Kosciusko county, 
Indiana, in 1854, the son of Daniel and 
Elizabeth (Weaver) Kaylor. The parents 
were natives of Pennsylvania, and came to 
Indiana in 1845, settling on a farm; the 
father was a teacher by profession, and was 
numbered among the pioneer educators of 
the State. He removed from his farm to 
Pierceton, where he was Justice of the Peace 
for sixteen consecutive years; he was also 
pension agent during his residence at Pierce- 
ton. He was a musician of note and led the 
choir of his church for many years; he and 
his wife were devoted and consistent mem- 
bers of the Baptist church ; he also belonged 
to the I. O. O. F., and was Worthy Grand of 
the order during the last fifteen years of his 
life. He was a man held in the highest 
estimation by his fellow-citizens, and merited 
the confidence he universally commanded; 
his death occurred in 1886, and his wife 
passed away in 1874. They reared to years 
of maturity five children, two of whom are 
yet living, the subject of this brief notice 
and George A., a citizen of St. Louis, Mo. 

A. C. Kaylor attended school in his native 
town until 1872, when he went to Elkhart, 
Lidiana, for the purpose of learning the plas- 
terer's trade. He served an apprenticeship 
of two years, returning to Pierceton at the 
end of that time; there he followed his voca- 
tion for twelve years. In 1885 he came to 
La Crosse, and since that time has estab- 
lished himself in business here; he deals in 
lime, hair and building material, and is 
steadily increasing his patronage; during the 
season of 1891 he handled about 1,350 bar- 
rels of lime. He is a man of superior 
business qualifications, and is an acquisition 
to the business circles of La Crosse. 

Mr. Kaylor was married in 1875 to Miss 
Elsie G. Pierce, a daughter of James H. and 



Anna (Utter) Pierce. Mrs. Kaylor's pater- 
nal grandfather was Truman Pierce, who 
came from New York to Wisconsin and 
settled at Delavan, Walworth county, in 
1844; the maternal grandparents were Joseph 
and Kancy Utter, natives of England, who 
emigrated to America and settled in War- 
saw, ISTew York, about the year 1810. Jo- 
seph Utter was killed by the giving way of a 
bridge over which he was di-iving with a 
load of salt; this accident occurred in 1824, 
on the road from Warsaw to New York. 
Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are now living in La 
Crosse county, neighbors to Mr. and Mrs. 
Kaylor; they are both remarkably well pre- 
served, being able to walk four or five miles 
a day with the ease of a person of thirty 
years; tfieir ages are seventy-six and seventy- 
two years respectively; they are worthy 
members of the Baptist church, and Mr. 
Pierce afliliates with the Republican party. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Kaylor has been born one 
child, Gertie, aged eleven^ years, who is 
receiving both a literary and musical educa- 
tion. 

fAUL SULLIVAN is one of the pioneer 
settlers of La Crosse county, and is 
entitled to a space in this record of her 
leading citizens. Like many of Wisconsin's 
prominent and patriotic sons he is a native 
of Ireland, county Limerick, born June 25, 
1844. His parents, Timothy and Agnes 
(Christy) Sullivan, were natives of the same 
county; the father died when our subject 
was about four years of age. A sister, Mary, 
died at the age of four years, in Ireland. In 
1852 the three brothers Patrick, John and 
Paul, emigrated to America; their mother 
had come a year previously. After their 
arrival in this country the mother married 



434 



BIOGRAPHICAL niSTORT. 



John Park; her deatli occurred in 1864. 
Joliii Sullivan died in 1871, leaving a widow 
and three children: Mary A<,nies, William 
Henry and Eva Jane. He was a gallant sol- 
dier in the late war, and gave four years' loyal 
service to his adopted country. 

Patrick Sullivan lived in this county until 
1857, when he went to Kansas, locating in 
Humboldt county, where he was one of the 
first settlers; thence he removed to St. Louis, 
Missouri, and finally went to New York and 
lived in Rensselaer county until his death; 
he was unmarried. 

Paul Sullivan, the subject of this brief 
biography, was reared to farm life and ob- 
tained his education in the common schools. 
In 1859 he located on his present farm and 
followed agricultural pursuits until 1864, 
when he enlisted in the service of the United 
States Government; he was out about one 
year, when he received an honorable dis- 
charge. He then resumed the more peaceful 
occupation of tilling the soil. He has a fine 
farm of 280 acres, well improved with good 
buildings and supplied with all the modern 
appliances of agriculture. 

Mr. Sullivan was married May 16, 1870, 
to Miss Elsie Eliza Downer, a native of La 
CrosseandadaughterofMilo Downer, who was 
born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1811; Mrs. 
Sullivan's mother was Julia Speer, a native of 
New Jersey; her parents were married in 
Michigan and were among the first settlers 
of Lewis valley. La Crosse county; they had 
a family of six children, three of whom grow 
to maturity: David served three years and 
eight months in the civil war; Elsie Eliza is 
the wife of Paul Sullivan, and Helen mar- 
ried De Witte Strader. Milo Downer was 
twice married, and two children were born of 
the first union: Simeon, who was a soldier in 
the Rebellion, and Mary. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan are the parents of 



three children: Milo Martin, born February 
12, 1871; Jennie F., born June 14, 1873, a 
popular and successful teacher, and Julia 
Agnes, born June 12, 1875. Mr. Sullivan is 
a Republican in his politics, and is a member 
of the Farmers' Alliance. He is progressive, 
enterprising and thrifty, and is numbered 
among the leading farmers of the community. 



— — >^ :; - S " S - S ' " 

fAMES GAY has made his home in La 
Crosse county since October, 1859. He 
was born in Wiltshire, England, Janu- 
ary 28, 1828, son of William and Sarah Gay, 
who passed their lives and died at that place. 
James was reared on a farm in England, and 
was married there when a young man to 
Felecia Noyes. Three children were bom to 
them, of whom two are living: Frederick 
James and a daughter. The other child, 
Walter, fell from a vessel into the sea and 
was drowned. 

In 1857 Mr. Gay came to America, land- 
ing here after a voyage of two weeks. After 
spending some time in Cleveland, Chicago 
and Milwaukee, he went to Waukesha 
county, where he has a sister living. In 
1859, as above stated, he came to this county, 
and in 1866 he settled on his present farm. 

In August, 1862, when President Lincoln 
called for 600,000 more, Mr. Gay was among 
those who responded to the call. He enlisted 
in Company B, Second Wisconsin Cavalry, 
and served two years and nine months. He 
took part in a number of engagements and 
was on scouting and picket duty. While in 
the service he contracted a chronic disease, 
from which he has never recovered; also had 
his shoulder and arm severely injured by 
falling from a horse at White river, Arkan- 
sas, and from this is still a sufferer. He was 
honorably discharged and returned to Wis- 



BIOORAPHICAL HI8T0RT. 



43.) 



consin. He spent three years in La Crosse, 
and the rest of the time he has been on his 
farm. He owns ninety-seven acres of well 
improved land in Lewis valley. 

In the fall of 1859 Mr. Gay was married 
at Bangor, Wisconsin, to Mrs. Jane Luke, 
whose maiden name was Paul. Her first 
husband was a Mr. Gear, and by him she had 
two sons: Tom Paul and Matthew William. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gear, with their two little 
sons, came to Milwaukee from Somersetshire, 
England, in 1844. 

Mr. Gay is in politics a Republican. He 
ie associated with the G. A. E. Post of La 
Crosse. 



D. ROBINSON, a well-known citizen 
of La Crosse county, is a native of 
' * the State of Wisconsin, born in Rock 
county, near Janesville, November 18, 1848, 
a son of Findley and Sarah (Bener) Robinson. 
His father was born August 17, 1800, and 
was the son of Scotch parents; Sarah Bener 
was born December 3, 1809, in the State of 
New York; they reared a family of four 
sons: Henry, who was a soldier in the late 
war; Albert a resident of Yankton, South 
Dakota; O. D., the subject of this notice; 
and Huron, who is now desk sergeant in the 
office of the chief of police in La Crosse. 
The father was a tailor by trade and followed 
this calling through life, dying December 9, 
1870. Politically he affiliated with the 
Democratic party. The mother survives and 
lives with her son, O. D. 

Mr. Robinson grew to manhood surrounded 
by the wilderness of the frontier, and was 
early inured to the hard labor of the farm; 
he acquired an education in the common 
schools, and at the age of fifteen years, in 
July, 1863, he enlisted in Company I, Eighth 



Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in what was 
known as the Eagle Regiment; he partici- 
pated in the l)attle of Nashville, Tennessee, 
and also in the engagement at Oxford, Mis- 
sissippi. He was wounded December 16, 

1864, at Nashville, the ball entering his right 
lung, where it lies imbedded. He was hon- 
orably discharged in Alaliama, in September, 

1865, and at once returned to his Wisconsin 
home. He was reared a Democrat and still 
adheres to the doctrines. He is a member 
of the G. A. R., and takes a deep interest in 
the organization. 

He was married July 8, 1880, to Miss E. 
Sliger, a native of La Crosse county, and a 
daughter of George and Margaret Sliger. 
Two children have been born of this union: 
Margaret Sarah and George Findley. Mr. 
Robinson was married when he was twenty- 
one years of age, to Miss Clara Jane Jones, 
and they had five children, four of whom are 
living: Eddy Stevens, Albert R., Maud S., 
and Marcus K. 

Mr. Robinson is a man of sterling traits and 
great integrity of character, and is justly 
proud of his military record. 



' l *' l ' % > " " 



^jSjjMjICHAEL DARMS, a farmer near 

fflwl I^**"go'"' "^^^ ^^°^" '" Switzerland, 
^^^ February 28, 1830, a son of Major 
and Anna (Cawiezel) Darms. The father 
brought his family to the United States in 
1847, settling in Sauk county, Wisconsin, 
which was then a Territory. The parents 
had eight children, four of whom are now 
living: Agnes, Anna, Casper and Michael. 
One son, John, died in this county, in 1882. 
Michael Darms, our subject, came to this 
county in 1851, settling in Bangor township, 
two miles southeast of Bangor, which was 
then a wild country. There were six fami- 



•ISli 



BIOORAPnWAL UISIVHY. 



lios who i'inn»> toilet lior. niul Mr. Pnrins is 
tlio only oiu> loft, nil tlu> otlu>rs lioiiij; de- 
oonsed oxeopt liis br«.)ther-in-la\v, Joseph 
Ziiniueniinn, who lives in (.\iioriulo. Ho 
sottloil on his present plaoo in ISSO, 
whioh now joins the villiij;o. Ho owns 100 
aoros horo, but farms 320 acres southwest of 
Hani^or. Mr. Inarms was niarrioil January 
1, 1S5"^, to l>orotli_v Tliile, and they had ton 
children, tivo of whom survive, vir.: Amelia, 
Emma, Louise, Dora and Anna. Three 
sons died after renchiuij maturity: Frederic, 
Michael and Major. The mother diet! March 
22, ISUy, and the father was itgain married 
Septeml>er 3, 1872, to Janet te Wakeinan, 
wlio was horn in Monive county, Wisconsin, 
November S, 1851, a daughter of Samuel 
and Anua (Buggins) Wakemau. They have 
had six children, four of whom are now 
living, namely: Ida. Michael, Nettie and 
Elsie. SiH'ially Mr. Darms is a member of 
the A. O. U. W., politically a Democrat, 
and relioiouslv both he and his wife are 
members of the Haptist Church. Our sub- 
ject being the tirst settler on the prairie 
southeast oi Hauiior, tliat locality is properly 
called Darms' Prairie, and he also named 
Fish Creek, three miles east of Bangor, as it 
contains myriads of tish. lie has labored 
long and har\l to build up this part of the 
country, and thus pivpare the way for the 
pn^sperity of future generations. 

fi^AUTlN r>EKGII. attorney and coun- 
selor at law. l.a Crosse. Wisconsin, is 
an American citizen by adoption, his 
birthplace being Christiauia, Korway, where 
he tirst saw the light Septemlvr 16. 1S62. 
His parents, Erik and Anna Hergh, were 
natives of Norway and Swetleu respectively. 
They emigrateil to America in 1S6S, and lo- 




cated at La Crosse. Wisconsin. The father 
is a furniture dealer in this city, whore ho 
has conducted a busiiioss tor himself since 
1S78. There have been tliree children in 
the fan\ily, all boys, of whom Martin iiergh 
is the only survivor. His twin brother, Ddin 
lH>rgh,diod ill this city Juno 28, 1887, at tlio 
ago of twenty tive. 

Martin l>orgh received his education in tlio 
public schools of La Crosse, being graduated 
in the high-school class of 1882. He Wgan 
the study of the law under the direction of 
old practitioners, and was admitted to the bar 
in 1885, having pissed an examination be- 
fore the then newly created State Board of 
Examiners. He was admitted to practice in 
the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in 1889, 
and to the Uniteti States District and Circuit 
Courts in 1890. He began his legal work in 
this city in partnership with J. 11. A. Gindor, 
the firm name being Ginder & Bergh. This 
relationship continued until May, 18S8, when 
Mr. Ginder removed from the SUite, since 
which time Mr. Bergh has been in practice 
alone. 

He has given careful study and attention 
to the practice of his profession, and has been 
rewardeil with a large and important business, 
which is steadily growing. He is attorney 
for the Provident Loan and Building Asso- 
ciation of La Crosse, president of the Scandia 
Hall Association, which controls Scandia Hall 
and Park Theatre, and has for many years 
been secretary of Badger State Council, No. 
1, Order of Chosen Friends. He is a mem- 
ber of Frontier Lodge, No. 45, F. & A. M., 
Smith Chapter, No. 13. K. A. M.. and of La 
Crosse Commandery, No. 9, Knights Tem- 
plar, and is also a member of the La Crosse 
Boani of Trade, as well as of several social 
organizations in tlic city. 

In 1S81 heenlisteil in the La Crosse Light 
Guanls, Company C, Thiixl Regiment, Wis- 



JSIOOBAPHIGAL UIHTORY. 



i'.l 



consin National Guards, and 6erve<l the full 
term of five years in the State militia; the 
last year of his service was in the Governor's 
Guards, Company li, of the same regiment. 

lie is an earnest supporter of tiie liepubli- 
can party, and takes an active and prominent 
interest in local and national politics. He 
has for several years served as secretary of 
the Yonng Men's liepuhlican Club of La 
Crosse; has twice represented his party in 
State Conventions, and as a speaker and 
worker has rendered able and efficient service 
in political campaigns. In 1890 he was a 
candidate for District Attorney, but suffered" 
defeat with his party. 

Mr. Bergh was united in marriage, in 
1890, to Miss Hannah C. Fleischer, who was 
born in La Crosse in 1871. Her father, 
Frederick Fleischer, now deceased, was a i 
jonrnalist in La Crosse, being proprietor and 
editor of Fmdrelandet dc Emigranten, which 
was at the time the oldest newspaper in the 
Scandinavian languages published in the 
United States. He held various offices of 
trust and responsibility in the community, 
and was well and favorably known in public 
life. His widow, Josephine Fleischer, sur- 
vives him, and makes her home in La Crosse. 

«OHN E. WILLIAMS, one of the most 
prominent and successful farmers of 
Hamilton township, is a citizen of the 
United States by adoption, his native land 
being Wales, where he was Ijorn May 18, 
1833. His parents, Edward and Margaret 
(Pritchard) Williams, were natives of Wales; 
the father emigrated to America in 1842, and 
settled in Oneida county, New York, where 
he established himself in business; he was a 
carpenter and joiner by trade, and was widely 
known as a very superior workman; later in 



life he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He 
and his wife were consistent members of the 
Congregational Church. He died May 15, 
1873, aged eighty years; and she passed away 
September 19, aged eighty-four years. They 
reared a family of ten children: Edward and 
Richard both gave their lives in the service 
of their country; William and David both 
live in New Jersey; Eleanor married Mr. 
Vaughn, who is now deceased; Ann is the 
wife of James Stevens; Elizabeth, deceased, 
was the wife of D. J. Jones; Margaret mar- 
ried James Linsey, deceased ; Mary is the wife 
of C. Evans; John E., the subject of this no- 
tice, was eight years of age when his parents 
emigrated to this country. At the age of 
twelve years he went out in the world, and 
engaged his services to farmers in the neigh- 
borhood of his home. 

It was in 1858 that he came to La Crosse 
county and settled in Bangor township; there 
lie bought 120 acres of wild land, which he 
improved and to which he made additions 
until 1867, when he sold it; he had other 
land in Adams %'alley. Burns township, which 
he still owns; his farm consists of 278 acres, 
in an advanced state of cultivation, and well 
adapted for either stock or grain; the build- 
ings are neat and substantial, and well suited 
to the demands of agricultural pursuits. 
While a resident of Burns township, Mr. 
Williams was one of the leading farmers. 
He removed to West Salem in April, 1891, 
and has resided there since that time; he owns 
seven acres of land just out of the town. 

He was united in marriage .January 8, 18G5, 
to Miss Eleanor Pierce, a daughter of Richard 
and Eleanor Pierce. Mrs. Williams was 
seven years of age when her father emigrated 
to America and settled in Racine, Wisconsin. 
There they lived four years, and then came to 
La Crosse and took up land in 1852; the 
father died in May, 1889, aged seventy-seven 



438 



BlOGliAPHIC^lL niSTORT. 



years; the mother, in 1863, at the age of 
forty-seven years. They were members of 
the Presbyterian Cliurch, and were devout 
followers of their faith. They reared a fam- 
ily of nine cliildren: Jane, decea.sed wife of 
Benton Simonton; Mary, deceased wife of E. 
R. Roberts; Mrs. Williams; Hugh, deceased; 
Hugh F., who still survives; Margaret, widow 
of John C. Williams; Anna, wife of N. M. 
Buttles, of Onalaska; John M.and William R. 
Mr. and Mrs. Williams are the parents of 
seven children: Nellie J., wife of Otto Mose, 
was one of the most successful educators in 
La Crosse county; Edward Jesse, a student 
at Beloit, Wisconsin; Richard Wallace, a 
student at the Deaf Mute College, Washing- 
ton, District Columbia; Margaretta, a teacher 
of La Crosse, of wide experience; Mary, Anna 
and Elizabeth, the three younger children 
being pupils in the West Salem schools. The 
family are connected with the (Congregational 
Church. Mr. Williams is a member of the 
A. O. U. W. He is a man of liberal and 
progressive views, and has given a cordial 
support to those enterprises which tend to 
elevate the religious and educational stand- 
ards in the community. 



IHRISTIAN LARSON was born in 
Norway, June 13, 1821, a son of Louis 
and Martha (Knutson) Larson, also 
natives of Scandinavia. The father was a 
farmer by occupation. He gave five years 
of the prime of life to the service of the 
Government, but was never engaged in 
active warfare. Christian Larson determined 
to try his fortunes in America, and in 1850 
bade farewell to his home and friends and 
native land, and sailed away to the New 
World. ITpoii his arrival here lie located in 
Dane county, Wisconsin, and engaged in 



agricultural pursuits for one year. The fol- 
lowing year he came to La Crosse county, 
and for two years he worked in the pine- 
ries. His experience in agricultural pursuits 
having been quite satisfactory, he decided to 
purchase some land and give husbandry his 
undivided attention. In 1853 he bouijht a 
quarter section of laud, to which he has 
added by different purchases until he owns 
370 acres, one-half of which is under culti- 
vation. In common with his fellow-country- 
men he is more than ordinarily successful in 
this calling. The principal products of his 
place are wheat, corn, oats, hay and potatoes; 
he gives especial attention to the breeding 
and raising of the better grades of live-stock. 
Mr. Larson was married in 1855, to Miss 
Cornelia Johnson, a native of Norway, who 
came to America with her parents in 1850. 
Her father died before the voyage was com- 
pleted, aged sixty-seven years; her mother 
survives at the age of eighty-one years. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Larson have been born eleven 
children: Ludwig, Mrs. J. K. Johnson, Carl 
Ben, who is assisting his father on the farm; 
Mattie, Julia, Mrs. Ludwig Johnson, Ed- 
ward, Clarissa Amelia, Oscar, Johnie and 
Clara. The parents are consistent members 
of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. In his 
political convictions Mr. Larson affiliates 
with the Republicati party. 






;SCAR BOWEN, of section 16, Burns 
township, was born in Onondaga coun- 
ty. New York, October 2, 1848, a son 
of Le Roy Bowen, whose biography appears 
elsewhere in this work. Our sul)ject came 
with his parentsto White Water, Wisconsin, 
in 1849, and thence to this county in 1853, 
settling on section 10, Bui'iis township, in 
the Burnham valley. He served in the late 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



439 



war one year, in Company K, Third Wiscon- 
sin Cavalry, and participated in the battles 
of Dardanelles and 8aline, Arkansas. Tiiey 
were on the trail of the bushwhackers mostly. 
After the war Mr. Bowen resumed farming, 
and in 1867 went to Buffalo county, Wiscon- 
sin, Modina township, and farmed two years, 
after which he sold out and purchased his 
present farm of sixty acres of Sperry Rock- 
well, which then consisted of but fifty acres. 
Mr. Bowen was married August 19, 1864, 
to Mary J. Hanton, a daughter of Joseph 
Hanton, deceased, an early settler of this 
county from Canada. Her mother still lives 
on section 10, this township, on the old 
homestead, at the age of seventy years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bowen have three sons: John E., 
who married Lillie, daughter of William 
Hemstock, of Burnham valley; Ralph W., 
who is traveling for a wholesale house in La 
Crosse; and LeRoy, at home. Mr. Bowen 
was town treasurer two years, a member of 
the Side Board two years, on the Schof)l 
Board many years, was census enumerator 
for this township in 1890, and is a member 
of the M. W. of A. and G. A. K. 



^ 



^e-^--<f- 



fOHN A. ROWLES, M. D., of the firm 
of Powell & Rowles, is one of the lead- 
ing professional men of La Crosse. He 
was born in Belmont county, Ohio, August 
1, 1854, and is a son of Hezekiah and Mary 
(Coe) Rowles, natives of Maryland and Ohio 
respectively. The father was born in March, 
1820, and the mother in December of the 
same year; both are living, residents of 
Kuoxville, Illinois. The Doctor is one of a 
family of six children. He received his 
literary education in the public schools and 
at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, from 
which he was graduated in June, 1878, with 



the degree of A. B. He then began his pro- 
fessional work, reading under the direction 
of Dr. McClelland, of Knoxville, for one 
year. At the end of that period he entered 
Rush Medical College, Chicago, and was 
graduated in February, 1883. He then en- 
tered the Marine Hospital service, in the em- 
ploy of the United States Government, being 
stationed at Chicago, and finally at St. Louis 
although he was in the latter place only tem- 
porarily. This engagement continued four 
years, during which time the Doctor had ex- 
cellent opportunities for'the study and prac- 
tice of surgery. Upon leaving the Govern- 
ment employ he came to La Crosse, and for 
one year and a half practiced his profession 
alone. It was at this time that he associated 
himself with Dr. D. F. Powell, the relation- 
ship still existing. Dr. Powell is now located 
at St. Paul, Dr. Rowles atcendincr to the La 
Crosse practice They have a very large 
business, and enjoy the esteem and confidence 
of the entire community, and the highest re- 
gard of their patrons. 

Dr. Rowles was married October 9, 1889, 
to Miss Mary I. McMillan, who was born in 
La Crosse in January, 1869, and is a daugh- 
ter of D. D. McMillan, president of the First 
National Bank of La Crosse. One son, Dun- 
can Alonzo, has been born to them, his birth- 
day being April 4, 1891. Dr. and Mrs. 
Rowles are members of the Presbyterian 
Church; the Doctor is superintendent of the 
Sabbath-school, and Mrs. Rowles is one of 
the teachers. Politically he affiliates with 
the Republican party. 



fAMES M. GILFILLAN, one of the 
prominent business men of West Salem, 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, was horn in Cale- 
donia county, Vermont, June 29, 1841, and 



440 



DIOQRAPHICAL UISTOIiY. 



is a son of William and Aurelia (Redding) 
Gilfillan, wlio were also natives of the Green 
Mountain State. The father was a farmer 
by occupation; in 1848 he removed with his 
family to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and set- 
tled on a farm, where he remained until 1854, 
coming in that year to La Crosse county, and 
locating on a farm in Burns township. In 
1868 he went to West Salem and there lived 
a retired life until his deatli, which occurred 
April 1, 1884, at the age of seventy-seven 
years. Uis wife died in 1852, at tlie age of 
forty years. They were both devout members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were 
people of great force of character. They 
reared a family of eight children, one dying 
in infancy; seven of the family survive. 

James M. was reared to the life of a farmer 
and received his education in the log school- 
house of "ye olden time.'' He abatidoned 
agricultural pursuits to engage in grain-buy- 
ing, which he followed for fifteen years. He 
has also had some interest in the lumber 
industry, and at one time was traveling for a 
mercantile establishment. He has been 
Treasurer of the town three terms, and has 
been a member of the school board for many 
years; in the discharge of these duties he has 
given entire satisfaction to the public, and 
has reflected great credit upon himself. 

Mr. Gilfillan was married, in 1865, to Miss 
Henrietta Caldwell, a daughter of Joseph and 
Sarah Caldwell, who were widely and favor- 
ably known in La Crosse county; the father 
died in 1862, at the age of seventy years; his 
wife died in 1876, aged eighty years. They 
had a family of tliirteen children, all of whom 
grew to maturity, and eight of whom are still 
living. Mr. and Mrs. Gilfillan are the par- 
ents of four children: Minnie is the wife of 
Frank P. Coburn, the present member of 
OongrcHS, elected in 1890; .lesse died at the 
age of five years; Wayne and Ray. Our sub- 




ject and wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Church, to which they give a liberal support. 
Mr. Gilfillan l>elongs to the Masonic frater- 
nity, and in his political opinions adheres to 
the principles of the Republican party. He 
is firm in his convictions of right and wrong, 
is a lover of law and order, and enjoys the 
confidence of the entire community. 

RS. MARY HARDEN.— There are 
in every community some persons 
■^^S^" who, on account of their industry, 
and practical management of the affairs which 
fall to their lot, deserve special credit; and 
such is Mrs. Harden. She is the relict of 
William Harden, late of Campbell township, 
who was one of the respected early settlers. 
Mr. Harden came to La Crosse county iti 1859, 
and here resided until his death, which occur- 
red February 6, 1887. He was born in Dub- 
lin, Ireland, in 1826, and was thesou of Samuel 
and Jane (Murphy) Harden, natives also of 
the Evergreen Isle, they having been born, 
reared and married in Wicklow. There they 
passed the closing scenes of their lives. 
William Harden grew to manhood and re- 
ceived a good education in Dublin. Wlien 
twenty-five years of age he came to the United 
States, located at Hartford, Connecticut, and 
there worked in a paper mill for a number of 
years. He subsequently came to the city of 
La Crosse. Wisconsin, worked for George 
Farman three years, and then worked by the 
day and afterwards the month in La Crosse 
valley. By this time he had suved consider- 
able means, and he invested this in eighty 
acres of land, paying $1,800 for the same. 
This has since been increased to 108 acres ot 
very productive land, and here Mrs. Harden 
resides at the present time. A nice two-story 
residence has lately been erected, and the barn. 



BIOGBAPHIGAL HISTORT. 



441 



cribs, etc., are all in good condition. Many 
other improvements have been made. Mr. 
Harden was married on February 9, 1868, to 
Miss Mary A. Agnew, an intelligent lady and 
a worthy helpmate to her husband. She was 
born in Leeds, Canada, and there grew to 
womanhood and secured a fair education. 
She is the daughter of Henry and Ann (Mur- 
phy) Agnew, both natives of county Lowth, 
Ireland. Mr. Agnew and family left Ireland 
in 1843, located in Canada, but later came to 
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where their days 
terminated. Mrs. Harden came to La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, in 1865. By her marriage to 
William Harden she became the mother of 
eight children: Henry, John, Samuel, Frank, 
Charles, Jennie, Lizzie, and Saddle. The 
eons are all bright and energetic and work 
hard to assist the mother. William Harden 
was a Democrat in politics, and was a mem- 
ber of the Roman Catholic Church, his wife 
and children holding membership in the same. 
He was an excellent citizen, a kind husband 
and affectionate father, and was esteemed by 
the entire community. 



IRNEST HORNER.— There is in the 
development of every successful life a 
principle which is a lesson to every 
man following in its footsteps — a lesson lead- 
ing to higher and more honorable position 
than the ordinary. Let a man be industri- 
ously ambitious, and honorable in his ambi- 
tions, and he will rise whether having the 
prestige of family or the obscurity of pov- 
erty. We are led to these reflections by a 
study of the life of the subject of this sketch, 
Ernest Horner. He was born in Bow, Eng- 
land, November 5, 1851, a son of Edward A. 
and Anne (Stewart) Horner, also natives of 
England, and in 1859 came with his father 



to America and to Janesville, Wisconsin. 
From there they moved to La Crosse county, 
and the father was engaged in the mercantile 
business in La Crosse until the big fire on 
Main street a few years ago, when he re- 
moved to Houston, Minnesota, at which place 
he is engaged in the same business. The 
mother died in England. 

Ernest Horner attended boarding school 
two years at Shoreham, England, and after 
coming to Wisconsin he attended the public 
schools of Janesville and La Crosse. When 
but a boy his active spirit and independent 
character led him to mark out his own career 
in life. He began working upon his farm for 
Joseph Richmond, where he heard scarcely 
anything but French, and it was very lone- 
some for him during the four months he was 
there employed; but he interested himself in 
learning French, also, which elicited greater 
friendship in his employer, who offered him 
forty acres of land and a team if he would 
remain with him until he was twenty-one 
years of age. He did not stay, however, and 
when he reached the age of twenty- one years 
owned as much land as Mr. Richmond! 
After working for Mr. Richmond eighteen 
months, at $6 a month, and saving $46, he 
bought six calves and a colt and began work- 
ing for Robert Ross by the day; but he soon 
ascertained that this was not the best method, 
and he took a small job from Mr. Ross in 
catching logs and rafts on the river. Al- 
though this was rather a hard school for one 
so young, yet it promoted independent 
thought and developed his bodily as well as 
mental strength, and he was promoted from 
time to time; and in every position he filled 
performed his duties in a manner high y sat- 
isfactory to those concerned. For the past 
fifteen years he has managed the rafting 
operations for such prominent lumbermen as 
R. S. Davidson, W. W. Crosby, J. J. Hogan, 



44-3 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



A. S. Trow & Co., G. C. Ilixon and the H. 
Stoddard Lumber Company of Dubuque, 
Iowa. Uis years of experience have been of 
good service to him and he is now an active 
and successful man of business, and his lum- 
ber as well as his farming interests are con- 
stantly on the increase. Upon locating on 
his j)reseiit farm in 1869 it was wild land, 
but his home place, which contains 1,200 
acres, is one of the finest upland farms in the 
county. His residence is a good frame build- 
ing, built in modern style, and is handsomely 
and tastefully furnished and is surrounded 
by shade and pine trees. He has three good 
barns besides granaries, sheds, etc., and his 
home is conveniently located one mile from 
the town. Here Mr. Horner and his family 
are enjoying all the comforts that money can 
procure, and extend a refined hospitality to 
their numerous friends. He was married 
April 10, 1871, to Miss Delphiney Lee, a 
native of Brandon, Rutland county, Yer- 
mont, and a daughter of William and Har- 
riet (Lessor) Lee, natives of JSiew England 
and Canada respectively. Mrs. Horner was 
reared and educated in New England and 
came with her people to La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, in 1868, where her father died 
April 10, 1889, and the mother April 30, 
1874. Mr. and Mrs. Horner have five chil- 
dren: Harriet A., wife of Will Matthewson, 
of Brule, Wisconsin; Uelphiney R.; Ernest, 
Jr.; Evelina, and Pateronilla. They lost 
three children, a baby not named, Bhiiip and 
Godfrey. Mr. Horner is a Democrat and in 
his religious views is an Episcopalian. His 
wife is a worthy member of St. James' 
Church, of La Crosse. Mr. Horner is now 
in the prime of life, and although forty years 
of age he looks much younger. He possesses 
a fine physique and is seldom ill. He pos- 
sesses excellent business qualifications, and 
what is best is perfectly honorable in all his 



business transactions. His numerous excel- 
lent qualities have endeared him to a host of 
friends, and he is a most agreeable man witli 
whom to have business relations. 

TEPHEN STEENSEN is one of the 
reliable citizens of La Crosse county 
for whom the community is indebted 
to the Fatherland. He was born in the 
northern part of the German Empire, Sep- 
tember 9, 1841, and is a son of John and 
Margaret (Carsen) Steensen. The father died 
at the age of thirty-two years, but tlie tnother 
still survives, aged eighty years; they reared 
a family of eight children, six of whom are 
living. Stephen, a brother and sister left 
their native land and came to the United 
States; the two latter made the journey in 
1864 and 1883, and were followed a few 
years later liy our subject. 

Mr. Steenson has been a miller since he 
was sixteen years of age, having learned the 
business in the old country. Like many of 
his countrymen he has made the most of his 
opportunities and has established himself in a 
profitable business. He is a man of strong 
determination and has applied himself dili- 
gently to accomplishing his purpose. When 
he first came to La Crosse county he oper- 
ated a water mill on La Crosse river, and in 
1885 came to his present location. One year 
since that time, however, has been spent in 
the Barre mills. The mill which he now 
owns is located one and a half miles from 
West Salem, and is one of the best in the 
county. Mr. Steenson has spent $4,000 
in repairs and in placing new and improved 
machinery, and is prepared to do a general 
milling business. In addition to his mill 
property, he owns seven acres of good land, 
a pleasant residence and has the nece.-sary 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



443 



buildincrs for the care of a limited number of 
live- stock. 

He was married in 1866 to Miss Margaret 
Hanson, a daughter of J. C. Hanson, until re- 
cently a resident of Germany. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Steensen have been born nine children: 
James C. married Miss Alma Darrow; Cath- 
erine, who died at the age of sixteen years; 
Johanna, who died at the age of fourteen 
years; Eika; Christina; Agnes; Matilda; 
John and Augusta. The parents are mem- 
bers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of 
Bostwick valley. Mr. Steensen is a worthy 
member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. Politically he is independent, 
casting his suffrage for the man whom he 
considers best fitted for the duties of the 
otiice in question. 



fOHN FRAYN, a resident of Farmington 
township, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1833, 
son of Richard and Mary (Exateble) Frayn, 
both natives of that place. 

He was a lad of fifteen years when he came 
to America and located near London, in 
Middlesex county, Canada. There he re- 
mained, engaged in farm work, for eleven 
years, and from that place came to Lewis 
valley, Wisconsin. In 1864 he joined the 
Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, Eagle Regiment, 
and served in a number of important engage- 
ments. At the close of the war he was hon- 
oral)ly discharged, and returned to this 
county. 

Mr. Frayn was united in marriage, in La 
Crosse county, to Elizabeth Hodge, a native 
of England and a daughter of George and 
Mary (Hodge) Hodge. Of the eight children 
born to them only three are living, namely: 
Mary, wife of D. N. Barclay; James and 



John. Mrs. Frayn and two of the children: 
William and Robert, died in July, 1886. She 
was a most estimable woman and was highly 
esteemed by all who knew her. 

Politically, Mr. Frayn is a Republican. 
He is a charter member of Nelson Qiiygle 
Post, No. 233, G. A. R. 

James Frayn, son of the above named 
gentleman, and an enterprising and success- 
ful farmer of Farmington township, was born 
here June 2, 1864. He is the oldest of the 
tliree children living. Reared on the farm 
and educated in the district school, he was 
early taught honesty, sobriety and industry, 
and has been engaged in farming since he 
was old enough to work at anything. 

Mr. Frayn was married June 13, 1888, to 
Miss Jennie Barclay, daughter of James and 
Elizalieth Barclay. Her father, a Scotchman 
by birth, is one of the oldest settlers of this 
county, and is an extensive land owner. Mr. 
and Mrs. Frayn have one child, Bessie. 

Mr. Frayn is the owner of 160 acres of 
land adjoining Mindoro on the east. His 
farm is well improved and consists of as good 
soil as can be found in the Lewis valley. 
Here he is engaged in general farming and 
dairying, keeping a number of cows. Like 
his father, Mr. Frayn is politically a Repub- 
lican. 



-^^■LnM/l^- 



-■q/inn^. 



ETH HART, a well-known citizen 
A*S*\1 of Farmington township, La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, was born in Mor- 
gan connty, Ohio April 9, 1840. The 
Harts were among the first settlers of Mor- 
gan county, and his father. Seal Hart, Sr., 
waj born there. Grandfatlier Seth Hart was 
a native of Vermont. The mother of our 
subject was Sarah Rusk, a cousin of ex-Gov- 
ernor Rusk of Wisconsin, and a daughter of 



444 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



John M. Rusk, who was an Irishman by 
birth. Inthespriiigofl850Mr. Hart's parents 
came West, down the Ohio and np the Miss- 
issippi to Victory, Wisconsin, and settled 
near the town of Franklin, Vernon county. 
They had a family of ten children, four sons 
and six daughters. The father passed his 
whole life on a farm ; was politically a Whig; 
religiously a Presbyterian. His death oc- 
curred September 4, 1865. The mother is 
still living and is now in Muscatine county, 
Iowa. 

Seth Hart received his education in Ohio, 
and was si.xteen years of age when the family 
located in Vernon county, Wisconsin. Sep- 
tember 1, 1864, he enlisted in Company I, 
Forty-second Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, 
and was actively engaged in the service until 
the war closed, receiving an honorable dis- 
charge June 20, 1865. During that time he 
contracted a chronic disease from which he 
has never recovered. 

Returning to Vernon county after the war, 
he was engaged in farming there until 1874. 
Being in poor health, he moved to Sparta, 
where he lived three years. In 1877 he 
came to La Crosse county, and settled on his 
present farm, which had been improved and 
which he purchased of Ephraim Stevens. 
This farm contains 143 acres of tine land, has 
good builditigs, fences, etc., and is kept in 
the best of order. Mr. Hart gives his atten- 
tion to general farming, stock-raising and 
dairying. 

He was married in Vernon county, Wis- 
consin, April 30, 1862, to Miss Margaret 
McSharry, who was born at Bellevne, Iowa, 
and reared and educated in Galena. Illinois. 
Her father, James McSharry, was a native of 
Dublin, Ireland, came to America when a 
boy, and grew up in New York State, receiv- 
ing his education there. He was married 
at Galena, Illinois, to Ellen Tliornton, a na- 



tive of Mis-'ouri and a daughter of George 
and Ellen Thornton. Mr. McSharry died at 
Rising Sun, Crawford county, Wisconsin, at 
the age of seventy- five years. His widow is 
now a resident of Grand Forks, North Da- 
kota. She is seventy years of age, and makes 
her home with her son. To her and her hus- 
band were born nine children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hart have had ten children, 
nine of whom are living, namely: Sarah E., 
wife of Leonard Loveland, of La Crosse; 
John M., of Trempealeau county; Frances 
E., wife of Perry Gaven of this county; Kate, 
James F., Eugene, Grace, George T., and 
Mary Sophia. Their second child, Mary 
Belle, died while Mr. Hart was in the army. 

Mr. Hart afKliates with the Republican 
party, and is a member of Nelson Qnygle 
Post, No. 233, G. A. R., of Mindoro. He 
and his wife are members of the Catholic 
Church. 



— ^ ^ ^ ' t ■ g" ■ " 

^ENRY LAFLEUR, New Amsterdam, is 

a hignly respected citizen of Holland 
townshin, La Crosse county, Wisconsin. 
He was born here on the old farm where he 
now lives, April 9, 1859, son of Daniel La 
Fleur, a prominent and well known early set- 
tler of this township. His mother's name 
was Isabelle, and both parents were natives 
of Holland, Europe. They came here in 
1853, among the pioneers of tiie county. 
The father died in 1873, a!id the mother 
passed away in 1889. They had a family of 
six children, viz.: Mary Van Loon, Catherine, 
Sophia, Elizabeth, Renert and Henry. 

Henry La Fleur was reared on the old home- 
stead and attended the district schools. He 
is the owner of 160 acres of land, one of 
the best farms in the township. He has a 
comfortal)le two-story residence, good barns, 




/p J^^-^Jf^^ 



BIOQRAPEIGAL HI8T0RT. 



445 



modern windmill and other farm improve- 
ments, and keeps every tiding in first-class 
order. 

He was married November 26, 1885, to 
Mary Hanna, a native of this county and a 
daugliter of William and Martha (Miller) 
Hanna, both of Scotch-Irish descent and 
natives of the North of Ireland. Her father 
died in 1890, and her mother is still a resi- 
dent of La Crosse county. Mrs. Maggie 
Roddle is a sister of Mrs. La Fleur. Mr. 
La Fleur and his wife are the parents of four 
children: Daniel William, Martha, Henry 
Ross and Isabell Gertrude. Mr. La Fleur is a 
Republican and a member of the Farmers' 
Alliance. 



— — ir>^>--- — 

jLE SIMENSON, of Farmington town- 
ship, La Crosse county, is another one 
of the enterprising and successful men 
of Wisconsin who dates their birth in Nor- 
way. He was born in February, 1848, the 
oldest in the family of eight children of 
Simon and Martha (Transon) Simmerson. His 
parents were born, reared and married in 
Sweden. The family came to this country 
in 1872. All are married and settled in life 
except Ole and Otto, the oldest and youngest, 
who reside with their parents. Of the others 
we record that Thom, Simon, Mat and 
Matilda live in Cass county. North Dakota, 
and that Emma is a resident of La Crosse. 

Ole Simenson was reared in his native 
land, and attended scliool there until he was 
fifteen years of age. He has a fair education 
in both his own and the English languages. 
In 1866 he went to Minnesota, was employed 
at farm work, and remained there two year.«. 
We next find him working in the woods in 
Clark county, Wisconsin, being employed by 
Hixon &Witte of La Crosse. Young, strong 

30 



and energetic, he was well suited for that 
work and was successful in the woods and on 
the drive. In 1874 he came to Lewis valley 
and purchased a farm of Mr. Killrier. It 
had previously l)een owned by a Mr. Palmer, 
Mr. Simenson has since added to his original 
purchase, and is now the owner of 360 acres 
of rich and productive land, well improved 
and kept in good shape. He has a frame 
residence and one of the best barns in the 
county. His barn is 36 x 60 feet and has a 
rock basement. He also has other buildings 
fur the protection of his stock, has an engine- 
house, modern wind pump, good fences, and 
all necessary conveniences and improvements 
for successfully carrying on agricultural pur- 
suits. He keeps sixteen cows, ten horses, 
and sheep and hogs. In company with Peter 
GuUickson he owns and operated a threshing 
machine. Their separator is of the Edwin's 
make, and they have a reputation for doing 
good work. Each year their threshing busi- 
ness nets them aliout $1,000. 

Mr. Simenson is a self-made man. He is 
well informed on the current events of the 
day, and is broad and progressive in his views. 
He is in the prime of life, frank and jovial, 
and is regarded as one of th.e solid men of 
the township. 



RICHARD FAHEY, lumberman.— The 
I lumber trade is one which flourishes 
wherever there is population and growth, 
and in La Crosse it forms an important in- 
dustry, not only supplying the immediate 
wants of the city, but also that of the sur- 
rounding States. Mr. Fahey has been so 
prominently identified with the lumber inter- 
ests of this section, tiiat a history of La 
Crosse county would be incomplete without 
makinj); mention of him, and the admiralde 



446 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



nse to which he has devoted his talents. He 
was a soldier in the great civil war, and as 
such deserves honorable mention. From 
the Soldier's Album, the following article is 
gleaned: 

" Richard Fahey was born April 12, 1844, 
at Fonda, New York. His parents are Pat- 
rick and Catherine (Ryan) Fahey. His father 
was born in 1798 at Castle Claghan, county 
Kings, Ireland; his mother, a native of the 
same county, was born April 2, 1801. The 
parents crossed the ocean in the '30s, and 
resided successively in Canada, Fonda, and 
Onalaska, Wisconsin, locating in the latter 
place in the fall of 1855. The father died 
August 19, 1881; the mother passed away 
May 4, 1877. 

" Mr. and Mrs. Fahey became the parents of 
the following children: Mary, wife of S. W. 
North, residing at Onalaska; Ann is the 
widow of Edward Howard, who was killed in 
the pineries of Grand Forks, Dakota; James 
married Mila Hines, of Geneseo, and died at 
the Soldiers' Home in Milwaukee, in August, 
1890; Richard comes next in order of birth; 
Edward married a lady in San Francisco, 
where he has lived for a number of years; 
and Elizabeth, the wife of Ira S. Farraud, 
resides at Galesville, Trempealeau county, 
Wisconsin. 

" Richard Fahey attended the common 
schools of the various places in which he re- 
sided with his parents, but the coming clash 
of arms caused him to cast aside personal 
considerations, and in 1861, at the early age 
of seventeen years, lie joined the company 
commanded by Captain Wilson Colwell, Com- 
pany ii, and was mustered into the Second 
Wisconsin Infantry for three years, or during 
the war. His company was the first to take 
possession of Camp Randall at Madison, but 
it was soon ordered to Washington, District 
of Columbia, and next to Fort Corcoran. In 



the reconnoissance of Blackburn's Ford, the 
company lost its first man, and in the battle 
of Bull Run its history was coincident with 
that of the regiment which fought courage- 
ously without officers and preserved its or- 
ganization. No researches revealed the truth 
about its field officers, and the command re- 
turned to Fort Corcoran, under numerous 
orders (wh^n not needed), Captain ('olwell 
conducting his men thither in the best of 
order. 

"The regiment remained at Fort Tilling- 
liast until spring, then went to the Rappa- 
hannock and on an expedition to the Orange 
Courthouse and Bowling Green. They were 
then recalled and ordered to reinforce Banks 
at Slaughter Mountain, where they arrived 
early in the morning and found a flag of truce 
out, and assisted in burying the dead whom 
the rebels had abandoned. After a night at 
Warrenton they moved to Gainesville, where 
their Colonel was killed, after which they 
went to Manassas Junction, the supply sta- 
tion, where everything was burned. On that 
day the secoiwl battle of Bull Run was fought, 
following which they went to Arlington 
Heights, then crossed the Potomac river to 
Frederick City and took part in the engage- 
ments at South Mountain and Antietam. In 
the former engagement, September 14, 1862, 
Captain Colwell was killed, and on the 17th 
Mr. Fahey received a wound from a rifle 
ball, which passed through both his shoulders, 
and necessitated his removal to the hospital. 
The surgeon declared his case to be hopeless, 
and the next day he was removed to Cadys- 
ville, and later to the Frederick City Hospital, 
where, notwithstanding the grim forebodings 
of the man of science, he fully recovered 
from his wound. In the fall he rejoined his 
regiment at Aquia creek, but after a time 
was found to be unfitted for active service, 
such as his regiment was engaged in, and he 



BWGRAPHIVAL HISTORY. 



447 



was sent on detached duty to Windmill 
Point, and afterwards on the hospital supply 
steamer John Tucker, plying between points 
on the Potomac river. Three months later 
he was sent to the convalescent camp at Ar- 
lington Heights, and about a month later 
was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, 
September 12, 1863, doing duty at Mount 
Pleasant Hospital. June 11, 1864, he re- 
ceived his final discharge and returned to his 
home. 

" Had lie not been a man of indomitable 
will, he would have succumbed to the hardships 
he was compelled to undergo much sooner 
than he did; but as long as his physical 
powers sustained him he bravely remained at 
the post of duty. No braver soldier ever trod 
the crimson turf of a battle field, and he was 
always conspicuous for his strict adherence 
to duty." 

He has since been engaged in the lumber 
trade, and is the confidential agent of S. & 
J. C. Atlee, lumber dealers of Fort Madison, 
Iowa, and has charge of their logging inter- 
ests in tlie Wisconsin pineries. In partner- 
ship with N. B. Holway he is also engaged in 
rafting, which business he follows during the 
summer seasons, and rafts about 30,000,000 
feet of logs. 

He was married July 4, 1866, at Sparta, 
Wisconsin, to Elizibith, daughter of Jere- 
miah and Sarah Bennette. Mr. and Mrs, 
Fahey have two children: Frank E., born 
March 21, 1870, and Winnifred, born June 
1, 1877. Mr. Fahey has attained to the Oom- 
mandery in the A. F. & A. M., and politi- 
cally is a Democrat, and on that ticket was a 
candidate for Sheriff in 1879, having served 
as Deputy under H. S. Phillips in 1877. 
Though Mr. Fahey's path in lite has been 
strewn with many difficulties, he has pressed 
onward, undaunted by trials, and his efforts 
have been abundantly rewarded. He holds a 



high place in the business and social circles 
of La Crosse, and is considered a substantial 
and useful citizen. His wife is a most lov- 
able woman; easy and graceful in manners, a 
fluent and entertaining conversationalist and 
decidedly prepossessing in personal appear- 
ance. 



PSOlSr. JOHN BRADLEY, a retired 
farmer and ex- Representative, has been a 
resident of this State for many years. 
He was born in Litchfield county, Connecti- 
cut, April 29, 1817, a son of Horace Bradley, 
deceased, a native of the same place. His 
father, Captain Aaron Bradley, was a Captain 
in the Revolutionary war on the American 
side, and was also a native of Connecticut. 
He was a son of Leman Bradley, a native of 
England, who came to this country with the 
early colonists. 

John Bradley, our subject, was reared to 
farm life, and received his education in the 
common schools of his native county. He 
removed to Chenango county, New York, in 
1839, where he worked on a farm and in the 
lumber woods until 1844, and in that year 
removed to Dodge county, Wisconsin, being 
one of the two (irst settlers of Trenton town- 
ship, the other being Edward Boomer, with 
whom our subject became acquainted on the 
road. They settled down together, and for 
two years kept bach and farmed on the prai- 
rie. Dodge county was organised the year 
before Mr. Bradley came here, and the Meno^ 
monie Indians were still numerous but peace- 
able. He came to this county in 1855, settling 
in Burns township, where he purchased 320 
acres in burr-oak openings, and still owns 
240 acres of valuable land in that township. 
He was elected to the Legislature in 1874-'75, 
and also in 1879-'80-'81, serving five terms 



448 



BTOORAPinCAL HISTORY. 



ill all. He cast tlie first vote for Angus 
Cameron for United States Senator, and lias 
always been a Republican in bis political 
views. 

Mr. Bradley was married, in October, 1847, 
in DodfTe county, to Elizabeth Stevens, a na- 
tive of Chautauqua county. New York, and 
they have had six children, four of whom 
survive, viz.: Walter, Frank, Cora and 
William. One daughter, Amelia, was mar- 
ried to Timothy Cauglilin, and died leaving 
one child. Amelia, whom her father is now 
raising. The eldest son, John, died at the 
age of twenty six years. He was married to 
Clara Hurlbut, and left three children: John, 
Horace and Nellie. Walter married Hannah 
Beck, resides at Watertown, and has live chil- 
dren: Frank, Hannah, Amelia, Blanche and 
Knssell. Cora married Julius Wood, and had 
twochildren: Liiverne and fFohn. Mr. Wood 
died, and she afterward married Daniel Carter, 
ot Traverse City, Michigan. Frank, who mar- 
ried Belle Clark, lives on the old homestead, 
and lias two eliiliiron: Clyde and Clark; 
William mairied Rebecca Sliane, and resides 
in West Salem, this county. Mr. Bradlej' is 
a member of no church, but his creed is the 
golden rule and to provide for the widows 
and orphans. He was baptized by Rev. 
Lyman Beecher when an infant, and was 
reared in the Presbyterian faith. 

[AN I EL K. GORDON was burn in 
Penobscot county, Maine, October 7, 
1839. His father, Eliphalet Gordon, 
was a native of New Hampshire and a son of 
Eliphalet Gordon, Sr., who was a descendant 
of Scotch ancestry. He came West, and was 
among the pioneer settlers of Oshkosh, Wis- 
consin. Sul)sequently returning to Maine, 
he died there iti July, 1854 He was by 



occupation a lumberman; politically, a Demo- 
crat; in religion, a believer in universal salva- 
tion. Tlie mother of Daniel K. was nee 
Folly Kelly, and she, too, was a native of 
New Hampshire. Her father, Dudley Kelly, 
was of Trish ancestry, and was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war. Mrs. Gordon is now a 
resident of Holland township, this county, 
and has reached her eighty-sixth year. They 
had a family of four children. Dudley died 
in this county in 1877. During the war he 
served in a Minnesota regiment. Sarah is 
the wife of Jacob Hoyt, and lives in Trem- 
pealeau county, W^isconsin. 

Daniel K. Gordon was reared on a farm in 
his native county and received his education 
at Orono, above Bangor. He was a youth of 
thirteen years when he came to Wisconsin. 
Here he worked on a farm, and one winter 
he spent in attending school in Illinois. In 
the fall of 1803 he returned East and enlisted 
in the Ninth Maine Infantry Volunteers, 
Company I, and served about two years. lie 
was first stationed on Morris Kland, near 
Charleston, South Carolina; was in the army 
of the James, under General Ben Butler; 
was with his regiment in front of Petersburu; 
for a time in 1864; in 1864-'65 wintered at 
Chapin's farm, in Virginia; was at the capture 
of Fort Fisher; marched to North Carolina 
with General Scofield and joined General 
Sherman's victorious troops at Raleigh, where 
was held a grand review. He was honorably 
discharged at Augusta, Maine, after which 
he returned to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
and here he has since made his home. 

Mr. Gordon owns a good farm of nitiety 
acres. His house was built in 1889, and is 
located on a natural building site. In the fall 
of 1860 Mr. Gordon was united in marriage 
with Miss Anna Irvin, who was born in Nova 
Scocia, and who was eleven years of age when 
she came to Wisconsin. Here she was reared 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



449 



and educated. Her parents were Scotch-Irish 
and were born in Belfast, Ireland. They had 
a family of ten children, of whom three sons 
and four daughters are living. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gordon have had live children, viz.: Dudley 
J. is married and lives in New Amsterdam, 
Wisconsin; Anna, wife of Ed Henry, died in 
the fall of 1890, leaving two children: Polly 
and Winfred; Maggie, wife of Martin Han- 
son, of Holland township, this county, has 
three children: Henry, Ruth and Dudley; 
William F., of Dakota, and John Eliphalet. 

Mr. Gordon is a good converser and a 
genial and jovial fireside companion. During 
twenty winters he was engaged in working 
in the woods and driving team. Politically 
he is a Democrat. He has served as Assessor 
for three years, and has also been Clerk. Well 
informed on general topics, broad and pro- 
gressive in iiis views, he is a man whose 
opinion is sought for and valued, and a man 

whose good influence is ever felt in the coni- 
es 

munity where he resides. 



klCHARD HOSSFELD.— The life and 
fM^ character of this public-spirited citizen 
of La Crosse county will bear a much 
more detailed history and analysis than are 
presented on this page. Though just in the 
meridian of life he has wielded a wide influ- 
ence for good in many respects, and in 
addition to being upright in every worthy 
particular he commenced life with but little 
means and is cow in affluent circumstances. 
He was born in Saxony, Germany, February 
29, 1844, a son of Adelbert and Thressia 
(Deusseng) Hossfeld, both natives of Saxony, 
and with tliem came to America, in 1851. 
The father died at Stockton, Minnesota, when 
seventy-seven years of age, but his widow 
survives him, at the age of seventy-six years. 



Richard Hossfeld obtained a fair education 
in the public schools of Germany, and after 
coming to this country with his parents was 
a resident of Davenport, Iowa. In 1851 they 
removed to Winona county, Minnesota. 
Richard learned the butcher's trade in La 
Crosse, which occupation received his atten- 
tion for many years. He went to Chicago 
during the war and worked in a packing- 
house there; next was in business for himself 
a short time, and then returned to La Crosse, 
continuing in the same business. In 1874 
he settled on his present farm, on which he 
has since lived and greatly improved. It 
comprises 181 acres of arable land, two and 
one half miles from Holmen, on which is a 
good residence on a natural building site. 
The barns, sheds, granaries, fences, etc., are 
all of the best and tlie land is well laid off, 
and in good condition. He keeps eighteen 
cows, a number of good horses and a large 
drove of hogs. 

May 29, 1870, he was married to Miss 
Thankful Ann Nutting, a woman of much 
intelligence, judgment and executive ability. 
She was born in Skowhegan, Maine, and was 
five years of age when her parents came to 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin. Her father, 
Abe! Nutting, kept a popular tavern here for 
many years, and died in November, 1875. 
His wife was Clarinda Blackwell, who died 
in May, 1880. She bore him six children, 
four of whom are now living: Sarah, wife of 
George Willie, of Onalaska; Abuer, of Win- 
neshiek county, Iowa; Melissa, wife of Frank 
McClellan, and Mrs. Hossfeld. The latter 
has borne her husband the following children: 
Ida, wife of James Doherty, of this county; 
Melissa, Gustavus and P>ank. 

Mr. Hossfeld is a Democrat, has served as 
a member of the school board, belongs to the 
I. (). O. F., the K. of H. and Hermann's 
Sons, and is wide-awake to all the current 



450 



BIOQRAPniGAL U I STORY. 



issues of the day. He is a good business 
man, a popular citizen and is frank and gen- 
ial in disposition. 

"'■■ g - ? »' ! '2"- 



rnOMAS J. BARNEY, Under-Sheriff 
of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, is a 
native of this city, State and county, 
was born March 26, 1858, a son of Robert 
and Bridget (Buckley) Barney, natives of Ire- 
land. The father was born in county Kil- 
kenny, and the mother came from county 
Tipperary, parish of Lattan. Robert Barney 
emigrated to America at the age of twenty- 
two years, and remained for a while in the 
East, spending the greater portion of his time 
in New York city. About the year 1853 he 
came to the West, spending two years in Du- 
buque, Iowa, where he worked at the plaster- 
ers trade. In 1855 he came to La Crosse, 
and here passed the remainder of his days. 
He and his wife reared a family of two sons 
and two daughters: Thomas J., the subject 
of this l)iographical sketch; Mary Ann, Cath- 
erine, and the Rev. John A., the present 
parish priest of Hudson, Wisconsin. 

Thomas J. grew to manhood in La Crosse 
county, and received a good education in the 
parochial and public schools. In early life he 
decided to adopt his father's calling, and 
added thereto a knowledge of brick-laying. 
He has been connected with the construction 
of some of the finest buildings in La Crosse, 
among which may be mentioned the Odd 
Fellows' block for which he furnished the or- 
namental plaster work and moulding, the 
new La Crosse theater, the United States 
Government building and postoffice, St. 
James church, and the Wheeler & Seeder 
factory. 

Mr. Barney was united in marriage, at 
Portage, Wisconsin, to Miss Catharine Riley, 



a native of that place and the daughter of 
Timothy Riley and Catherine (Gerrity) Riley, 
natives of Ireland. Of this union three sons 
and one daughter were born: John, William, 
Mary and Thomas. 

The parents are members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. Mr. Barney belongs to the 
Catholic Knights of America, to the Catholic 
Knights of Wisconsin, to the Ancient Order 
of Hibernians, to the Jefferson Club, of 
which he is a charter member, and to the 
Germania Society; in all but the last named 
association he has held honoral)le ofhcial po- 
sitions. He is a member of the La Crosse 
Business Men's Association, of the Builders' 
Exchange, and of the Bricklayers' Union. 



rgji-ILLIAM KRUEGERisaGerman by 
birth and has inculcated in him the 
sterling principles of the better class 
of citizens of his native land. He was horn 
in Brandenburg, Prussia, March 13, 1827, 
and as soon as old enough was placed in 
school, where he acquired a good practical 
education. His parents, Martin and Anna 
(Grames) Krueger, were born in the same 
province and were well-to-do in worldly 
goods. 

After he had attained his fifteentli year 
William Krueger began working on a farm, 
during which time he learned the business of 
cheese-making, and this occupation he fol- 
lowed for about eight years. In 1852 he 
sailed from Bremen to New York city, and 
landed at Castle Garden after an eight weeks' 
voyage on the vessel Lewes. lie landed on 
the 28th of April and went successively to 
Albany, Buffalo, Detroit and Milwaukee, re- 
maining in the last mentioned city for some 
time. In the fall he went to the Mississippi 
river via Peoria, and was afterwards at Cairo, 




BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



451 



St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans, and 
remained in the South two and a half years, 
the most of this time working as a gardener. 
He afterwards obtained a position in a Jesuit 
College at Springhill, near Mobile, Alabama, 
having charge of the clothing department. 
He was treated with great kindness while 
there and no attempt was made to change his 
religious views. He returned North to St. 
Louis, Missouri, then went by railroad to 
Chicago, and soon after settled in La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin. About this time he re- 
ceived $2,000 from home, with which he 
purchased 500 acres of land in Washington 
township, where he lived until 1870, when he 
sold out and bought the property on which 



he 



IS 



now residing. He has 240 acres of 



fine farming land on which is a good two- 
story residence, large and substantial barns of 
all kinds, and everything about his place is 
kept in good condition. He also owns prop- 
erty in Onalaska, and a good dwelling-house 
and eight lots in North La Crosse, and a 
three- story brick block on Jay street. La 
Crosse. 

He was married March 13, 1863, to Miss 
lilargaretta Schaller, who was born in Ger- 
many, and when a babe of six months 
was brought to America by her parents, 
Nicholas and Elizabeth (Farber) Schaller. 
The mother died October 25, 1888, but the 
father survives her and is a resident of Camp- 
bell township. Mr. and Mrs. Krueger have 
three children: Emma Amelia, wife of Jew- 
ett Wylie; Willie Harmon, a merchant of 
Onalaska, and Frank, at home. 

Mr. Krueger is independent in politics, 
and was treasurer of Washington township in 
1863-'64, and the following year was chair- 
man of the Town Board. He has been liberal 
in the use of his means for the education of 
his children, and Willie H. received excellent 
advantages in the schools of La Crosse. Mr. 



Krueger is possessed of genuine merit, and 
owing to the attention he has always paid to 
each minor deta'l of his work he has accu- 
mulated a fair share of this world's goods, 
and commands the respect of all who know 
him. 



►^«^^ 



fOHN C. RODDLE is one of the promi- 
nent and wealthy citizens of the township 
in which he resides, and as he has re- 
sided in this section of country ever since 
1857, the people have had every opportunity 
to iudge of his character, and although he'has 
often been weighed in the balance he has not 
been found wanting. He was born in Illi- 
nois May 28, 1851, a son of Charles and 
Sarah (Jerred) Roddle, both natives of Lon- 
don, England. The former came to America 
to seek his fortune at the age of eighteen 
years, and settled in Cayuga county. New 
York, where he was married. His wife proved 
a true helpmate to him throughout their 
journey through life and still survives him, 
at the age of seventy years. She is yet strong 
and active, and is keeping house for her son 
William. 

John C. Roddle, tlie subject of this sketch, 
came to Wisconsin with his parents and set- 
tled at Midway, near where the father en- 
tered a farm, on which he resided until his 
death in 1880. His worthy wife bore him 
four children: William C. ; Stephen, who died 
leaving a widow and one son, Charles; John 
C. and Eliza Jane (Cronk). John C. assisted 
his father on the home place, and after re- 
ceiving a practical education in the public 
schools he entered Galesville University, 
where he obtained a practical business edu- 
cation which has fitted him for the active life 
he has led. He remained with his father, 
managing the farm until the latter's death, 



452 



BlOaRAPUlCAL uisTonr. 



tlien began an independent career and now 
lias one of llie finest I'anns in tiiis section of 
the county, comprising 100 acres. On this 
is a liandsome residence, his barns are also 
8ul)staiitial bnildintrs, and through his indus- 
try are kept in good repair. Uis division 
fences are always of the best and he is con- 
sidered a (^esirablc and accommodating 
neighbor. 

December 28, 1882, he was married to 
Margaret Hanna, daughter of William Hanna, 
who was one of the honored old settlers of 
this country, a native of county Antrim, 
Ireland, and a Presbyterian in his religious 
views. Mr. Hanna was married in Pennsyl- 
vania to Martha Miller, a native of the same 
country as hiuiself, but was brought by her 
])arunts to America at the age of seven years 
and was reared and educated in Pennsylvania. 
Her father was Alexander Miller. William 
Hanna and his wife came to La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, in 1855, and here the father re- 
sided uutii his death, September 28, 1890, a 
Republican in his political views. He and 
his wife had two children: Margaret (Mrs. 
Koddle), and Mrs. Henry LaFleur. Mrs. 
Hanna lives with her daughter, Mrs. iioddle. 
The latter was educated in the schools of La 
Crosse, and is a well-informed and intelligent 
lady. Mr. Roddle ranks among the leading 
men of his section, and, beiug of a frank, cor- 
dial and generous disposition, his friends are 
numerous and his enemies few. 

fUDGE CHARLES S. BENTON, de- 
ceased, was born July 12, 1810, in Frye- 
burg, O.vford county, Maine, a son of 
Dr. Joseph JJenton an<l Catharine Eritton. 
In 1824 he was moved by his mother and his 
brother Nathaniel to Little Falls, Herkimer 
county, N^w York, where he commenced to 



learn the tanners' trade. In 1830 he entered 
upon the study of law; in 1885 he was ad- 
mitted to practice in the Court of Common 
Pleas, and in 1836 in the Supreme Court of 
that State. During this time he edited the 
Mohawk Courier and Little Falls Gazette 
for two years commencing in 1832; and he 
was editor and correspondent for the Courier 
until he came West. In 1837 he was ap- 
pointed, by Governor Marcy, Surrogate for 
Herkimer county. In 1842 he was elected 
to Congress from the Seventeenth Conj'res- 
sional district of New York, and re-elected 
in 1844. In 1847 he was Clerk of the Court 
of Appeals of that State, which office he held 
two terms. In 1855 he mo\ed to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, where he bought a one-third in- 
terest in the Nexoa, which newspaper he 
edited for one year. In 1856 he was ap- 
pointed by President Pierce, Registrar of 
land at La Crosse, Wisconsin, and held that 
office until the administration of President 
Lincoln. In 1865 he moved to Galesburg, 
Illinois, where he engaged in farming for 
four years, at the end of which time he re- 
turned to La Crosse. In 1873 he was elected 
County Judge of La Crosse county, for four 
years, and re-elected in 1877. and continued 
to serve in that capacity until 1881, when he 
resigned on account of failure of health, 
which resulted in death, May 4, 1882. 

He was married in 1840, to Miss Emiline 
Fuller, of Little Falls, New York, by whom 
he had one son, Linn Boyd Benton, who lives 
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a type 
founder. He was married again in 1853, to 
Miss Elizabeth Babcock Reynolds, of Os- 
wego, New York, by whom he had also a son, 
Charles R. Benton, who lives in La Crosse, 
and is an accountant. 

Mrs. Benton, daughter of S. Ilubbell Rey- 
nolds and Elizabeth G. Babcock, is a native 
of New York, as were her parents, who were 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



453 



of prosperous families in tiiat State. She 
has lived in La Crosse continuously since 
1856, except four years during which she 
lived in Illinois, whither her husband and 
father had gone to engage in farming. 

Mr. Benton was a life-long Democrat and 
always an aggressive partisan. However, his 
knowledge of the proper limits of party 
strife was such that, for his personal ends, he 
had a strong support among his political 
opponents. He was a member of the Epis- 
copal Church, and he and Mrs. Benton were 
active in organizing the society in La Crosse. 



jRS. MARGARET Mc KENZIE, 
/|B\V/fclt widow of John McKenzie, late of La 

-^^^^ Crosse county, Wisconsin, is a lady 
whose intelligence and retinenient fit her for 
any social position. Her husband, who was 
one of the old settlers of the county, and one 
of its most prominent citizens, was born at 
Alderness, Scotland, on March 18, 1835, and 
the son of Alexander and Mary (McKenzie) 
McKenzie, natives also of Scotland, where 
they passed their entire lives. 

John McKenzie was reared a farmer and 
drover, and was married at Alderness, near 
Inverness, on April 23, 1853, to Miss Marga- 
ret Ross, a native of the parish of Tain, Scot- 
land, born April, 1828, and the daughter of 
John and Jenette (Murray) Ross, both natives 
of Scotland. Soon after marriage Mr. Mc- 
Kenzie and wife took passage ou the ship 
Spring Hill, commanded by Captain Ed 
Eliicott, and after six weeks' sea voyage 
landed at Quebec. From there they went 
to Montreal, where Mr. McKenzie worked for 
a Mr. McGrilbra for one season. The follow- 
ing year he rented a small farm, but the house 
in which he lived burned down and most of 
his household goods were destroyed. In 1855 



he moved to St. Lawrence county, western 
part, and there remained until 1861, when he 
moved his family to La Crosse county, Wis- 
consin. He resided in La Crosse one winter 
and then bought land of Almon Clark, which 
he began improving and cultivating. The 
farm, situated live miles from La Crosse and 
consisting of 150 acres, is one of the most 
productive in the section and the line build- 
ings on the same add much to its appearance. 
Mr. McKenzie was a very successful stock- 
raiser, and his many horses, cattle and sheep 
were of a superior breed. To Mr. and Mrs. 
McKenzie were born six children, four now 
living: Alexander, of Pullman, Washington, 
proprietor of Rolling Mill and Electric Light 
Plant: John, of Onalaska township; Lillie 
Grace, wife of H. M. Phillips, of South La 
Crosse; and Isabella D., wife of H. W. 
Baird, who is in company with Alexander at 
Pullman, Washington. The children deceased 
were:Margaret Jane, wife of A. E. Allen 
was born May 30, 1858, and died February 
28, 1882, at the age of twenty-four, and 
Jessie died at the age of twelve years. Mr. 
McKenzie was a good man in every sense of 
the term and his honesty and uprightness 
were well known in the county. He was a 
man of good judgment, possessed of excel- 
lent business acumen, and was broad and 
liberal in his views. He was a kind father 
and a popular citizen. His death, which oc- 
curred in 1888, was the occasion of uni- 
versal sorrow, for all felt the loss that would 
be sustained by the departure of such a man. 
Mrs. McKenzie has eight grandchildren: 
Magaret Jane left three children, Flora B., 
Levi J. and Albert Lawrence; Isabella has 
two, Loyd A. and a daughter, Lillie; Lillie 
has a son, Milton Donald, and John has two 
sons, John Archibald and Ralph Eugene. 

Alexander McKenzie is an expert hunter 
as well as a business man. On his journey 



454 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



West lie killed a buffalo, bear, wild hog, 
mountain lion, panthers and any amount of 
foxes, coons and wild cats. John is now 
living in Green's Cooley, is a well-to-do 
farmer, a good provider and a kind husband. 
On the 5th of November, 1891, he and his 
neighbor, Mr. Glover, killed a black bear in 
Campbell, a little way from his home. 



^UESTER DARLING, deceased, recently 
of section 5, Bangor township, was 
born in Caledonia, Vermont, January 
29, 1821. His father, Jonathan Darling, 
also a native of Vermont, came to Bangor in 
1852, where he died in 1860. Our subject 
emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 1840, 
where he worked at the carpenter's trade six 
years, and then moved to Dane county, Wis- 
consin, and in 1853 to Hamilton township, 
this county. After the death of his first wife, 
Saliie Jimery, he married Hester Cooley, by 
whom he Jiad nine children, five now living. 
His second wife, Hester, died ' December 25, 
1873, and July 13, 1874. he was again mar- 
ried, to Phcube C. Darling, with whom he 
lived until his death, March 29, 1892, at the 
age of seventy-one years and two months. 



»,ENRY A. KEN RICK.— This gentle- 
man has been identified with Farming- 
ton township. La Crosse county, Wis- 
consin, since 1852, and is classed among the 
best citizens of the county. The following facts 
in reference to his life and descriptive of his 
home will bo found of interest. 

Henry A. Kenrick was born in Essex 
county. New York, near Lake Champlain 
September 15, 1841, son of John and Clara 
(Coman) Kenrick. Of John Kenrick, one of 



the prominent early settlers of Mindoro, hon- 
orable mention will be found on another 
page of this volume. When Mr. Kenrick 
was about four years old his mother died, 
leaving a son and daughter. The latter, 
Eunice Antoinette, is now the wife of J. L. 
Pettingill, of La Crosse. The maternal 
grandfather, Allen Coman, is one of the 
pioneers of tiiis county. 

Henry A. came to Wisconsin with the 
Coman family. They first settled in Wal- 
worth county, and in 1852 came to La Crosse 
county. He was reared on a farm and re- 
ceived a common-school education. When a 
young man he spent two winters at work in 
the woods. In 1883 he located on his present 
farm, which was known as the Hugh Kenedy 
farm. It comprises 320 acres of fine land, is 
well improved, and with its numerous build- 
ings all painted and kept in the best of order; 
it presents the appearance of a neat little vil- 
lage. The two- story residence is beautifully 
located and surrounded by forest trees whose 
friendly branches afford a delightful shade in 
summer. The barn is 32 x 46 feet; granary 
and carriage house, 20 x 42 feet; ice and 
milk house, 14 x 24 feet; honey house, 12 x 
18 feet; poultry house, 12 x 16 feet. Water 
is supplied by a modern wind ^JH'^p- The 
farm is divided into fields of convenient size 
for cultivation and for stock purposes, and 
the whole is well fenced. Mr. Kenrick de- 
votes his attention to general farming and 
stock-raising. He has an apiary and keeps 
from sixty-five to 100 stands of bees. In 
this industry his wife is especially interested, 
and is prol>ably as well posted on bee culture 
as any woman in Wisconsin, having made a 
study of the subject for number of years and 
having had an extensive practical experience. 
One season they sold $720 worth of honey, 
besides bees to the amount of $45. 

Mr. Kenrick was married February 28, 



BIOOBAPHIGAI^ HI STOUT. 



455 



1867, in Lewis valley, this county, to Her- 
retta Mathewson, who was born in Chenango 
county, New York, daughter of Loren 
Mathewson,, a well-known old settler of 
Lewis valley and now a resident of Onalaska. 
Two children have been born to them, 
namely: Clara Jane, wife of Fred Fillner, of 
Farmington township; and May Antoinette, 
at home. Mrs. Kenrick is a woman of rare 
accomplishments, and is in every sense of the 
word a true helpmate to her husband. She 
is equally at home in the apiary, the kitchen 
or the parlor, entertaining guests in her cor- 
dial and graceful way and presiding at her 
hospitable board in a charming manner that 
her visitors do not soon forget. 



■^m- 



MADSON, merchant tailor at No. 1210 
Caledonia street. La Crosse, was born 
■® in Norway in 1852, a son of Martinus 
and Karen Madson. His father was also a 
tailor, and a very superior workman; he died 
in his native land, in 1867, aged forty-seven 
years; the mother is still living, and has at- 
tained the age of seventy-eight years. The 
subject of this notice emigrated to the United 
States in 1880, and first settled in the great 
Western metropolis, Chicago, where he worked 
at his trade for one and a half years; he then 
moved to Merillon, Jackson county, Wiscon- 
sin, for one and a half years; next he removed 
to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and followed his 
trade in that city for three and a half years. 
In 1886 he came to Onalaska, and opened a 
clothing store and tailor shop for three years. 
In 1887 he opened a tailor shop in La Crosse, 
at his present stand. He employs from four 
to six men, and has a fine patronage. His 
many years of experience with this line of 
trade in two of the largest cities of the West, 
and the thorough training he received during 



his apprenticeship, all fitted him well for the 
place he has taken in commercial circles in 
La Crosse. He is esteemed one of the most 
reliable business men in the place, and enjoys 
the entire confidence of a wide circle of ac- 
quaintances. In connection with the business 
already mentioned, he finds time to give to 
the agency of all steamship lines, which he is 
able to make quite profitable. 

Mr. Madson was married in the old country, 
to Miss Dorothea Gunderson, and of this 
union two children were born; the mother 
and one child died in Chicago, in 1880. Mr. 
Madson was married a second time in 1882, 
to Miss Bertha Anderson, daughter of Neils 
Anderson, of Trempealeau county, Wisconsin. 
Mr. and Mrs. Madsim are consistent mem- 
bers of the United Lutheran Church, and 
also belong to the Total Abstinence Society 
of North La Crosse. 



JETER GULLICKSON, one of the intel- 
m ligent, enterprising and successful men 
*Tt of La Crosse county, resides near Min- 
doro, in Farmington township. He has lived 
here since 1870, and is well known in this 
vicinity. Like many of Wisconsin's well-to- 
do citizens, he was born in Norway, the date 
of his birth being February 10, 1858. His 
parents, Isaac and Ingebaar Gullickson, both 
natives of Norway, were reared, educated and 
married there. Peter was a lad of twelve 
years when the family came to America. The 
father preceded them to this country, arriving 
here in 1866. For four years he worked 
hard, preparing a home for his wife and chil- 
dren, and while they were on their way to join 
him he died. His death was the result of an 
accident, he having eaten wild parsnip. The 
mother and her family settled in Farmington 
township. The names of her seven children 



456 



BIOORAPniGAL HISTORY. 



are as follows: Lena, who died in 1877; Guil- 
der, of West Salem, Wisconsin; George, of 
Hamilton township, this county; Oliver, of 
West Salem; Peter, the subject of our sketch; 
Hansene, wife of Ole Eveson, of Farraington 
township; and Thorwald, of West Salem. 
The mother was afterward married to Gilbert 
Gilberson, and she is now a resident of Min- 
doro, this county. 

As already stated, Peter Gullickson was 
twelve years of age when he landed on Ameri- 
can soil. He had attended school six years 
in his native land, and after he came here 
went to the common schools, thus securing a 
fair education in both languages. The first 
land he owned he sold to Paul Sullivan, and 
subsequently purchased a farm near l>y, the 
one on which he now lives, one of the best 
farms in the Lewis valley. He has 280 acres 
of well improved land. His residence, 30x35 
feet, is two stories, is located on a natural 
building site, and is one of the most attractive 
homes in this vicinity. It is located one mile 
from the village of Mindoro. His barn is 
36 X 50 feet, and has a rock basement. A 
modern wind pump supplies water for his 
stock. Mr. Gullickson gives his attention to 
general farming and stock-raising, and during 
the autumn season operates a threshing-ma- 
chine. In the threshing business he is in 
partnership with Ole Simensoii, and does 
about $600 to $800 worth of work each year. 

November 2G, 1880, Mr. Gullickson wed- 
ded Helen Olson, a native of Norway. She 
came with her parents to this country when 
she was six months old, and here she was 
reared and educated. Her father and mother, 
Ole and Jane Olson, are residents of this 
township. Mr. and Mrs. Gullickson have 
five children, namely: Ingvald Irwin, Olga 
Josephine, John Albert, Ida Nikoline and 
May Lnella. Their fourth child, Abel Gil- 
bert, died at the age of eleven months. 



Mr. Gullickson affiliates with the Demo- 
cratic party, and is an enthusiastic worker in 
party ranks. He has served two years as 
Assessor of his township. He is a member of 
the Lutheran Church. Any movement that 
has for its object the advancement of educa- 
tional, moral or religious interests, finds in 
him a hearty supporter. 



Ig^ENKY LUETH.— In no part of Wis- 
consin is ajirieulture in a more flourish- 
ing condition than in La Crosse county, 
and here Mr. Lueth is considered one of the 
leading tillers of the soil. His present sub- 
stantial position in life has been reached 
entirely through his own perseverance, and 
the facts connected with his operations and 
their results only show what a person, with 
courage and enlightened views, can accomplish. 
His reputation for honesty and integrity have 
been tried and not found wanting; his finan- 
cial ability has been more than once put to 
the test, but never without credit to himself, 
and his social qualities are well-known and 
appreciated. He was born in Germany, 
December 8, 1844, to John and Dora S. 
Lueth, who came to America from their na- 
tive land in 1849, landing in the city of New 
York. They soon after came to Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, then went by team and wagon to 
Galena, Illinois, thence to Dubuque, Iowa, 
where the father worked at the mason's trade 
(which he had learned and followed in his 
native land), until the fall of 1854, when he 
came with his family to La Crosse and here 
worked as a mason until his death in October, 
1867, his wife's death occurring at the age of 
eighty years. She died May 10, 1891. They 
were the parents of five children, four of 
whom are living: Sophia who resides at 
Dubuque, Iowa; Dora, also a resident of that 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



457 



city; Edward, a machinist of La Crosse, who 
has been in the employ ot Dean & Smith for 
over twenty years, and Henry. 

The latter was a lad of ten years when he 
came to this county and his knowledge of the 
" world of books " was acquired in the schools 
of Salem and La Crosse. At the age of seven- 
teen years he began working in the Wiscon- 
sin pineries and on the Mississippi river as a 
common hand. His ability soon became 
appreciated, and he was promoted to the posi- 
tion of foreman, which he held with ability 
for over twenty years. In 1878 he settled on 
his present farm of 210 acres, of which ninety- 
six acres are under cultivation, and are well 
and carefully tilled. His residence and barns 
are kept in excellent condition, his fences in 
good repair, and he is considered an accom- 
modating and desirable neighbor. 

He was married, October 8, 1867, in this 
county, to Miss Esther Ayer, a native of 
Mineral Point, Wisconsin, a lady whose 
intelligence, natural refinement and many 
domestic virtues make her a pleasing and 
entertaining companion. She is a daughter 
of Jonas and Leah (Nuttitig) Ayer, who were 
born in Somerset county, Maine. The father 
died in Onalaska in 1872, atthe age of sixty- 
seven years, and his widow is now a resident 
of Galesville, Wisconsin. A family of twelve 
children blessed their union, four sons and 
eight daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Lueth have 
four children: Miiton Henry; Emmett was 
drowned when three years of age; Clinton 
Douglas and Esther. Mr. Lueth has always 
supported the principles of Democracy, and 
has held minor official positions in his town- 
ship. He is a member of the L O. O. F., 
and has been a member of that worthy order 
— the Masonic fraternity — since 1876. Dur- 
ing the civil war he enlisted in the service 
twice, but as he was under age his father 
would not allow him to enter the service, 



which was a damper, indeed, to his youthful 
enthusiasm and ambition. He is a jovial and 
agreeable gentleman, a pleasant companion, 
and has numerous friends. In personal 
appearance he is prepossessing, has a fine 
physique and weighs 230 pounds. He was 
reared a Presbyterian. 

R. BLANCHARD, wholesale dealer in 
butter and eggs at La Crosse, Wis- 
® cousin. — The house of which Mr. 
Blanchard is the proprietor is one of the 
most enterprising and reliable institutions of 
La Crosse, and particularly deserves mention 
for the success it has achieved in a compara- 
tively short time in l)uilding up an extensive 
trade and taking a stand with the oldest and 
strongest in its special Held of activity in the 
city. The nucleus from which this enter- 
prise grew was laid by D. R. Blanchard in 
1882, in which year he came to the State of 
Wisconsin. He was born in Somerset county, 
Maine, in 1846, to Theron and Martha (Reed) 
Blanchard, both natives of Massachusetts. 
The father was an honest '-son of the soil" 
during his working years. He died in 1888, 
at the age of eighty-four years; the mother, 
who is a member of the Congregational 
Church, is a resident of Madison, Maine, and 
is in her eighty-first year. 

D. R. Blanchard was the sixth of their 
eleven children, the names of the members of 
the family being as follows: Theron, Martha, 
wife of Sheldon Reed; Hannah Or., Watson, 
Samuel N., Daniel R., Mary E., Ruel, who 
died at the age of nineteen years, and three 
that died in infancy. Theron Blanchard, the 
father, who was born in Massachusetts on 
the 27th of May, 1805, was a son of Jesse 
Blanchard, who died in 1805. His wife was 
a Miss Brown, who died in 1856, having 



45S 



BIOORAPHIGAL ni8T0RY. 



borne her husband three sons: Jesse, Quincy 
and Thcron, all of whom are deceased. The 
latter removed from Massaciiusetts to Maine 
about 1825, and Jiad been a resident of the 
last named State sixty years when he died. 
The maternal grandfatiier, Daniel Reed, was 
a farmer of Maine, to which State he re- 
moved in 1816, and there he died in 1883, at 
the advanced age of 103 years. He was first 
married to Hannah Gurney, and his second 
wife was a Miss Snow, who died at an ad- 
vanced acre. Mrs. Blanchard, the mother of 
the subject of this sketch, was the fourth in 
a family of five children: Edward, who mar- 
ried Sophia Whittier, who survives him; 
Mary, who died unmarried; John, who mar- 
ried Hannah French; Mrs. Blanchard, and 
Turner, who married Ann Flowers. D. R. 
Blanchard is a wide-awake man of 'business, 
a good citizen, and although lie has only 
been a resident of La Crosse a few years, he 
has become well known and his reputation is 
unblemished. He is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and politically he 
affiliates with the Democratic party. 

^HARLES H. MILLER, proprietor of 
the La Crosse Steam Laundry, was born 
at Waterloo, Dodge county, Wisconsin, 
December 23, 1855. His parents, who were 
natives of Germany, emigrated to America 
and died when Charles H. was a child. They 
left a family of three sons and two daughters. 
After the death of his father and mother, 
our subject went to live in Minnesota, near 
Owatonna, whore he spent his boyhood and 
youth. At the age of eighteen years he 
started out in life for himself, and lived for a 
number of years in Michigan. The pros- 
perity attending all commercial enterprises 
of La Crosse strongly recommended this city 



to the favor of Mr. Miller, and in 1884 he 
came here and went into the laundry busi- 
ness. He has accomplished very satisfactory 
results to himself, and has given to the city 
one more progressive and energetic business 
man. 

He was married while a resident of Michi- 
gan, to Miss Matilda Johnson, a native of 
Sweden, born near the city of Stockholm, and 
of this union two sons have been born: Ira 
Abel and Edwin Ray. 

Mr. Miller is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias, Lodge No. 27, at La Crosse, and is 
the present Master of Finance. 



J»-f£-. 



fA. TRUMBOWER, station agent of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Northern Rail- 
* way Company at Onalaska, and a resi- 
dent of this place since October, 1889, was 
born near J>rookville, Ogle county, Illinois, 
October 7, 1863. son of J. R. Trum bower, 
who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania and married Amelia Butts. The name 
Trumbower is of German origin. The fam- 
ily were early and prominent settlers of Ogle 
county. The grandfather, Jacob Trumbower, 
located at Chambers' grove, sixteen miles 
from Freeport, Illinois. Mr. Trumbower's 
mother was a daughter of Aaron Butts, who 
was one of the first settlers in Black Hawk 
county, Iowa. J. R. Trumbower, the father 
of the subject of this sketch, moved in 1876 
to the vicinity of Ackley, Iowa, where he en- 
gaged in farming, and the son received his 
education in Franklin county, that State, and 
entered business. For a time he was tele- 
graph operator, as "extra," on the Central 
Iowa, railroad, and afterwards at Milledge- 
ville, Illinois, and in October, 1889, was 
transferred to Onalaska. He is a capable and 
efficient man for the business. 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



4r,d 



He was married at Milledgeville, Illinois, 
June 15, 1889, to Miss Ethel Myrta Steele, 
a lady of intelligence and ot a good family, 
born at De Soto, Wisconsin, a danghter of 
D. Abbott Steele, of Eock Falls, Illinois. 
During their residence at Onalaska Mr. and 
Mrs. Trumbower had a daughter, Edith Pearl 
who died at the age of nine months. 

Mr. Trumbower is an intelligent young 
man and of extended information, and frank 
and cordial in disposition. 



!RA E. GREEN, is well known and highly 
respected throughout La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, as one of its worthy and intelli- 
gent citizens, public-spirited and of sterling 
integrity. He deserves more than ordinary 
mention as a successful farmer, for he began 
life at the foot of the ladder but by industry, 
economy and thrift, he has conquered adver- 
sity and has made himself one of the leading 
and influential citizens of the community in 
which he lives. He was born at Rock Prairie, 
Rock county, Wisconsin, a son of Henry H. 
and Abigail (Vought) Green, the former of 
whom was born in Orange county. New 
York and the latter in Pennsylvania, although 
she was reared and educated in Orange 
county, New York. The paternal grand- 
father was of English descent and was a sol- 
dier in the Revolutionary war, taking sides 
with the Colonists in their struggle for lib- 
erty. Henry Green came with his family to 
Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1840, of which 
place they were among the first settlers, and 
when their son Ira E. was a babe they came 
to Onalaska and settled one mile east of the 
town. To them a family of fifteen children 
were born, nine of whom are living. The 
father died in California in 1860, to which 
State he had gone in 1856, but his widow 



still survives him and has attained the age of 
seventy-six years, and is residing in La 
Crosse. 

Ira E. Green was brought up on a farm, 
and was given the benefit of the common 
schools in the vicinity of his home. In early 
manhood he went to Cottonwood county, 
Minnesota, where he entered some land un- 
der the homestead law, and resided on this 
land for eight years. After returning to his 
home and remaining here three years he went 
to Helena, Montana, where he was in the 
lumber business two and a half years. Upon 
returning once more to this county, he loca- 
ted at Midway where he conducted a mercan- 
tile establishment for two years and then sold 
out, and bought his present farm, which for- 
merly belonged to William Ruddle. This 
place is a valuable one and the value of the 
land itself is augmented l)y the erection of 
commodious and substantial buildings of all 
kinds and a fine windmill, all of which are 
kept in good repair. Evei-ything about his 
place indicates that a man of thrift and en- 
ergy is at the helm, and that he possesses 
intelligence of a high order and sound and 
practical views. 

He wag married December 30, 1876, at La 
Crosse, by Rev. Smith, to Miss Sophia Spang- 
ler, a lady of education and retitiement. 
Her father, Rev. J. H. Spangler, was born 
in Switzerland and died in May, 1890. His 
wife, Louisa Hanhart, was born, reared and 
married in Switzerland. They came to Wis- 
consin in 1851, and here reared a family of 
ten children, three sons serving in the civil 
war: Henry, Walter and Adolph. Their 
mother died in Sauk county, Wisconsin, in 
1854, when her daughter, Mrs. Green, was an 
infant. 

Mr. and Mrs. Green have two daughters: 
Imoorene Louisa, born November 21, 1879, 



460 



BIOGRA PIIICAL EISTOR 7. 



and Irina Elizabeth, born September 30, 
1881. 

Mr. Green is a Democrat, and socially be- 
longs to the I. O. (). F. His manners are 
frank and cordial, indicative of the man, and 
his personal popularity is abundant proof of 
his many sterling characteristics. 



-S->^H1-* 



L. CLAIIK, a tanner and farmer by oc- 
cupation, but later engaged in mercan- 
* tile trade, was born in Erie county, 
New York, in 1824, a son of John and Nancy 
(Levins) Clark, natives of New Hampshire 
and Vermont respectively. Dr. Samuel 
Clark, the paternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was a physician of enviable reputation 
in Stanstead, Canada; he married i'etsey 
Burton, and to them were born live sons and 
live daughters. John Clark was a tanner by 
trade, and followed that calling forty years 
and more. He came West with his family 
in 1851, and settled in La Crosse county, 
where he engaged in agriculture; his death 
occurred in 1860, his age being sixty-five 
years. He was one of the first Supervisors 
of the county, and was widely and favorably 
known. His wife died in 1853 at the age of 
lifty-three years; they were both people of 
strict integrity of character, and endured 
courageously all the hardships of their early 
life on the frontier. To them were born six 
children, three ot whom are living. P. L. 
Clark, one of the three, has been engaged in 
both commercial and agricultural pursuits. 
For six years he was Chief of Folicc of La 
Crosse, and as this city is justly entitled to 
the reputation of being one of the most 
orderly places on the Mississippi river, it is 
not unfair to place the credit where it is due. 
He was one of the most watchful officials the 



city has ever known, and fully possessed the 
courage of his convictions. 

In 1848 Mr. Clark went to Mississipju, and 
remained there four years, engaged in the 
tanning business. Hi.s marriage to Miss 
Martha Kimball occurred in 1855, and of this 
union were born four children: Mary is the 
wife of J. C. Saupe of La Crosse, and they 
arethe parents of one child. Flora May; Albert 
P. is one of the proprietors of one the largest 
livery stables in the city; Charles K. is station 
agent at Alden, Minnesota, and has been 
mayor of Alden for a number of years; he 
owns a large stock farm in Minnesota, and is 
very successful in his business operations; 
he married Miss Jennie St. John, of Vir- 
ginia, and they have three children: Frank, 
Sydney and Roy; Florence married Joseph 
Morley, of Neillsville, Wisconsin, and they 
have one child, Joseph Clark. Mrs. Clark is 
a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her 
parents, Abraham and Mary (Bradbury) 
Kimball, were from Buxton, Maine; they 
died a few years alter coming to the West; 
they first settled in Illinois, and afterwards 
removed to Wisconsin; tlie father died in 
1851, at the age of sixty eight years; his wife 
died the same year, at the age of sixty-three 
years. They had eight children, three of 
whom are yet living: Horace, of Paddock, 
Minnesota; Charles, of Oakland, California, 
and Mrs. Clark. Mary Bradbury Kimball 
was a relative of William B. Bradbury, the 
celebrated musician. The Kimball fnmily is 
from the county of Cumberland, England, 
and takes its origin from a pari-^h of that 
name upon the Scottish border. The descrip- 
tion of their coat of arms from the IleraUVs 
College, London: "The arms are argent 
[silver]; a lion rampant; gules [red] upon a 
chief [sable]; three crescents of goM. The 
crest is a lion rampant holding in the dexter 
paw a dagger aupropre. Motto: J'^ortis, non 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



461 



ferox [brave but not ferocious.]" The lion 
rampant in the coat- of- arms show that an 
ancestor had won a battle while in command 
at an engagement. The chief is a grant of 
honor for services done the government; and 
the crescents show that these services were 
against the Moors. The lion with a dagger 
in the crest shows that he who gained the 
victory dispatched the comtnander of the 
opposing forces with his dagger. 

Politically our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and ardently supports the 
issues of that body. He belongs to the 
Chosen Friends. He is a man of good prin- 
ciples, strong purposes and tliorough reliabil- 
ity, commanding the esteeni and highest 
regard of the entire community. 

fOHN WHELDON, Justice of the Peace, 
Notary Public and conveyancer of 
Bangor, resides on section 5, township 
16, range 5 west, where he settled in 1853. 
He was born in Wales, October 4, 1815, a son 
of William J. Wheldon, deceased, a native of 
the same country. He went to Philadelpiiia, 
Pennsylvania, in 1817, and tiience to Steuben 
township, Oneida county, New York, in Dec- 
ember, 1819, where the parents both died 
several years later. 

John, the subject of this sketch, wat edu- 
cated in the common and high schools, and 
also taught school five winters in New York. 
He emigrated to tiiis place in 1853, where lie 
built the first log house, 22 x 16 feet. The 
Indians and wild animals were then numer- 
ous, and deer was shot on the present site of 
the village of Bangor. His farin lay in the 
Bur Oak openings, and he now owns 180 
acres, which is operated by his son, he devot- 
ing his time to his business interests. He 

o 

has been a member of both the County Board 

SI 



and Side Board several years, and in the early 
days was Superintendent of Schools. He was 
elected Justice of the Peace in April, 1872, 
and in the same year was appointed Notary 
Public. He has been a Republican since the 
party was organized, but never takes an active 
part in politics. He was appointed Post- 
master under President Grant April 28, 1873, 
and served unfil 1885, when he was removed 
on account of his political views. 

Mr. Wheldon was married, in April, 1843, 
to Elizabeth Roberts, a native of Wales, and 
daughter of Richard Roberts, deceased. They 
have had twelve children, eleven of whom 
grew to maturity, viz.: Elias, Laura A., 
William, Richard (deceased), Stephen B., 
Morris C, Newton, John, Jennie M., Robert 
and Griffith. Mrs. Wheldon died in March, 
1886 She was a consistent Christian and a 
member of the Congregational Church, of 
which our subject is also a member. 



C. HANSON, one of the most active 
»jv.g members of commercial circles in La 
® Crosse county, has resided here since 
1866, and in that time has built up a large 
and thriving business. He is a native of 
Norway, born on St. Patrick's day, in 1845, 
a son of Hans and Mary Hanson. His fatlier 
was a farmer by occupation, and he was 
reared to thesame calling; he attended school 
until he was fourteen years of age, and then 
worked on the farm until he was nineteen. 
Desirous of trying some other kind of em- 
ployment he secured a position as clerk, 
which he tilled for two years. Then came 
the wish to see another country, and to try 
his fortunes in the New World. Accordingly 
he sailed away across the sea to America, 
landing in the city of Quebec, in July, 1866, 
whence he went directly to Chicago, Illinois. 



462 



BIOORAPUICAL HISTORY. 



After a short time in that city he came to 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, and settled on Half- 
way creek; he next lived in the town of Ona- 
laska for eirrhteen months, and from that 
point moved to Hamilton township, where he 
took up a homestead of Government land; he 
proved up on this tract and sold it in 1877. 
He then embarked in general mercantile 
trade in Rockland with John H. Dahl, the 
firm name being Hanson & Dahl; this rela- 
tionship existed from 1877 to 1879, when 
they bonght the stock of H. Holmboe, of 
Mindoro, and removed to that place; the 
business was conducted under the same firm 
name until January 12, 1885, when Mr. 
Hanson bought Mr. Dalil's interest, and has 
continued the business alone. November 29, 
1890, he purchased the stock of J. H. Hodge 
& Co., and now carries a stock of $10,000. 
In addition to this enterprise he owns a 
creamery which he has managed since 1888; 
in 1890 the sales were $25,000; he also oper- 
ates a cheese factory, the annual trade of 
which amounts to $2,500. 

Politically Mr. Hanson is identilied with 
the Republican party, and is an ardent sup- 
porter of the issues of that body. He has 
served as Chairman of the Board of Super- 
visors for three years, reflecting great credit 
upon himself and his constituency; he has 
been Treasurer of the township for three 
years, and was Secretary of the School Board 
for a number of years, and is at present its 
Treasurer. Ho is one of the trustees of the 
La Crosse asylum, and has filled this responsi- 
ble position since the institution was opened. 
In the spring of 1879 he was appointed Post- 
master at Mindoro, and held that office until 
the fall of 1885. In January, 1891, he was 
appointed to the same position, and is the 
present incumbent of that office; is one of the 
World's Fair Commissioners for La Crosse 



county, and a member of the Norden Society 
of La Crosse. 

Mr. Hanson has been twice married: in 
March, 1879, he' was united to Miss Anna 
Knutson, a native of Norway; she was but 
seven years of age when she was brought to 
this country, was educated here, and became 
a successful teacher. She was the mother of 
three children : Alfred M., Clarence and Alma 
L. Her death occurred in 1885; she was a 
worthy member of the Lutheran Church, and 
a woman greatly beloved by all who knew 
her. The second marriage of our subject was 
to Miss Anna Anderson, in 1886; she is also 
a native of Norway; one son has been born 
of this union, Alexander T. 

In addition to his mercantile interests Mr. 
Hanson owns a good residence and some 
town lots; he is a man of superior business 
qualifications, and has made the most of the 
opportunities that have been presented to 
him since taking up his residence in the 
United States. He has always given a lib- 
eral support to those movements which have 
recommended themselves as being of benefit 
to th§ general public, and the position he has 
taken in the commercial world is one of which 
any man might well be proud. 



5SAAC D. DAVIS was born at Cardigan- 
shire, South Wales, January 10, 1838, 
son of Isaac D. Davis, Sr., and Margaret, 
his wife, both natives of that place. He is one 
of a family of nine children, four sons and 
five daughters. When he was fourteen years 
old his father died. His mother lived to be 
eighty. Isaac D. was reared in his native 
land, and from his youth up worked in a 
coal mine, becoming an expert miner before 
he was twenty- one. When he reached his 
majority he left Wales, sailed from Liverpool 



BIOGRAPHIOAL HI8T0RT. 



463 



to Eoston, and from there went North; wa^ 
in Halifax, Canada East, Montreal and Que- 
bec; thence to Boston and New York. He 
finally located in Luzerne county, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he engaged in coal-mining for 
several years, and was successful. 

While in Pennsylvania, Mr. Davis was 
married, December 10, 1863, to Elizabeth 
Williams, who was born in Glamorganshire, 
Wales, in 1846. Her parents, John and 
Elizabeth Williams, were natives of Wales, 
passed their lives and died there. They had 
three sons and two daughters. Eight children 
have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, seven 
of whom are living, viz.: Elizabeth Ann, wife 
of William Griffin, of Mount Pleasant, Mich- 
igan, has three children; John, of North La 
Crosse, is married and has one son; and 
Thomas, Maggie, Willie, Gomer and Nelly, 
at home. Isaac died at the age of four 
months. 

Mr. Davis left Scranton, Pennsylvania, in 
1866, and went West. He traveled all over 
Missouri, seeking a desirable location, and in 
1871 we find him settled near Oskaloosa, in 
Mahaska countv, Iowa. After remaining 
there a year he took his family East, and at 
New York embarked for California, making 
the journey via the Isthmus of Panama. Ar- 
riving on the Pacific coast, he took up his 
abode in Contra Costa county, and lived there 
for some time. Returning East by rail, he 
again settled in Mahaska county, Iowa, where 
he lived three years; thence to La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin. Here he purchased 120 
acres of fine land in the Lewis valley and has 
since resided on it. He has a comfortable 
cottage home, built in 1887, and located half 
a mile from the village of Mindoro. All the 
improvements on his farm are first-class and 
are kept in good order. He is engaged in 
general farming and dairying, keeping ten 
cows. 



Mr. Davis cast his first vote for Abraham 
Lincoln, and has since affiliated with the lie- 
publican party. He was reared a Methodist 
and his wife a Baptist. Being a close obser- 
server and having traveled extensively, Mr. 
Davis possesses a general fund of useful in- 
formation. Honorable and upright in all his 
business dealings, and obliging in his dispo- 
sition, he has the good will of all who know 
him. 

Such is a brief sketch of one of the repre- 
sentative citizens of Farmington township. 



-^^uxrWy 



~<r 



jyinn^^ 



EORGE SLIGER, a farmer of Farming, 
ton township, is one of the best-known 
of the early German settlers of La Crosse 
county, having been a resident since April 
17, 1853. He was born in Saxony, Septem- 
ber 9, 1822, and is a son of Henry and Eve 
(Storandt) Sliger. He is the youngest of a 
family of three sons and four daughters, and 
was but three years of age when his mother 
died. He attended school until he was four- 
teen years old, and then was an evening pupil 
for a time; he took up the trade of a mason, 
and served an apprentijeship of several years. 
His father was a master mason, and had charge 
of a large number of men; he died in his na- 
tive land, at the age of seventy-three years. 

When our subject was twenty-two years of 
age, he sailed from Bremen for the port of 
New York, believing that the opportunities 
afforded in the United States excelled those 
of the Old World. After a voyage of fifty- 
eight days he reached America, and continued 
his journey to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, via the 
Great Lakes; thence he went to Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, and settled at Lake 
Geneva, where he secured employment as a 
hostler in a hotel. He was one of the first 
settlers in this place; there were no roads ex- 



464 



BIOORAPHICAL BISTORT. 



cept the Indian trails, and iraine could be had 
in abundance. Fortune did not at first smile 
upon Mr. Sliger; first he had a horse stolen, 
and then an ox died, and a series of misfor- 
tunes followed. But he is well endowed with 
that pluck and perseverance which so strongly 
characterizes his nationality, and he has suc- 
ceeded in overcoming many obstacles. He 
now owns a farm of 103 acres, which is well 
improved with substantial barns and sheds, 
and has a comfortable and convenient resi- 
dence. 

Mr. Sliger was united in marriage, February 
26, 1848, at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to 
Miss Margaret Young, also a native of 
Saxony, and a daughter of John Adam 
Young, who settled in Wisconsin in 1847. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Sliger have been born seven 
daughters: Mary, Amelia, wife of Robert 
Williams; Anna, wife of James H. EsaboU; 
Elizabeth, wife of Orlo Robinson; Lydia, 
wife of Dell Quiggle; Sarah, wife of Ed Rat- 
cliffe. 

In his political convictions, our subject ad- 
heres to the principles of the voters known 
as independents. He is a member of the 
Lutheran Church, and enjoys the esteem of 
all his associates. Although he lacks but one 
year of the " three score and ten " allotted to 
man, he is hale and strong and bids fair to 
see another decade in the history of tiie North- 
west. 



mijELANCTMON T. BURKE, secretary 
of the J. S. Medary Saddlery Com- 
pany, was born near Bethel, Clermont 
county, Ohio, March 17, 1831. His paternal 
great-grandfather, Hubert Burke, settled in 
Virginia previous to the Revolution and there 
married a sister of Obed Dunham, who laid 
out the village of Dunhamstown (afterwards 



Bethel), Ohio, and donated the land on which 
the Baptist church was built, the deed speci- 
fying that " no member of said church 
shall hold slaves or deal in intoxicating 
liquors." The anti-slavery and temperance 
sentiment of a later day was largely the result 
of the work of a few such sturdy souls who 
had the courage of their convictions at a time 
when it cost something. 

Kelly Burke, son of Hubert Burke, emi- 
grated from Virginia, first to Kentucky, where 
he married Sarah Beck, and afterwards to 
Clermont county, Ohio, where Kelly D. 
Burke, the father of our subject was born, 
his mother, Emeline (Hill) Burke, being a 
native of Kentucky. The ancestors men- 
tioned were sturdy American pioneers of the 
best type, and were without exception promi- 
nent members of the Baptist Churcii, and 
uncompromising "old-line Whigs." 

Mr. Burke is one of a family of six sons 
and three daughters. His youth was spent 
in acquiring a good common-school education 
and assisting his father in clearing up and 
tilling the old Ohio farm. At the age of 
eighteen years he began his business career 
in the village of Bethel as clerk in a general 
store. After three years of faithful service, 
he embarked in the same kind of business 
for himself, which he cai-ried on for several 
years. At the a^e of twenty-four he closed 
out his Bethel store and accepted a propo- 
sition of Jesse R. Grant (father of Gen- 
eral Grant), to go to Galena, Illinois, and 
assist in the management of his wholesale 
leather and saddlery business, then in charge 
of Mr. Grant's son, Samuel S. Grant. Mr. 
Grant's youngest son, Orville L., was sent to 
the Galena store two years later, and his son. 
Captain Ulysses S. Grant, who had resigned 
his commission in the regular army, followed 
in February, 1860. Two years later found 
Samuel S. Grant in a consumptive's grave, 




Cn4ii--^^>'FiJC*'-»ui'>^'^' 




C 



'^€l<^ '^^V 




BIOGBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



465 



General U. S. Grant fighting the rebels at 
the head of the Array of the Tennessee, Or- 
ville L. Grant in charge of the Galena store, 
and M. T. Eurke in charge of a new leather 
and saddlery budiness at La Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, under the firm name of Grant & Burke, 
his partner being Orville L. Grant. A branch 
leather store had also been opened at Cedar 
Falls, Iowa. In 1866 the Galena, La Crosse 
and Cedar Falls stores were sold out and con- 
solidated at Chicago under the firm name of 
Grant, Burke & Co., the La Crosse business 
being sold to Davis, Medary & Hill. 

In 1869, Mr. Burke withdrew from the firm 
of Grant, Burke & Co., but continued in the 
general leather and tanning business at Chi- 
cago and Portsmouth, Ohio, until 1880, at 
which time he returned to La Crosse as man- 
ager for the business he had established in 1861, 
now the J. S. Medary Saddlery Company. 
This company, of which he is a member, is 
one of the leading industries of the city, and 
has won a high reputation in commercial cir- 
cles. 

Mr. Burke was married in 1852, to Helen 
M. Ross, a niece of Mrs. Jesse R. Grant. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Burke have been born three 
sons. The eldest son, Edward Ross, is a 
member of the prominent La Crosse Banking 
and Insurance firm of Magill & Burke. lie 
married Anna L. Tracy (deceased), a grand- 
daughter of United States Senator Uriah 
Tracy, of New York. One child, Tracy L., 
was born to them. The second son, Charles 
Sumner, is the general agent of the Connect- 
icut Life Insurance Company at Boston, 
Massachusetts. He married Nellie Oatman, 
of Winsted, Connecticut, and Robert E. is 
their only child. The youngest son of Mr. 
and Mrs. Burke, William E., died at La 
Crosse in 1865. 

Mr. Burke is a member of the Masonic 
order and of the Universalist Church. He is 



an ardent and active Republican, but has 
never held a remunerative office. In 1852 
he was a delegate to the Whig State Conven- 
tion at Columbus, Ohio. He has served the 
city of La Crosse two terms as a member of 
the Council, and also as a member of the 
Board of Education. 

Just before the surrender of General Lee, 
Mr. Burke was given a secret commission by 
the Treasury Department to negotiate the 
purchase and protection of tobacco, cotton, 
etc., in Richmond, but Grant struck the last 
blow before the mission could be accom- 
plished. 

In 1865, he was the Republican candidate 
for Mayor of La Crosse. The city was at 
that time largely Democratic, and he was de- 
feated by a small majority. He is a genial, 
courteous gentleman, is public-spirited and 
worthy of the esteem in which he is held. 

ILLS TOURTELLOTTE, attorney at 
law. La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born 
"^^^ in Holyoke, Massachusetts, August, 
31, 1853, and his parents are now honored 
residents of La Crosse. Both were natives of 
Connecticut. The father came to La Crosse 
Wisconsin, with his family, consisting of his 
wife and eldest son, and settled at West Sa- 
lem, since when they have had two sons and 
one daughter. He and Thomas Leonard were 
the principal movers in laying out that vil- 
lage. The father lived on a farm right in 
town until about 1884, when he moved to 
Denver, Colorado, where his son, John F., 
an able attorney, resides, and remained there 
until 1889. He then came to La Crosse, of 
which city he has been a resident ever since. 
Col. J. E. Tourtellotte, an uncle of our sub- 
ject's, was on General Sherman's staif until 
the latter was retired. He died J uly 22, 1891, 




46C 



BIOGRAPUIGAL HISTORY. 



and is interred at the National Cemetery at 
Arlington, Virgiunia. He was but fifty- 
eight years of age. 

Mills Tourtellotte was educated in the 
State University, in the class of 1877, but 
graduated in the law class of that institu- 
tion in 1875. He then opened an office in 
La Crosse and has continuously practiced law 
here since, meeting with excellent success. 
He is interested in all the enterprises which 
promise for their object the welfare of the 
city, and is a public-spirited citizen. 

He was married in 1878, to Miss Lillie 
Woodbury, daughter of Capt. W. W. 
Woodbury, of Boston, Massachusetts. Capt. 
Woodbury served in the civil war and died 
November 15, 1891, aged sixty-two years. 
He served in a Minnesota regiment during 
die entire war. Mrs. Tourtellotte is the only 
child. Her mother is still living and is sixty 
years of age. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte have been 
born four children: Lillie W., Augustus M., 
Wallace L., and Nathaniel M. 

Mr. and Mrs. Tourtellotte attend the Epis- 
copal Church. Socially the former is a mem- 
ber of the K. of P., has been all through the 
chairs in the local lodge and lias been a rep- 
resentative in the Grand Lodge one year. He 
is also a member of the Royal Arcanum and 
has been through all the chairs in the local 
lodge. 

Mr. Tourtellotte is proprietor of the Tour- 
tellotte stock and dairy farm at Middle Kidge, 
La Crosse county, and Mr. A. C. Barber is 
manager. This is one of the largest stock 
and dair}' farms in the county and Mr. Tour- 
tellotte is actively engaged in breediug thor- 
oughbred Holstein cattle and Poland-China 
pigs. The farm embraces 500 acres. This 
is one of the leading industries of the county, 
and is complete in all its appointments, includ- 
ing creamery, etc. Mr. Tourtellotte takes a 



decided interest in politics and is an advocate 
of the principles of the Bepublican party, 
thoucjh not anxious to hold ottice. He is well 
read, is an able attorney, and possesses excel- 
lent business qualifications. 



.®i 



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*i^ 



-^^ 




ARTIN REICHERT, a farmer resid- 
ing near Stevenstown, is another one 
of the enterprising and successful 
men of this county. 

Mr. Reichert claims Prussia as the country 
of his nativity, the date of his birth being 
November 23, 1844. He is a son of Jacob 
and Mary Ann (Teice) Reichert, both natives 
of Prussia. The subject of our sketch was a 
babe when his parents sailed for America. 
They landed at New York and from there 
came direct to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, soon 
after settling in Washington county. In 
1863 they came to La Crosse county, and here 
the parents passed the residue of their lives 
and died. They reared a family of six chil- 
dren, all of whom are living, namely: Agnes, 
Jacob, David, Martin, Mary and Barbara. 
Four of them are in this country. The father 
died at the age of sixty-five years. In early 
life lie was engaged at work in the lumber 
woods in Prussia, but after coming to Amer- 
ica he turned his attention to farming. The 
mother passed away in 1884, at the age of 
seventy-four years. 

Martin Reichert spent bis youth at farm 
work and received his education in the dis- 
trict schools. He was nineteen years of age 
when he came to this county. During the 
war he enlisted, in February, 1865, in Com- 
pany C, Forty-ninth Wisconsin Infantry, 
and was at first stationed with his regiment 
in Madison. He was afterward in Missouri 
at St. Louis and Rolla. He received his dis- 
charge at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, after 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



467 



which he returned to his home in Wisconsin. 
Mr. Reichert has a tine farm of 200 acres, a 
part of which was purchased in 1863. It is 
well improved, with a comfortable log house, 
stables, fences, etc., and is devoted to general 
farming. 

Mr. Reichert was married November 27, 
1874, to Ella Brown, a native of Winnebago 
county, Wisconsin. Her parents, Russell 
and Lucy Jane (McPherson) Brown, were na- 
tives of Maine and New York respectively, 
they had nine children, six of whom are liv- 
ing, viz.: Emma, Ella, Etta, Marsella, Has- 
call and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Reichert 
have six children, whose names are as follows: 
Martin, Royal, Carrie, Albert, Cecil and 
Chester. 

Politically, Mr. Reichert is a Republican. 
He is a member of Nelson Quygle Post, No. 
233, G. A. R.. of Mindoro. 



-^-^^n/Uly- 



-q/mri^^ 



jLEXANDER FORREST, like many of 
Wisconsin's best citizens, is a native of 

^ Scotland. A man of strong physique, 
strict integrity, and genial manner, he pos- 
sesses the chief characteristics of his country- 
men. 

Mr. Forrest was born in Lanarkshire, Scot- 
land, February 28, 1822. His father, Will- 
iam Forrest, was a son of Alexander Forest, 
both natives of that country and by occupa- 
tion farmers. His mother, whose maiden 
name was Beatrice Pettegrew, was a native 
of the same shire. They were the parents 
of four sons and six daughters, the subject 
of our sketch being the fifth born in the 
family. The father died at the age of eighty- 
four years, and the mother reached the 
advanced age of ninety-five years before her 
death. 

Alexander Forrest grew up on a farm and 



received his education in the schools of his 
native land. For eight years he was engaged 
in a milling and provision business in Glas- 
gow, and for a number of years was employed 
in the iron works of Castle Hill. In 1867 
he came to Wisconsin and settled in Farm- 
ington township. La Crosse county. Here he 
purchased of Angus Cameron what was 
known as the Lewis farm, one of the oldest 
farms in the county. It was on this farm 
the old Lewis mill was built in 1848, the 
mill that ground the first wheat raised in this 
part of the county. This place consists of 
140 acres of rich bottom land, well watered 
by Fleming creek, and has a good house, 
barn, etc. 

At the age of twenty-nine years Mr. For- 
rest was united in marriage with Jeanette 
McGrindle, a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, 
and a daughter of William McGrindle. Four 
sons and four daughters came to bless their 
union, namely: Thomas and Andrew, of 
Farmington township; James is married and 
lives on the home place; Beatrice, wife of 
Bishop Hobbs, of La Crosse; Elizabeth, wife 
of E. Fuller, this township; Maggie, at home; 
and two are deceased, William, who died in 
Moody county, Dakota, leaving a widow and 
four children, and Ann, who died at the age 
of twenty-six years. Mr. Forrest and his 
family are among the highly respected people 
of this vicinity. He is in politics a Repub- 
lican, and in religion a Presbyterian. 



lif^^ERBERT LOVEJOY, manufacturer of 
sash, doors, blinds, mouldings, brackets, 
flooring, siding, ceiling, and dealer in 
building paper, window glass, builders' hard- 
ware and building uiaterial generally, has 
been established in business in La Crosse 
since 1881. 



408 



BIOGRArUlCAL HISTORY. 



He ia a native of the State of New York, 
born at Ogdensbnrg, December 20, 1851, a 
son of AVilliani and Elizabeth (Kelly) Love- 
joy. His father was also a dealer in building 
material; his grandfather, Ransom Lovejoy, 
was a farmer by occupation, and served as a 
soldier in the war of 1812. Both the pater- 
nal and maternal ancestors were men and 
women of robust constitutions, were above 
medium stature, and were also vei-y long- 
lived. 

Herbert Lovejoy passed his youth in his 
native village, receiving a good education in 
the public schools. At the age of thirteen 
years he came West, and secured employment 
in Chicago with the firm of Heath tt Milli- 
gan, paint m'anufacturers. He finally re- 
turned to New York, and again came to 
Chicago in the spring of 1872. In the fall 
of the same year he came to La Crosse, re- 
maining one year, at the end of which period 
he went home on account of the death of his 
father. 

He and his brother Fred went to Preseott, 
Canada, where they were about establishing 
themselves in business, when the great fire 
at St. John, New Brunswick, occurred, and 
they started for that city, believing that bet- 
ter opportunities awaited them there, bat, 
arriving at Montreal, received discouraging 
reports from St. John. Accordingly they 
sold their boats which they had taken with 
them. They next turned their attention to 
the "West, securing a hack with which they 
drove overland to Chicago. Arriving in that 
city they sold their team, and took the train 
for La Crosse. This was in the fall of 1877, 
and until 1881 our subject worked at the 
business of sash manfacturing. Then, as 
before stated, he established himself in busi- 
ness. He erected the plant known as the 
Novelty Wood Works, which was burned 
out in 1888, and he lost every dollar he was 



worth. He rebuilt the present plant, and one 
year afterward sold out to the j)resent owner, 
J. E. Wheeler. He then spent some time in 
Washington Territory, and after his return 
he went to Merrill, Wisconsin, where he 
started a large plant for a company there. In 
1889 he erected the plant in La Crosse where 
he is conducting a thriving trade. 

Mr. Lovejoy was married in S{)arta, Wis- 
consin, to Miss Isabella E. Gnrr, a native of 
Chicago, Illinois, and a daugliter of William 
and Mary Gurr, who came from Sussex, 
England. Mrs. Lovejoy's father was a black- 
smith by trade, but followed agricultural pur- 
suits after coming to America. Mr. and 
Mrs. Lovejoy are the parents of two children, 
Hattie and Florence. Mr. Lovejoy is a 
charter member of the Builders' Exchange, 
and was one of the charter members of the La 
Crosse Building Association, and is a present 
member of its directory. 



ILLIAM JOHN DAVIDSON, a 
highly respected citizen of La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, is a native of the State 
of New York, born at Redford, Clinton 
county, February 21, 1841. His parents, 
William and Lucinda (Bird) Davidson, were 
natives of Leeds, England, and the State of 
New York respectively. The paternal grand- 
father was John Davidson who emigrated to 
America and settled in Redford, Clinton 
county, New York. Lucinda Bird was tiie 
daughter of John A. Bird, who was a native 
of England and emigrated to America and 
settled in New York. The subject of this 
notice passed his boyhood and early youth in 
his native State, and at the age of sixteen 
years he came to the West and made his 
home in Caledonia, Minnesota, until the 
breaking out of the civil war. lie then 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOIiT. 



469 



espoused the cause of the Union, and Sep- 
tember 30, 1861, he enlisted in the First 
Wisconsin Light Artillery, and did service for 
three years and twenty-six days. He partici- 
pated in many of the most important battles 
of the war, among which maybe mentioned: 
Cumberland Gap, Tazewell, Ganley Bridge, 
Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Thomp- 
son's Hill, Black River Bridge, Champion 
Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Red 
River and Clinton. After the cessation of 
hostilities he was engaged in various kinds of 
work along the Mississippi river for a period 
of two years. He then took up the business 
of house and sign painting, and in 1872 
went to Chicago, where he remained for four- 
teen years. In 1886 he came to La Crosse, 
and has been prominently identified with his 
branch of the building business since that 
time. 

Mr. Davidson was united in marriage in 
this city in 1868, to Miss Mary J. Morton, 
a daughter of John and Catharine Morton, 
natives of Ireland. Two daughters have 
been born of this union: Loretta, tlie wife 
of Harvey E. Derr, and Irene. 

Our worthy subject is a member of the 
G. A. R., holding an official position in Wil- 
son Caldwell Post, No. 38, Department of 
Wisconsin; he is also a member of the Ma- 
sonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and of the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is 
a charter member of the Builders' Exchange 
of La Croose. 

i n «i y » S ' i S ' J' "-' " 



rHERON ANDERS, whose business 
y/lip^ career in Onalaska has been a most 
^' creditable one, is entitled to the follow- 
ing space in this history of La Crosse county. 
He was born in Seneca county, Ohio, Feb- 
ruary 15, 1859, a son of William H. and 



Kate (Madison) Anders, natives of Virginia 
and New York respectively. The father was 
a soldier in the late civil war, enlisting at 
La Crosse in the heavy Artillery; he served 
one year, and at the end of that time returned 
to this county. He died in 1888, but his 
wife still survives, a resident of Milwaukee. 
Two of their sons were also in the war: Innatus 
was a member of the Second Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle 
of Antietam; David foncrht in an Ohio Resfi- 
ment for three years. Theron Anders was a 
lad when he came to Wisconsin, where he re- 
ceived his education and grew to manhood. 
The great industry of the State, lumbering, 
furnished him employment when he started 
out to meet the responsibilities of life. He 
has worked in the woods, on the drive and on 
the river, and during the past seven years, 
has been superintendent of the East Fork 
Improvement Company. The experience he 
has had in every branch of this business ren- 
ders him a valued employe, and in his ca- 
pacity of superintendent he is immensely 
popular, not only with his company but with 
his men as well. He resides on Second street, 
Onalaska, where he owns a good piece of 
property. 

Mr. Anders was married Noven)ber 7, 
1874, to Miss Eva Sampson, a daughter of 
ELenry and Samantha (Webber) Sampson, 
natives of Chautauqua county, New York. 
Mrs. Anders was born in Licking county, 
Ohio, but during her early life was brouglit 
to Wisconsin where she grew to womanhood; 
her father is now deceased, and her mother 
lives at Shasta, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. 
Anders have two children: Thomas O. was 
born December 15, 1883, and William H., 
December 5,1885; the oldest child, Clarence 
Henry, died in infancy. 

In politics Mr. Anders adheres to the 
principles of the Democratic party. He 



470 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



belongs to the Masonic order, being a mem- 
ber of Onalaska Lodge, No. 214. He is in 
the prime of life, is possessed of excellent 
business al)ility, and has Ijefore him every 
prospect of success and prosperity. 



fOHN E. JONES is one of the pioneers 
of La Crosse county, having settled here 
in 1853, and aided in the development 
and growth of one of the l)est States in the 
Union. He is a citizen of the United States 
by adoption. He was born at Bristol, Mon- 
mouthshire, England, November 7, 1818, a 
son of William and Margaret (Jones) Jones. 
His grandfather and grandmother were Will- 
iam and Margaret Rogers. He was three 
years of age when his parents emigrated to 
America and settled in the Dominion of 
Canada. He was reared to the occupation of 
a farmer, and received his education in the 
common schools. He learned the trade of 
stuccoing, which he followed for some years. 
For a time he lived in Sherbrook, Canada, 
and at the age of nineteen years and six 
months he removed to Chicago, Illinois, 
where he worked at his trade for one year. 
He then went to Kockford, Illinois, and later 
on to Beloit, Wisconsin. He then went to 
Elkhorn, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where 
he remained eleven years. In 1853 he came 
to La Crosse county, and in a short time 
after his arrival here settled on the land he 
has since occupied. This land had been pur- 
chased in 1852. The first work Mr. Jones 
did in La Crosse county was to assist in the 
construction of a large mill which was being 
built by Smith, Burns & Kuberry. He also 
purchased from the Government 640 acres of 
as choice land as can be found in Lewis val- 
ley, which now has excellent improvements. 
A brick residence was erected in 1880, at a 



cost of $5,000, and is lieautifuUy situated in 
every respect. The barns, ice-liouse, cream- 
ery, machine house, granary, carriage house 
and crihs are all of a substantial style, and 
reflect great credit upon the thrifty owner. 

Mr. Jones was married June 20, 1842, to 
Miss Mary B. Hicks, of Boston, Massachu- 
setts, a daughter of Eiias Hicks, who came 
with his family to this county during its 
early settlemeht. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are 
the parents of nine children: Alfred A., 
George W., J-ohn M., Maria, wife of James 
Forest; Elias Jackson, Lemuel Byron, Lo- 
rette, who died at the age of six years; 
William Wilbur, who died at the age of 
three years, and Ann Eliza, wiio was sixteen 
at the time of her death. Lemuel B. resides 
on the home farm; he married Miss Mary 
H. Hemstock, May 28, 1890. She is a 
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sted- 
men) Hemstock, residents of Burns, LaCrosse 
county, and before her marriage was a very 
successful teacher. 

This family was called to mourn the death 
of the wife and mother, June 7, 1888, when 
she passed to the "great beyond," aged 
sixty-five years, lacking three days. She was 
a woman of rare Christian character, and was 
greatly beloved by all who knew her. 

Mr. Jones aOiliates with the Republican 
party, and is a stanch supporter of the prin- 
ciples of that organization. 

fOIIN RUEDY, deceased, formerly of 
section 8, Bangor township, was born in 
Prattigan, Switzerland, August 20, 1837, 
a son of Florien and Anna (Ruedy) Ruedy. 
The father brought liis family to the United 
States in August, 1840, and settled in lligh- 
land, Illinois, thirty miles east of St. Louis, 
and four years later they came to Sauk county. 



BIOOBAPEIOAL HISTORY. 



471 



Wisconsin, and iu 1851 to this county, 
settling on section 8, where our subject's 
widow now lives. The parents had seven 
children, only one of whom is now living, 
Mrs. Christine Wolf. 

John Ruedy, our subject, was a fanner and 
stock raiser all his life, and for many years 
operated the Bangor woolen mill in connec- 
tion with his farming. The mill was built 
in 1866, by Mr. Ruedy and George Scheidt. 
He owned a line farm of 170 acres in the 
homestead, besides sixty acres of timber land. 
He held the offices of Town Treasurer, As- 
sessor and Town Clerk several years and was 
also a member of the Side Board and School 
Board many years. In his political views he 
was a Republican, and socially a member of 
the A. 0. U. W. 

Mr. Ruedy was married June 1, 1861, to 
Ursula Saxer, a daughter of Peter and Ursula 
(Mongelt) Saxer. The parents were born in 
Splugen, Switzerland, and crossed the ocean 
in 1854, being fifty-two days en route. They 
lived one year in Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1855 
came to this county and settled in Dutch 
creek valley, Bangor township. The father 
died in Bangor, in 1875, and the mother now 
lives in this city, at the age of seventy-eight 
years. They were tlie parents of fifteen chil- 
dren, twelve of whom are now living, namely: 
Menga, now Mrs. Bosshard; Maria, Mrs. 
Accola; Peter, Ursula, now Mrs. Ruedy; 
Elizabeth, Mrs. Wettstein; Mattheus, Chris- 
tine, Mrs. Nolden; Katiiarine, Anna M., Mrs. 
Schilling; Lucia, Mrs. Nedvedeck; Edward 
and Annetta, Mrs. Williams. The children 
are now scattered in various parts of the 
country. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ruedy had four children: 
Anna, Ursula, Christine and Peter J. Anna 
married George W. Thompson of Sioux City, 
Iowa,and has one child, Juanita. Ursula mar- 
ried William II. Thompson, brother to G. W. 



Thompson, also of Sioux City. Christine 
married Nicholas M. Elsen, of Burns town- 
ship, and has one child, Orma. Mr. Ruedy 
died September 30, 1878. He was a lively, 
energetic and prosperous man, sociable, hon- 
est, and respected by all. In his death the 
family lost an affectionate husband and father, 
and the community a valuable member of 
societv. 



ARL C. CASBERG is one of the promi- 
nent and enterprising farmers of Hol- 
land township, this county. He came 
with his parents to La Crosse county iu 1860, 
and for thirty-one years has resided here. He 
was born in Norway, son of Christian Chris- 
tiansen and Caroline his wife, both natives of 
that country. They made their home in 
Holland township the rest of their lives and 
died here. Five sons composed their family 
of children. Carl was twelve years old when 
he came to this country. On the farm he 
grew up, doing the work of a farmer's boy 
and attending the district schools near his 
home. His present farm, which consists of 
120 acres, he purchased of Andrew Nelson, 
and on it he has lived seven years. He has 
a comfortable two-story residence; barn, 22 x 
32 feet in dimensions; ice house, 16 x 20 feet; 
and other substantial farm improvements that 
combine to make his place a valuable one 
well suited for successfully carrying on agri- 
cultural pursuits. Mr. Casberg is much 
interested in stock, especially horses. He 
has three of the finest stallions in the county: 
a thoroughbred Clyde, a French Canadian 
and a three-fourths Norman horse. He has 
devoted much time and money to this busi- 
ness, and has been very successful. He is in 
company with Thomas Johnson and Alfred 



Gaarder. Mr 



Casberg is one of the mos 



473 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTORT. 



euccessful threshers in this section of the 
country, having operated a machine for seven- 
teen years, during the autumn season. He 
now owns a steam thresher, fourteen-horse 
power. 

When he was twenty-four years old Mr. 
Casberg was united in marriage with Jenny 
Stoen, a native of La Crosse county, and a 
daughter of Benjamin Stoen. They have five 
children, namely: Carlton, Henry, John, 
Birdie and Laura. They lost one child whose 
name was Otilla. 

Mr. Casherg's political views are in har- 
mony with Republican principles. He is 
associated with the Farmers' Alliance and is 
a member of the Lutheran Church. ■ Well 
posted on the general topics of the day, broad 
and liberal in his views, frank and cordial in 
his maimers, he is a good neighbor and a 
popular citizen. 



H. HAWKINS, La Crosse, is one of 
the representative citizens of LaCrosse 
^® county, Wisconsin, and has held a num- 
ber of prominent offices in the town of La 
Crosse. He was born in Waukesha county, 
Wisconsin, December 14, 1847, and is a son 
of Homer Hawkins, who owed his nativity 
to the Empire State. TJie grandfather, Will- 
iam Hawkins, was a native of New England, 
born in 1758, and was in the war of 1812- 
Homer Hawkins attained his growth and re- 
ceived his education in his native State, and 
then went to Chicago in 1832, when that city 
was but a village. He was a mechanic, a 
blacksmith, and made the first plow in Chi- 
cago. From there he went to Waukesha 
county, Wisconsin, and tliere met and mar- 
ried Miss Lucy Post, who was born near 
London, England, in 1824, and who was but 
nine years of age when she crossed the ocean 



to America. She was the daughter of John 
Post, who was also a native of Etigland. 
Homer Hawkins and wife came to La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, in 1854, and having means 
purchased considerable land in this county 
and 900 acres across in Houston county, 
Minnesota. They resided for a time at Half- 
Way Creek, then on a farm which Paul Mc- 
Hugh now owns, near Midway, and later on 
the land now owned by his son, C. H. He 
died in August, 1868, when fifty-four years 
of age, and left a widow and two children. 
The mother was subsequently married to An- 
drew Quinn, and now resides on Fifth street. 
La Crosse. Homer Hawkins was a Republi- 
can in politics, and in his religious belief was 
a Universalist. 

C. H. Hawkins was the younger of the two 
children born to his parents; (his brother 
George is a resident of La Crosse). He 
passed his boyhood days on a farm, and when 
seven years of age came to La Crosse county, 
where he finished his growth and secured a 
fair education. The farm on which he now 
resides is a very valuable one, and on this he 
has resided the principal part of the time for 
thirty-two years. It is situated a mile and a 
quarter from La Crosse, and consists of 120 
acres of good land. His house is cosy and 
convenient, and his barns, carriage shed, 
cribs, etc., are all in good condition. He has 
a windmill on his place. 

Mr. Hawkins was married September 19, 
1873, to Miss Eline Hanson, who was a 
native of Norway and a girl of nine years 
when she came to this county. Her parents, 
Hans Erickson and Marie (Anderson) Erick- 
son, were natives of that country also. Mr. 
Erickson now resides in Hamilton township, 
where be has made his home for the past 
thirty years. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins have 
five living children: Willie IL, Fred N., 
Emily, Mattie A. and Clarence Raymond. 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



473 



Lnella was tlie tliird child, and died when 
fifteen months old; and Mabel, who was the 
fourth child, died when six months old. In 
politics Mr. Hawkins is a stanch Republican, 
and at present is treasurer of Campbell town- 
ship. He has been Assessor, Clerk, and a 
member of the School Board for the past 
sixteen years. He has been tendered other 
offices, but invariably refused. He is a popu- 
lar man, and one whose intelligence and enter- 
prise is well known. Mrs. Hawkins is a 
member of the Lutheran Church. 



(EORGE W. SCOTT, painter and decor- 
ator, No. 116 North Fourth street, La 
Crosse, is one of the most successful and 
enterprising of La Crosse county's citizens. 
He was born at Ashtabula Ohio, August 31, 
1840, and is a son of Ellis C. and Sophia 
(Doolittle) Scott, natives of Massachusetts 
and members of old New England families. 
They reared a family of five children, one son 
and four daughters: Mary is the wife of E. 
N. Bagley, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Jen- 
nette married J. C. Weaver, and resided until 
her death in Erie, Pennsylvania; George "W., 
the subject of this notice, and Susan C. were 
twins, she became the wife of L-a A. Willard; 
Ellen A. was twice married her first husband, 
J. M. Randall, was Assistant Provost-Mar- 
shal during the civil war, and died in this 
city in April, in 1865; his widow afterwards 
married W. A. Burton, of Sparta, Wisconsin, 
who is engaged in mercantile pursuits. 

The parents died in Ohio, and George W. 
removed to La Crosse in 1856, and served an 
apprenticeship to his trade. He enlisted in 
the First Wisconsin Battery Light Artillery 
in September, 1861, and served his country 
over three years. He participated in the 
siege of Vicksburs', and many other noted 



engagements; he was with Sherman on his 
expedition up the Chickasaw Bayou, and was 
also on the Red River expedition. He re- 
turned to New Orleans, was ordered to Baton 
Rouge, and engaged in several raids into the 
interior of Louisiana; when his term of ser- 
vice expired he came by the steamer Consti- 
tution, via Elmira, New York, as a guard to 
several hundred Rebel prisoners. 

He was married January 5, 1865, in North 
Blandford, Massachusetts, to Miss Olive L. 
Crosby, a daughter of Alonzo K. Crosby, 
born March 7, 1844. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott 
have been born three children : Nellie E., who 
died at the age of eight years; Emma L. and 
Gertrude G. Emma is a milliner and has 
been in the employ of the Trade Palace, La 
Crosse, for five years; she is also an artist, 
and is very successful in interior decorations. 

Mr. Scott has been engaged in the finish- 
ing of many of the best residences in La 
Crosse, among which may be mentioned those 
of Mayor Copeland, Hon. Alex. McMillan, 
G. C. Hixon, L N. Perry, W. W. Crosby and 
James Vincent. He finished the Gile Block, 
the La Crosse National Bank Block, and sev- 
eral other important business houses. He 
has been a life-long Republican, and is a 
a member of the Masonic fraternity, the A. 
O. U. W., and the Knights of Honor. 

fOHN W. JOHNSON.— Nowhere in La 
Crosse county is there to be found a man 
of more energy, determined will or force 
of character than Mr. Johnson possesses, and 
no agriculturist is deserving of greater suc- 
cess in the conduct and management of his 
farm than he. He owns what is known as 
the old John Clark farm, which was one of 
the first farms settled in the neighborhood, 
which contains 160 acres of well located and 



474 



BWORAPHICAL HISTOKY. 



fertile land. It is three and one-half miles 
from the city limits of La Crosse, and on it 
is a commodious two-story residence, with 
large barns and other out-buildings. Of this 
desirable piece of property he has been the 
owner since 1860. He was born in Orange 
county, Vermont, April 29, 1833, a son of 
William Johnson and grandson of John John- 
son, the latter being a native of New England 
and one of the pioneers of Vermont, enlisting 
from that State in the Revolutionary war as 
one of the famous " Green Mountain boys." 
William Johnson was married to Elizabeth 
Kent, who was a member of a prominent 
family of Vermont. She was born in Orange 
county, a daughter of Joseph Kent, who was 
a son of Colonel Jacob Kent, a Revolutionary 
soldier who went to Orange county, Vermont, 
on horseback, carrying cooking utensils with 
him on a pack horse. William Johnson and 
his wife reared three sons and three daugh- 
ters, the following members of which family 
are living: Jesse J., John W., Eugene and 
Ella Cram. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson removed 
from Vermont to Galena, Illinois, but in 
18(30 became residents of La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, where they spent the remainder 
of their days. The father was born January 
9, 1804, and died October 19, 1870. His wife 
was born March 15, 1804, and was called 
from life in 1876. John W. Johnson was 
brought up oil a Vermont farm, and his edu- 
cation was acquired in the public schools of 
his native Stale. In 1855 he went to Galena, 
Illinois, where he was in business for some 
live years, but he has since resided on his 
present farm. He was married in January, 
1865, to Miss Adelaide Tripp, a native of 
Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of H. A. 
Tripp, who was born in Vermont, and grand- 
daugliter of Thomas Tripp, a native of New 
England. Mrs. Johnson's mother was Mary 
Ellsworth, of Connecticut, a cousin of Colonel 



Ellsworth, of civil war fame. H. A. Tripp 
and family came to La Crosse county in 1857, 
the mother dying here on the 20th of January, 

1877, and the father on the 16th of January, 

1878. He had followed farming all his life, 
and politically was a Republican and a mem- 
ber of the Baptist Church in his religions 
views. Their family consisted of five daugh- 
ters and one son: Sarah, Lovejoy, Mrs. 
Johnson, George, Ellsworth, of Madison, 
Wisconsin, and Maria, of Greenville, Illinois. 
Mrs. Tripp was married twice, her lirst union 
being to Allen Hawley, by whom she became 
the mother of two children: Lavina Barlow, 
of La Crosse, and Joel Hawley, of Ohio. 
John W. Johnson and his wife have three 
children : Ellswo;th T., one of the well known 
young men of the lowaihip, born December 
2, 1867, uas elected Town Clerk in 1890 and 
served two years; Mary Grace, and Agnes 
Pearl. The youngest child, Addie Myrtle, is 
deceased. Mr. Johnson is one of the wheel 
horses of the Republican party, and has been 
chairman of the Town Board seven terms. 
He has also filled the position of school trus- 
tee, in which he acquitted himself with credit. 
He has been a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity for thirty years. His wife is an active 
Sabbath-school worker, and the management 
of the school has often been in her efficient 
hands. The family are intelligent and retined 
and have a large circle of friends and ac- 
quaintances. 

fASPER RICHARDSON.— For many 
years, or since locating in La Crosse 
county, Mr. Ricliardson has enjoyed the 
reputation of being a useful and law-abiding 
citizen, and an intelligent and thoroughly 
posted man on all public matters. He was 
born near Jamestown, Chantauqua county. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



475 



New York, J^ine 9, 1832, a sou of Freeman 
Richardson, and grandson of Hill Richard- 
son, a soldier of the war of 1812. Freeman 
Richardson was married to Rebecca Smith, 
who was born at Ashfield, Massachusetts, in 
1808. She was eight years of age when her 
father moved to New York State, and in that 
State she was educated and grew to woman- 
hood. Her parents were Fbenezer and Keziah 
(Elder) Smith, and her paternal grandfather 
was Rev. Caleb Smith, a prominent Baptist 
minister of the East for many years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Richardson came to La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, in 1854, and were resi- 
dents of Campbell township until their deaths, 
the father dying at the age of sixty-six years, 
and the mother at the age of seventy-nine, in 
North La Crosse. Of a family of eight chil- 
dren born to tlieni, the following are living: 
Jasper, Matilda, of Tomah, Wisconsin; Aman- 
da, wife of William Purdy, of Barton county, 
Missouri; Squire F., of Chautauqua county, 
New York; Myra, wife of James Walters, of 
Missouri; and Florilla, wife of William Gear, 
of North La Crosse. 

Jasper Richardson was reared and edu- 
cated in his native county, but in 1854 he 
went to Janesville, Wisconsin, and spent the 
winter in the woods. He purchased his 
present farm of forty-two acres in 1870, and 
on this he has a cotnfortable residence and 
out-buildings, besides which he owns live 
acres of very valuable land near La Crosse. 
His farm is located three miles from Oualas- 
ka, and being so near La Crosse is worth 
considerable money. 

He was married November 21, 1859, to 
Miss M. Holmes, a woman whose intelligence 
and kindly heart have won her a host of 
friends. She was born in Oswego county. 
New Y'ork, and when six years of age was 
taken iiy her parents to Ohio, and in 1847 
came with them to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. 



The family came to La Crosse county in 
1854, but the father died in Fillmore county, 
Minnesota, when sixty-seven years of age, 
having been a soldier in the war of 1812. 
The mother was called from life in Lake 
county, Dakota, at the age of seventy-nine. 
They reared a large family of sons and 
daughters. Three children have been born 
to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson: Bertha Ahne- 
da, Herbert Franklin and Elmer. Two chil- 
dren are deceased : Flora, who died at the age 
of seven years, and Squire Freeman, at the 
age of two years and eleven months. 

Politically Mr. Richardson is a Republi- 
can. He is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church; has been class-leader, and 
has always been interested in the cause of re- 
ligion and morality. He is a frank and 
jovial gentleman, kind, hospitable and char- 
itable, and one whom it does one good to 
meet. Personally and in every private re- 
lation and duty of life he has been liberal, 
generous and high-minded, and he is the 
soul of true honor and unbounded greatness 
of heart. He has the instinct and training 
of the true gentleman; his life has been full 
of kind deeds, and it can truly be said of 
him that he never violated a friendship nor 
forgot a kind action done him. 



f'OSEPH BOUCHER, a well-known resi- 
' dent of West La Crosse, Wisconsin, and 
one of the sul)Stantial men of the county, 
was born on Wolfe river, near Quebec, Can- 
ada, in 1842, and is of French descent. His 
parents, Anthony and Elizabeth (Dorris) 
Boucher, were natives of Canada, where they 
resided for many years, but finally moved to 
niinois, where the father received his final 
summons. The mother is still living, and 
makes her home in St. Mary's, Illinois. Jo- 



476 



DIOCrRATUWAL HISTORY. 



sepli Boucher was reared in Canada, taught 
the arduous duties of the farm at an early 
age, and received but a limited education. 
At the age of twenty-two he traveled by sea 
four months, visiting Martinique and Jamaica 
Islands, St. Peter's, Quebec and Montreal; 
then spent eighteen months in New Hamp- 
shire. In 1865 he went to Michigan, thence 
to Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1866 he came to 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin, where he is 
nnmbered among the prosperous and suc- 
cessful citizens. He has worked for many 
years in the pine woods and on the river, and 
has met with more than the ordinary degree 
of success. In 1890 he built a fine house, 
22x 26 feet, with an L 14x 20 feet; has this 
well furnished, and a large bay window is 
well filled with lovely plants. He has a 
good home, and besides is the owner of 
eighteen valuable lots in West La Crosse, be- 
sides property in the city. He was married 
April 12, 1875, at La Crosse, to Miss Caro- 
line Egan, dauijliter of M. C. and Eliza 
(Meltimore) Egan, prominent settlers of the 
island. Mrs. Boucher was born in St. Law- 
rence county, and reared in Clinton county. 
New York. The two living children born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Boucher are: Willie Anthony, 
born September 5, 1878, and Caroline Eliza- 
beth, born April 7, 1890. They lost an in- 
fant, Frank, when only two weeks old. In 
politics Mr. Boucher is a Democrat, and he 
and wife hold membership in the Catholic 
Church. 



•S*" 



lg.g^AUL McHUGII, of Onalaska township, 
was born in Springfield, Ohio, October 
15, 1854, son of Bernard McHugli, de- 
ceased, one of the prominent early settlers of 
La Crosse county. Bernard McIIugh was a 
son of Bernard and Mary McIIugh, and, like 



many of the prominent citizens of Wisconsin, 
was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, the date 
of his birth being 1827. He was reared in 
Ireland, and after coming to America he was 
married, at Springfield, Ohio, to Tsabelle Mel- 
lon, who was born and reared in the same 
neighborhood with her husband. She was a 
member of a highly respected family, was a 
woman of much strencfth of character, and 
proved herself a worthy helpmate to her 
companion. After his arrival in this country 
Mr. McIIugh located at Springfield, Ohio, 
where he worked in the railroad shops for 
some three or four years. In 1856 he came 
to La Crosse county and settled at Onalaska, 
where he worked in a mill two years. He 
then purchased eighty acres of land near 
Ilolmen. By his industry and good manage- 
ment, and by the able assistance of his sons, 
he became the possessor of several improved 
farms, owning in all 1,170 acres. He and 
his wife were the parents of eleven children, 
ten of whom are living, viz.: William, Paul, 
James, John, Thomas, Cornelius, Mary, wife 
of Tiioinas Ileagney, of Chicago, Illinois; 
Margaret, Michel and Ellen. Anna died at 
the age of three .years. Mrs. McHugh died 
in 1882, and Mr. McIIugh survived her two 
years, dying in 1884, at the age of fifty-six. 
He was a Democrat in politics, and a Catholic 
in religion. 

Paul McHugh was only two years old 
when his parents located in this county, and 
on the old homestead he spent his boyhood 
days and grew to manhood. lie received his 
education iu the district schools and at Gales- 
ville Academy. Since 1876 lie has resided 
on his present farm, which consists of 260 
acres, and is one of the best farms in Ona- 
laska township. He has a comfortable resi- 
dence, two large barns and other subc.tantial 
farm improvements. Everytiiing is arranged 
with reference to convenience, and is kept in 



BIOOBAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



477 



the best of order, the general appearance of 
the premises indicating thrift and prosperity. 
Mr. McHngh devotes his time to sreneral 
farming and stock-raising, keeping a good 
breed of hogs and both draught and driving 
horses. 

He was married in February, 1881, to 
Miss Ida Campbell, who was born in Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania, daughter of John Camp- 
bell, of this county. They have six children: 
Cecelia, Agnes, Margaret, "Walter, Marcella 
and John. 

Mr. McHugh is an enthusiastic Democrat, 
and is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. 
He has served two years as town clerk, and is 
now serving his third year as chairman of 
the Town Board. Although comparatively a 
young man, he is ranked, socially, politically 
and financially, among the representative 
citizens of La Crosse county. 



^. 



^^ 



fOHN BANKER, one of the most popu- 
lar of the city officials of La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, is an American citizen by 
adoption, his native country being Germany. 
He was born in the year 1844, and is a son 
of Jacob and Anna (LickofF) Banker, both of 
whom lived and died in the old country. The 
father was a brewer by occupation, and was 
master of the business in all its details. He 
and his wife were devoted members of the 
Lutheran Church. 

Our subject was educated in the common 
schools of Germany, receiving that strict 
mental training characteristic of the German 
nation. After his school days were ended 
he went to learn the machinist's trade, and 
worked at the trade until 1876, when he 
emigrated to the United States, determined 
to seek out the fortune that the New World 
might have in store for him. He settled first 

32 



at Clinton, Iowa, where he was engaged in 
work for two years; then he spent one year 
in Washington, and about two years in Da- 
kota. In 1884 he came to La Crosse, and 
since that time has been in the employ of the 
city government. He was superintendent of 
the sewers and city works, and in April, 
1891, he was appointed health officer for the 
city for a term of two years. Politically he 
is independent, supporting those men and 
measures which he esteems of the highest in- 
terest to the city and country. He is a mem- 
ber of the I. O. O. F., and has been an officer 
of the order for a number of years. In the 
capacity of a public officer he has discharged 
all his duties with a strict fidelity that has 
won the confidence of the citizens, and given 
him high rank among iiis brother officers. 

Mr. Banker was married in 1877 to Miss 
Barbara Bower, a daughter of George and 
Emma Bower, formerly of Chicago, but now 
deceased. One child has blessed this union, 
a son named William. 



|ETER STRUM THOMPSON, who is 
Ira 6ng**g6*i ill ^1^6 grocery business at the 
^C corner of Kane and Gillette streets, La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, was born at Strom men i 
Kvadfjords Prestejeld, Senjens Fogderi, 
Tromso Stift, Norway, April 12, 1854, a son 
of Thomas and Maren (.Jermiasen) Peterson, 
also natives of Norway. The father was a 
farmer and fisherman by occupation, and 
]5assed all his days in the old country; his 
death occurred in 1890, at the age of sixtv- 
five years; the mother has attained the age 
of three score years, and still resides in 
Norway. 

Mr. Thompson acquired an education from 
from the age of seven to fifteen years, and 
before he left school he was coufirmed in the 



478 



BlOOliAPlilGAL HISTORY. 



Lutheran Church; the next six years of his 
life were spent witli his father in farming, 
fishing and trading on the coast of JSorway. 

In 1876 lie determined to emigrate to 
America, and see what fortune was held for 
him in the New World. He bade farewell 
to his own pine-clad hills, to his home and 
friends, and sailed away across the sea to a 
strange land, a strange people and a strange 
tongue. The first three months in the 
United States were occupied with farm work 
in AVisconsin; the first winter he attended 
school in Lewis valley where he made rapid 
progress in the langauge of his adopted 
country. He was next engaged in rafting, 
and worked for eight years on the river, 
the last four years being in i\\e employ of 
one man. 

It was at this period that the first misfor- 
tune overtook him, as his health failed and 
he was obliged ,to give himself a long va- 
cation during 1887. Li 1888 he embarked 
in the grocery business, and has met with 
gratifying success. He is possessed of ex- 
cellent ability, and of that perseverance which 
accomplishes an object in spite of many ob- 
stacles. 

Mr. Thompson is an ardent supporter of 
of the great prohibition movement in this 
country, and has been most zealous in his ef- 
forts in behalf of that class of humanity en- 
chained through the liquor traffic. 

lEORGE W. MANSERGH has been 
identified with the agricultural interests 
of La Crosse county since 1855. He 
was born at Stanstead, Province of Quebec, 
December 25, 1836. His father, Lewis 
Mansergh, was a son of George and Mary 
(Stodard) Mansergh. Lewis Mansergh mar- 
ried Mary Ann Atkinson, a daughter of 



Moses and Sarah (Bartlett) Atkinson, and 
they reared a family of four children: George 
"W., the subject of this notice; Christopher, 
who was a soldier in the late war; Emily and 
Lewis, both residents of St. Paul. The father 
removed to Pierce county, Wisconsin, about 
1856, and died there, at the age of sixty-five 
years; the mother still survives and lives in 
St. Paul, Minnesota. George W. lived in 
Canada until he was Tiine years of age, and 
then went to Chittenden county, Vermont, 
where he followed farm life until 1855. In 
that year, as before stated, he came to La 
Crosse, and in 1867 purchased the farm on 
which be now lives; it was then partially im- 
proved, but the present substantial, con- 
venient and roomy buildings were erected by 
him. In 1882 and 1888 he expended $3,300 
in improvements, and has one of the most 
attractive homes in the township of Farm- 
ington. The farm consists of 160 acres of 
tine, fertile land, 100 acres being in the val- 
ley; the old dwelling is used for the storing 
of tools, having been replaced by a modern 
structure of a most tasteful style of architect- 
ure. The barns and sheds are of the same 
substantial character as the residence. Mr. 
Mansergh carries on a general farming busi- 
ness, and gives special attention to the dairy- 
ing. 

In 1859, September 17, he was married to 
Miss Eleanor Hewitt, who has proven a most 
worthy help-meet. She was born at Hull, 
near Ottawa, Canada, and is a daughter of 
James and Eleanor (Barton) Hewitt, higiily 
respected pioneers of La Crosse county. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Mansergh have been born six 
children: Lewis James has been in the United 
States mail service tive years; Eleanor Eliza, 
wife of William McAdams; Marion, George 
Arthur, Emily Jane and Clara Eveline. The 
children have received a liberal education, 



BIOGRAPEWAL HISTORY. 



419 



and have been well equipped for the duties of 
life. 

Mr. Mansergh affiliates with the Demo- 
cratic party, and takes a lively interest in the 
issues of that body. He is a liberal contrib- 
utor to the support of all religious and edu- 
cational movements and is highly esteemed 
by the entire community. 



^. 



^ 



fOM PAUL GEAR, a well-known resi- 
dent of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
W^ and one of the pioneer settlers of the 
same, was born in Somersetshire, England, 
June 3, 1841, and is the son of Jonathan and 
Jane (Paul) Gear, natives also of that coun- 
try. The family left England in 1844 and 
sailed for America, first locating in Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin, and later settled in Wauke- 
sha county of this State. There the father 
died when Tom was but six years of age, and 
left another child, Matthew William, who is 
now a grocer of North La Crosse. The 
mother was afterward married twice, first to 
a Mr. Look, who lived but one year, and then 
James Gay, now an old soldier. They now 
live on a farm in Lewis valley, AVisconsin. 

Mr. Gear was reared in Waukesha county, 
Wisconsin, and was early initiated into the 
duties of farm life. He received but a lim- 
ited education, and after growing up spent 
one season in the pine woods of Northern 
Wisconsin. He came on his present farm in 
1869, and as this joins the city limits it is 
very valuable. He has a roomy and very 
convenient house, and his barns and out 
buildings are kept up in good shape. He 
also owns forty acres of good land in Clark 
county, Wisconsin, and more land in Lewis 
valley. He has been twice married, his first 
wife being Miss Jane Pratt, a native of Ohio, 
who bore him one daughter, Clara Augusta. 



(The latter died at a little over six years of 
age.) His second marriage occurred in 1877, 
to Miss Margaret A. Kern, an intelligent 
lady of a good family, who is a native of 
Boone county, Lidiana. She is the daughter 
of Jesse and Mary E. (Beck) Kern, the former 
a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indi- 
ana. Mr. Kern died in Boone county, 
Indiana, but the mother is still living and 
makes her home in Clark county, Wisconsin. 
She was born in 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Gear's 
marriage was bjessed by the birth of five 
children: Jessie Maud, Myrtle May, William 
Arthur, Ethel Adella and Ruby Belle. Mr. 
Gear is a Republican in politics but has 
never aspired for office, preferring the peace- 
ful life of the farm instead. He is genial 
and hospitable, and has a host of warm 
friends. He delights in hunting and has 
killed many dear and one bear in La Crosse 
county. 



fwHOMAS BARCLAY, of Farmington 

"film- township, is one of the well-known and 

W^ highly respected citizens of La Crosse 

county. He came here in 1857, and has 

since made this place his home. 

Mr. Barclay dates his birth in Ayrshire, 
Scotland, February 7, 1836. His parents, 
William and Catherine (Granger) Barclay, 
were both natives of Ayrshire, and passed 
their lives and died in Scotland. They had 
a family of six sons and three daughters. 
The father died at the age of seveniy-four 
years. He was a farmer all his life, and was 
a member of the Presbyterian Church. The 
mother departed this life at the age of sixty- 
three years. Thomas Barclay was reared and 
educated in his native land, remaining there 
until he reached his majority. March 26, 
1857, he set sail from Liverpool for New 



480 



BIOORAPniCAL HISTORY. 



York, from there coming West to La Crosse, 
Wisconsin. After living in La Crosse two years 
he moved to Trempealeau county and took up 
his ahode in Hamlin, township of Galesville, 
where he lived until 1870. That year he 
bought his present property in Farmington 
township, this county, of Angus Cameron. 
Here he owns 120 acres of well improved 
land; has a comfortable frame house, good 
barn, other outbuildings, etc. 

November 2, 1860, Mr. Barclay wedded 
Agnes Oliver, a native of Kilmarnock, Scot- 
land, and a daughter of Robert and Mary 
(Allen) Oliver. She was live years of age 
when she came with her parents to this 
country and settled in Galesville, Trempea- 
leau county, Wisconsin, where she grew up, 
and was educated. Her father died in 1888, 
and her mother is still living, at Galesville. 
Mr. and Mrs. Barclay had seven children 
born to them, four of whom are living: Mary, 
wife of Frank Hobbs, died February 19, 1892, 
aged thirty-one years; Kate, wife of James 
Hicks; Jennie, wife of George Hicks —all of 
Farmington township; Agnes, at home; and 
Mabel, wife of Ed Stilson, of Jackson county, 
Wisconsin. Those deceased are Ellen, who 
was born in 1870 and died at the age of six 
years, and William, born in 1876, died in his 
ninth year. Mrs. Barclay departed this life 
in 1876. In 1878 Mr. Barclay married 
Pethrine Larson, a native of JNorway. 

~*-t,V'^i-'^>^*--~ 

lEORGE A. HOSMER, farmer. La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. — Mr. llosmer is a 
firm believer in the soil upon which he 
was born, having remained in this country 
since his birth. His occupation is that of 
farming and in this he has been unusually 
successful. He was born on his present farm, 
in Shelby township, in 1857, and was tlie son 



of John F. and Harriet M. (Goodrich) Hostner, 
both natives of the Empire State. Tiie parents 
came to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, in 1851, 
and the father followed farming in Lewis 
valley until the spring of 1852, when he took 
up a claim in section 26, which is now owned 
by his son, George A. Hosmer. This he im- 
proved in every way and the following year 
was married to Miss Goodrich. He was one 
of the representative citizens of the township 
and held various offices in the same. He was 
a successful agriculturist, a good business 
man, and was well liked by his townsmen. 
He moved to West Point, Mississippi, in 
1888, and there he now resides. George A. 
Hosmer received a fair education in the com- 
mon-schools of La Crosse county and remained 
with his father until twenty-one years of age, 
when he engaged in milling. This he fol- 
lowed for ten years at La Crosse and other 
places, and was then in the feed business in 
La Crosse for two years; in 1890 he moved to 
his father's place, and is working it for him. 
In 1887 Mr. Hosmer was married to Mit^s 
Ida Oehler, whose parents, Godfred and Mar- 
guerette Oehler, were natives of Saxony and 
emigrated to the United States in 1850. Mr. 
and Mrs. Oehler located in La Crosse county 
and there they have resided ever since, the 
father engaged in milling. Mr. and Mrs. 
Hosmer have but one child, a bright little 
girl named Gertrude. Mr. Hosmer is Di- 
rector of his school district, is one of the 
leading young citizens of the town, and is 
well thought of by all. In politics he is a 
Democrat. 

jj^^UNCAN McINTOSH, an honored citi- 
zen of La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
first came to this section of country in 
1852, when he took up a Government claim. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



481 



He is a native of Scotland, born on the Cale- 
donia canal, fourteen miles west of Inverness, 
June 22, 1822. He is a son of James and 
and Kebecca (McMillan) Mcintosh, who were 
born, reared, married and died in the same 
parish. The father was a farmer all his life, 
and in his religions faith was a Presbyterian. 
Duncan Mcintosh was reared to the life of a 
farmer until he was sixteen years of age, 
when he went to work at the stone mason's 
trade; he served an apprenticeship, and later 
worked in the South of Scotland. 

The New World presenting many attrac- 
tions and advantages, he, in company with his 
brother John, sailed across the sea to the 
United States, and after landing went to El- 
niira, JSiew York, where they both found 
work; they did stone work on the New 
York & Erie railroad, and afterward went 
to Pennsylvania, where they worked on 
bridges and culverts. John Mcintosh was 
for many years in the marble business 
in New York, and died in that State, 
in 1890. In 1854 our subject settled on 
the land which he had secured two years 
previous, and for thirty-seven years he has 
been a resident of the county. He has an 
excellent farm, consisting of 225 acres, well 
improved with substantial and convenient 
buildings. All the surroundings bespeak 
that thrift and prosperity which are charac- 
teristic of the Scotch people. 

Mr. Mcintosh was united in marriage at 
Elnilra, New York, when thirty-three years 
of age, to Miss Harriet Down, who has been 
a most worthy help- meet. She was born in 
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in May, 1837, 
and is a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Mc- 
Intyre) Down; the father was a native of 
Glastonbury, England, and the mother was 
born at Glasgow, Scotland; the father is de- 
ceased, but the mother survives, at the age 
of seven-four years. Francis Down, a 



brother of Mrs. Mcintosh, was a well-known 
and popular citizen here for many years; 
he is a lawyer ijy profession and is now a 
resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mcintosh are the parents of 
four children: James is a resident of Wood 
county, Wisconsin; he has been twice mar- 
ried, the first wife being Miss Emma Hall, a 
daughter of S. L. Hall of West Salem; one 
daughter was born of this union, Lillie Pearl; 
the second marriage was to Miss May Math- 
ewson, who bore him a son. Earl, who is now 
six years of age; these children both live 
with their grandparents: Henry Alga, the 
second son of our subject and wife, is a 
merchant and Postmaster of Eurr Oak; he 
is a member of the firm of Mcintosh & 
Rhyme, general merchants of Burr Oak; 
they occupy a store-room under the town 
hall, and enjoy a good trade; the two chil- 
dren who are deceased are: Mary, born in 
April, 1861, and died August 25, 1862, and 
William, who died in Duluth, Minnesota, 
November 14, 1883; he was born July 16, 
1864, and was a young man of rare promise; he 
was possessed of many line traits of charac- 
ter, and his death was a sad blow to his fam- 
ily and a wide circle of friends. 

Mr. Mcintosh has always given a liberal 
support to those educational and religious 
movements which have for their object the 
uplifting and upbuilding of the entire com- 
munity. He adheres to the principles of 
the Republican party, and his sons vote the 
same ticket. 



fACOB PFAFF is one of the progressive 
agriculturists of Farraington township. 
La Crosse county, and is a loyal citizen 
of his adopted country. He is a native of 
Saxony, Germany, born September 14, 1844, 



483 



BIOGRAPHICAL HlSTUlir. 



and is a son of William and Margaret (Stor- 
andt) Pfaff, natives of the same eountry. It 
was during bis childhood that his parents 
emigrated to America and settled in Walworth 
county, Wisconsin. The mother died a few 
months later, and the father was married a 
second time; by the first wife five childj-en 
were born, two of whom are living; by the 
second marriage there were eight children 
born, five of whom survive. William Pfaff 
was a farmer by occupation and followed that 
calling during his residence in Wisconsin. 
Politically he adhered to the principles of the 
Democratic party, and in his religions failb 
he was a Lutheran. 

Jacob Pfaff was reared in AValworth county, 
near Lake Geneva, and received his education 
in the common schools. In 1863 he came to 
La Crosse county and settled near Bnrr Oak, 
where he engaged in farming; he spent sev- 
eral winters in the pine woods and three 
seasons on the drive. 

Before the civil war was ended he enlisted 
in Company G, Fifty-first Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was stationed for a time at 
Fort Leavenworth; he served until August, 
1865, when he was honorably discharged at 
Madison, Wisconsin. He then returned to 
La Crosse county, taking up his old vocation, 
which he followed here until 1872; in that 
year he went to Jackson county and improved 
a farm near Melrose; at the end of live years 
he came back to La Crosse county and lo- 
cated on his present farm. This consists of 
160 acres, and is well improved with all the 
necessary buildings for systematic agricul- 
ture. Mr. Pfalf carries on a general farming 
business, giving special attention to dairying; 
he has a stone milk-house and is well equip- 
ped for this branch of business. 

On July 2, 1872, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Cornelia Tepeck, a daughter of Henry 
and Catherine (Kesler) Tepeck. Mrs. Pfaff 



was born at Bedford, Westchester county, 
New York, and was but four years of age 
when her parents removed to Wisconsin and 
settled in Walworth county, where she grew 
to womanhood and was educated. Her par- 
ents removed to this county in 1871 and 
settled in Lewis valley. 

In his political opinions Mr. Pfaff is a 
Democrat, but at times casts his vote for the 
man who is best fitted, in his estimation, to 
fill the office regardless of politics. He has 
been supervisor of the township, and was an 
efficient officer. He is a member of Nelson 
Quiggle Post, No. 233, G. A. R., and takes 
an active interest in the organization. 

In addition to his agricultural interests, 
Mr. Pfaff has for eleven seasons run a thresh- 
ing-machine, and has been very successful in 
this industry. 



^*^ 



f'OSEPH RICHMOND, farmer, Onalaska, 
Wisconsin. — There is probably no man 
within the limits of La Crosse county. 
Wisconsin, who is more extensively engaged 
in farming than Mr. Richmond, and through- 
out a residence of nearly forty years here he 
has become well known as a man of progress- 
ive spirit, energy and clear perception. He 
is the son of John James Richmond, a native 
of Canada, and the grandson of James Rich- 
mond who was an Englishman. The grand- 
mother. Miss Savard, was a native 

of Canada. John James Richmond was 
married in his native country to Miss Ufroi- 
sine Boivert, also a native of Canada, and 
their union was blessed by the birth of four 
children: John, who is now a prominent old 
settler of La Crosse; Mrs. Matilda Marco, 
died in Campbell township, La Crosse county, 
in 18S8; Mrs. Orrilla Martel, wife of Cam- 
mell Martell, and Joseph, the subject of this 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



483 



sketch. The parents of these children came 
to Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1837, and the 
mother died in this State, Decetnber 11, 1874, 
at the age of sixty four. She was a devont 
member of the Catholic Church. After her 
death, the father married again. He is now 
living on French Island and is eighty-seven 
years of age. Our suliject's maternal grand- 
father, Mitchell Boivert, was also a native of 
Canada. Joseph Richmond was born in 
Three Rivers county, the Province of Quebec, 
October 22, 1836, and received his education 
in the common schools of his native country. 
He became familiar with the duties of the 
farm at an early age, and in 1854 came to 
La Crosse county, where he worked on the 
river for six years. He saved his money and 
subsequently bought 147 acres of land where 
he now resides, paying $10 per acre for the 
same. He is now the owner of 600 acres, 
and has one of the beet farms in La Crosse 
county. This is situated two miles from La 
Crosse and the fine, two-story residence and 
the comfortable and substantial out- buildings 
add much to the appearance of the place. 
He is a prominent stock-raiser also and has 
some line Jersey cattle, good horses, and 
sheep. 

Mr. Richmond was married October 13, 
1861, in La Crosse county, to Miss Delimas 
Morin, a native of Quebec, and the daughter 
of Frank and J. (Martell) Morin; Mr. and 
Mrs. Morin were the parents of the following 
living children: Frank, Pertetua, Julia, Ed- 
ward, Leonard, Delimas and Emma. Mr. 
Morin died in 1872 and his wife received her 
final summons in May, 1876. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Richmond have been born seven chil- 
dren, four now living: Emma, wife of George 
Perus of Onalaska; Matilda, wife of Charles 
Asselin of Campbell township; Alvina, wife 
of Frank Kiezer of Onalaska; and John D., 
attending the St. John University at CoUege- 



ville, Minnesota. The three children de- 
ceased were: Leo died at eight years of ao-e; 
George died at the age of six years, and 
Davie died at the age of six years. Mr. 
Richmond advocates the principles of the 
Republican party, and has served as Super- 
visor in the town board for twenty years. 
He is a member of the Catholic Church and 
one of its liberal supporters. He came on 
the island when there were but three log 
houses, and is one of the pioneers. He is 
progressive and enterprising and takes a de- 
cided interest in religious and educational 
matters. 



■^■i 



^-^ 



^ON. JOHN DAWSON.— Among the 
representative and esteemed citizens of 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin, there is 
probably no one more deserving of mention 
than Mr. Dawson, whose residence within its 
borders has extended over a period of forty 
years. During this time he has served in 
various official capacities and always with 
such satisfactory results that naught but 
words of commendation has been bestowed 
upon him. He was born in Lancashire, Eng- 
land, May 20, 1832, to Joseph and Lydia 
(Brook) Dawson, and with them emigrated to 
America in 1840, and settled in the wilds of 
Wisconsin Territory. They entered Govern- 
ment land near Raymond Center, Racine 
county, and there the father and mother re- 
sided until their respective deaths, at the age 
of seventy-two and sixty-five years. Joseph 
Dawson was a merchant in England, but de- 
voted his attention to agriculture after eettlintr 
in Wisconsin. He and his wife united with 
the Methodist Church and reared their eight 
children to honest and useful manhood and 
womanhood. 

John is the only one of these children liv- 



484 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



ing in La Crosse county. He was eight 
years of a»e when his parents located in Ra- 
cine county, and his boyhood days were spent 
in clearing the lionae farm, his school days 
being very few and far between. The}' com- 
prised a period of only a few weeks and were 
spent in the typical log schoolhouse of early 
times. He was, however, very observing and 
quick to embrace new ideas, and in the thor- 
ough, if hard, school of experience he imbibed 
lessons of honesty, industry and frugality 
which have been of material benefit to him in 
his later career. Upon coming to La Crosse 
county, he obtained some Government land 
upon which he chopped, and sold wood for a 
number of years, then disposed of his prop- 
erty, and in 1864 purcliased the farm on which 
he is now residing, which consists of 300 
acres, — one of the best farms in La Crosse 
county. His residence is a very comfortable 
and pleasant one, well furnished in modern 
style, is surrounded by beautiful shade trees, 
and in summer the lawn is dotted with beds 
of beautiful Howers. His outbuildings are 
of the most substantial and modern descrip- 
tion : he has a tine building location and every- 
thing about the place shows that Mr. Dawson 
is a man of discrimination, practical views 
and thrift. 

He was married April 26, 1863, in this 
county, to Miss Christina Stumphf, who has 
been to her husband a help mate indeed. She 
was born in the Keystone State, to Michael 
and Mary (Stark) Stumphf, both native Ger- 
mans, who settled in Pennsylvania when 
young, and were there married. The father 
died in that State, when Mrs. Dawson was a 
child, succeeding which the widowed mother 
came with her daughter to La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, in 1856, and was here called from 
life at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Dawson 
was reared and educated in Pennsylvania, un- 
til twelve years of age. She has borne Mr. 



Dawson four children: Wesley John, born 
February 8, 1869, assists his father on the 
home farm; Lydia C. was born October 31, 
1870; Sidney Joseph was born December 
7, 1878; and one child, Arthur, died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Dawson is an enthusiastic Democrat 
and has held the offices of Justice of the 
Peace, Town Treasurer and Clerk, Chairman 
of the Town Board for twelve years and has 
also been a member of the School Board for 
a number of years. It was through his influ- 
ence and labor that the asylum was located 
at West Salem, and he was largely instru- 
mental in securing the erection of the jail on 
its present site. He has long been recog- 
nized as one of the wheel horses of his party 
and in 1883 his numerous friends and ad- 
mirers elected him to the State Legislature by 
a majority of 1,300 over Dan Shane, the 
Republican nominee. He was honored by a 
re-election in 1890, with a majority of forty- 
six over William Smith, Republican. 

He is plain and unpretentious in manners, 
and while not aggressive in opinion, nor dis- 
posed to be disputatious, yet he has most 
emphatically a "mind of his own," with the 
moral courage to express it when occasion so 
demands. Such men as Mr. Dawson make 
model American citizens, for he is of that 
moral and personal integrity, and clear, well- 
balanced, active intelligence, which adorn the 
private station and make and keep the public 
service pure. 



P. SMITH is numbered among the 
solid business men of La Crosse, Wis- 
* consin, and is one of the proprietors 
of the Cameron House, the firm being Fox & 
Smith. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, 
near Wooster, April 16, 1829, and his parents. 



BIOGRAPniGAL HISTORY. 



485 



Asa and Laura Smith, were both natives of 
the Green Mountain State. They came to 
Ohio in 1812, resided in Wayne county for a 
number of years, and in 1850 came to Fond- 
du Lac, Wisconsin. The father was a man 
of good business qualifications, and was in 
every way a worthy citizen. He was origin- 
ally a farmer, but the latter part of his life 
dealt in real estate and loaned money. His 
death occurred in St. Paul, Minnesota. D. P. 
Smith, the eldest of seven children, four of 
whom are still living, was reared in his na- 
tive State and learned the trade of silversmith 
in Mansfield, Ohio. He has been in the 
hotel business for over thirty years, first in 
Faribault, Minnesota, where he remained 
many years, going there in 1856. In 1881 
he came to La Crosse, and has been engaged 
in the liotel business with Mr. Fox since that 
time. Tliey do the leading business in the 
city, and are pleasant, agreeable gentlemen. 
Mr. Smith was County Treasurer of Rice 
county, Minnesota, for four years (two terms) 
and his official record was very satisfactory. 
He could have had the office another term 
had he remained. Mr. Smith selected as his 
companion in life Miss Adalaide S. Beane, 
daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Beane, whose hus- 
band died when Adalaide was but twelve years 
of age, and their union was celebrated in 
1857. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been 
born three children: Laura B., Mary A. and 
Fredrick B., all of whom have received a thor- 
ough education. Laura B. resides in La 
.Crosse, and is the wife of Daniel Cunning- 
ham, who is Superintendent of the Burlington 
& Northern Railroad. Mary A. resides in 
Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the wife of 
W. B. Chandler, who is traveling passenger 
agent for the " Soo " Railroad. Tliey have 
two children: Malcolm D. and Oertrude 13. 
Fredrick B. Smith resides in St. Paul, and is 
book-keeper for the firm of Baupre, Keough 



&,Co. He is a graduate of the Military 
Academy at Faribault. In politics Mr. Smith 
is a Republican and an ardent one. Ener- 
getic in his business, amiable in disposition 
and courteous in manner, Mr. Smith is one of 
the popular men of the county, and has won 
a host of warm friends. 



fOHN M. BECK, one of the prominent 
business men of North La Crosse, is a 
Scandinavian by birth, but a loyal citi- 
zen of the United States. He was born in 
Norway, June 24, 1854, and there acquired 
his education. When he went into business 
he embarked in the grocery ti-ade which he 
carried on until he came to the United States 
in 1881. After arriving in this country he 
came to the West, and after a year's residence 
in Minnesota, bought a farm in that State 
which he cultivated one year, selling it at the 
end of that time. He then removed to 
Dakota and purchased a farm there on which 
lie lived three years. Disposing of this prop- 
erty he removed to La Crosse, and for one 
year was variously employed. He began 
dealing in real estate, and in this he has been 
very successful; he has also done some build- 
ino-, and owns a number of houses, which he 
rents. He is agent for the Hamburg & Brem- 
en Insurance Company, is Notary Public, 
and does a large conveyance business. He is 
one of the most enterprising and progressive 
men of the city, and is recognized in business 
circles as one of the telling forces in any move- 
ment or cause which he espouses. 

Mr. Beck was united in marriage in 1880 
to Miss Chonradine Petersen, whose parents 
lived and died in the old country. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Beck ha\e been born six children, 
three of whom are living: Alfon, Cathinska 
and Henning. In the year 1886 three of the 



486 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



children died within <a short space of time of 
the dread diphtheria; this was a sad loss to 
the fond father and mother, requiring all the 
fortitude and courage of their natures to 
endure. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are possessed 
of many excellent traits, and are among 
the most popular residents of North La 
Crosse. 



^ 



^ 



^THAN EGBERTS, an intelligent farmer 
and dairyman of Farmington township, 
has resided here since 1855. He was 
born in Erie county, New York, April 24, 
1824, and is the son of Elisha and Cynthia 
(Lapham) Roberts, who were also born in the 
Empire State. Elisha Roberts was a son of 
Noah Roberts, who was a soldier in the war 
of the Revolution. Elisha Roberts died in 
Oakland county, Michigan, October 13, 1891, 
at the age of ninety-five years. 

Ethan Roberts was seven years of age 
when his parents removed to Wayne county, 
Michigan. He received his education in the 
common and select schools, and was engaged 
in teaching for several years in Michigan, 
after which he traveled quite extensively in 
the Northwest, and visited his brother-in- 
law, Luther Downer and family, in Lewis 
valley, La Crosse county, in the spring of 
1852. 

July 27, 1853, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Sarah W. Dana, at Milford, Michi- 
gan. Mrs. Roberts was born at Amherst, 
Massachusetts, March 14, 1828, and is a 
daughter of Joseph and Clara (Benton) 
Dana. Her paternal grandfather was Ama- 
riah Dana, a soldier in the Revolutionary 
war, who rendered gallant service in the 
capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Her maternal 
grandfather was Timothy Benton, who was 
also a soldier in the Revolution. Mrs. Rob- 



erts was a successful teacher for mjiny terras, 
both in Massachusetts and in Michigan, and 
is a well-informed and practical woman. 

Mr. Roberts first settled on section 22, 
range 5, but is now living on section 24, 
range 7. He has 159 acres of choice, well- 
watered land. His cheese is of very fine 
quality, and commands the highest market 
price. He has held many town offices, among 
which was that of chairman of the Board. 

Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have three sons: 
E. Dana, born in 1854; George C, born in 
1857; and Fred L., born in 1862. 

They have a very comfortable, convenient 
and pleasant home, in a quiet, peaceable 
neighborhood. 

EORGE E. BRIGGS, an intelligent and 
enterprising man of Holland township, 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin, is a native 
of the Empire State, his birth occurring in 
Erie county on the 22d of June, 1858. He 
is the son of George W. Briggs, the grand- 
son of Thomas M. Briggs, and the great 
grandson of Captain Ethan Allen Briggs, who 
was a whaler and a man of prominence. 
Thomas M. Briggs was a native of the Green 
Mountain State, and his wife, whose maiden 
name was Phffibe Church, was also born in that 
State. Their children, seven in number, and five 
of whom are living, are named in the order 
of their births as follows: Allen, George W, 
Morris, Delia and Chauncy. Thomas M. 
Briggs died when seventy-five years of age, 
but his wife, who is now seventy-five years 
of age, resides in Arcadia, Wisconsin, and 
enjoys comparatively good health. Their 
son, Goorge W., was born in Erie county. 
New York, July 13, 1837, and is now an 
esteemed citizen of Onalaska township, this 
county. He was early trained to the duties 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



487 



of the farm, and his scholastic advantages 
were obtained in tlie common scliools. lu 
1864 he came to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
and here he has since made his home. He 
has lived on his present farm since 1870. 

He was married November 22, 1857, to Miss 
Mary Jane Peabody, an intelligent lady, born 
November 22, 1834, in Erie county. New 
York, and the daughter of John Peabody, a 
Vermonter, whose father, Phineas Peabody, 
was also a native of that State, born in Man- 
chester. John Peabody married Miss Louisa 
Colbnrn, a native of New York State, and 
both died in Indiana. They were the parents 
of eleven children, and two sons, Stephen and 
Monroe, were soldiers in the civil war, in the 
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Kegiment, 
Indiana Volunteers. To George W. Briggs 
and wife were born eight children, who are 
named in the order of their births as follows: 
George E., Alice, wife of Albert Bartholo- 
mew; Charlie, Lorena, wife of Peter Hansen, 
of Minnesota; Clarence, Winifred, Luella and 
Bertha. 

George E. Briggs was a boy of six when 
he came with his parents to La Crosse county, 
and here he has since made his home. His 
boyhood days were passed in assisting on the 
farm and in attending the common schools, 
where he received a good practical education. 
He came on his present farm in 1890, and is 
now the owner of eighty acres of good land. 
He has a good house, his barns and out- 
buildings are roomy and substantial, and 
everything about the place indicates a thrifty 
and enterprising owner. Mr. Briggs was 
married January 22, 1885, to Miss Kate 
Mulder, who was born and reared in New 
Amsterdam, and who is the daughter of John 
and Kate (Brons) Mulder. Her parents came 
to this county in 1853, and are now residing 
at New Amsterdam. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs 
have been born three children: Katie Jane, 



George Wallis and Walter Eugene. Mr. 
Briggs owns a threshing-machine, in partner- 
ship with Elbert Bartholomew, and they are 
doing a good business. Mr. Briggs has fol- 
lowed this for eleven years, and is expert at it. 
He is a good citizen and a popular man. 



|EV. HENRY ANDPEAS, pastor of the 
German Reformed Church, of La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, was born in Highland Park, 
Cook county, Illinois, in 1857, his parents, 
Jost and Cathei-ine (Schiller) Andreas, being 
worthy residents of that place. Henry was 
educated in the public schools of Chicago and 
Waukegan, after which he spent six years in 
an academy and college of Sheboygan, Wis- 
consin, graduating in 1882. His first labors 
as a minister of the gospel was in Waukegan, 
where he remained about six months, but in 
January, 1883, accepted a call to La Crosse, 
where he remained until April, 1889. He 
then accepted a call to his present charge, 
where he is doing good and acceptable ser- 
vice for his church. He is enthusiastic and 
untiring in his work and has been the means 
of bringing many souls to the feet of Christ. 
He was married in April, 1882, to Miss 
Bertha Schilling, of Kiel, Wisconsin, daugh- 
ter of Henry and Caroline Schilling, who 
were born in South German}', on the Rhine 
river. They came to America about 1850. 
Mr. and Mrs. Andreas are the parents of 
three sons: Arthur, Reuben and Roland, all 
of whom are at home attending school. Mr. 
Andreas has charge of the school connected 
with his church, and the session lasts live 
month throughout the year. He and his 
entire congregation are warm advocates of the 
public school system, their children attend- 
ing the church school only in order to learn 
the German language. Mr. Andreas' services 



488 



Bl 00 R A PHIOAL UISTOR 7 



for so long a time in each of his charges, is 
an indication tliat his labors have been appre- 
ciaterl, and that he has done noble and able 
work is acknowledged by all. He is an ideal 
minister of the gospel, and both bj precept 
and example leads his flock in the right way. 
His heart is open toward all humanity and he 
is ever ready with words of sympathy and 
open purse to aid the needy and distressed. 
His character is noble and faithful, his dispo- 
sition earnest and sincere, and in the pulpit 
his eloquence and his clear and lucid manner 
of explaining difficult scriptural passages, have 
made their meaning clear and have brought 
his congregation into closer touch and sym- 
pathy with him who died on the cross. 



^ON. SUEL BRIGGS, New Amsterdam, 
La Crosse county, Wisconsin, is one of 
the prominent early settlers of this 
place. He dates his birth in Erie county, 
near Buffalo, New York, April 7, 1821. His 
fatlier, Ephraim A. Briggs, was born in the 
town of Orange, Massachusetts, a son of Cap- 
tain Samuel Briggs, a sea captain and a man 
of prominence in his native village, where he 
owned a mill and was known far and wide. 
He was drowned while removing logs from 
the the mill pond on the stream near his 
mill. Suel Briggs was the seventh-born in 
a family of seven sons and four daughters. 
His father was among the pioneers of Erie 
county. New York, and on what was then 
the frontier of civilization he developed a fine 
farm and reared his large family of children. 
He passed all his life in agricultural pursuits, 
and died at the ripe old age of seventy-eight 
3'ears. He was strong and active, and walked 
twelve miles over a rough country the day 
before he died. In politics he was a Whig. 
Although frequently urged to accept office, 



he always refused, preferring the quiet life of 
a farmer. In his religious views he was a 
Free-Thinker. Mr. Suel Briggs' mother, 
whose maiden name was Sally Townsend, 
came West and lived in La Crosse county 
several years. She died in Minnesota, at the 
age of eighty-four. She was a member of 
the Free- Will Baptist Church. 

The subject of our sketch was reared on a 
farm and received his early education in the 
common-schools. He studied early and late 
in the chimney corner, has continued his 
reading all tlirough life, and much of his ed- 
ucation has been obtained by actual business 
experience. In 1842 he took a trip West 
and was in Janesville, Wisconsin, when that 
city contained only a half dozen cabins. He 
returned East, and in the spring of 1856 
again came to Wisconsin, and spent the sum- 
mer in Dodge county, selling goods, and in 
the fail settled in La Crosse county. After 
his arrival he taujjht a district school for 
two terms, and taught a private school in his 
own house four terms. In 1859 he entered 
the law office of Cobb & Messmore, of La 
Crosse, as a student, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1860. In 1863 he located on his pres- 
ent farm and has since made tins place his 
home. He has 160 acres of tine farming 
land, all kept in first-class order. He has a 
two-story residence, good barn and fences, 
and every thing about the premises bespeak 
prosperity. 

In connection with his agricultural pur- 
suits, he has transacted considerable legal 
business, and has always been regarded as a 
consciencions and safe counselor. In early 
life he was a Whig, but on the formation of 
the Republican party, he became, and has 
continued a strong advocate of its principles. 
He has filled nearly all the offices in his town, 
was chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 
twelve years, was one of the county Commis- 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTORT. 



489 



sioiiers, before the change in the law, and for 
thirty -four years has served as Justice of the 
Peace, having served as long if not longer, in 
that capacity, than any man in the county. 
He was elected to the Legislature in 1877, 
and for two years filled that honoral)le po- 
sition, with credit to himself and to the 
satisfaction of his constituents. He is still 
fond of books and study, and is almost as 
much of a student as at any time during his 
life. In 1890 he read the Bible and the works 
of Josephus both through, comparing them. 
He has never been a member of any church, 
nor is he a believer in any of the religious 
creeds of the present times. His religion is 
to do good, and is an essential part of his 
every day life. He is of a robust constitution, 
and is remarkably well preserved, and young- 
looking for his years, and appears t« have 
many years of active lite before him. Free 
and easy in manners, jovial in disposition, 
with a kind word for all, he is held in high 
esteem by a limitless circle t)f friends. 

September 16, 1846, in Erie county, New 
York, he was united in marriage with Miss 
Phebe, daughter of Levi and Sallie (Trevitt) 
Ballon. Slie was born in Otisco, Onondaga 
county, New York, January 11, 1827, and 
was descended from a long line of eminent 
scholars and thinkers. Her parents were 
natives of the Green Mountain State, and 
numbered in their family tree many names 
not unknown to fame, especially her grand- 
father, David Ballou, and his brother Rev. 
Hosea Ballou, the celebrated writer and 
Universalist divine, and one of the founders 
of that church. 

Mrs. Briggs died at her home in the town 
of Holland, March 7, 1892, after a long and 
painful illness, which was the result of in- 
juries sustained when a young woman, and 
from which she was almost a constant sufferer. 
She was a woman of culture, sterling integ- 



rity of character and strong individuality. 
She was loved and respected by all who knew 
her, and her loss was felt by the whole com- 
munity; while to the bereaved and aged 
husband, who has enjoyed her faithful and 
happy companionship for upwards of forty- 
five years, the loss is irreparable. The only 
surviving member of Levi Ballou's family, is 
Miss Sallie Ballou of Buffalo, New York. 
Leavitt Ballou, the eldest brother of Mrs. 
Briggs, died in New Amsterdam, Wisconsin, 
February 19, 1885, leaving a daughter, Lucy 
D., who afterwards found a pleasant home 
with Mr. and Mrs. Briggs, and still brightens 
the home of Mr. Briggs. 



fSON. TIMOTHY BURNS, a pioneer of 
La Crosse and the most prominent citi- 
zen of his time, was born in Dublin, 
Ireland, May 31, 1820. He was but three 
months old when his parents brought him to 
New York city. In the fall of 1837 he came 
to Wisconsin, settling in Iowa county. He 
was engaged in mining until the fall of 1844, 
when he was elected Sheriff of Iowa county. 
In 1846 he was elected to the General Assem- 
bly for a two-year term; re-elected in 1848, 
and elected Speaker of the Assembly for the 
sessions of 1848-'49. In 1850 he was elected 
a Commissioner of Public Works, and iu 1851 
elected Lieutenant Governor of the State, 
which otlice he held at the time of his death. 
He was endowed with a superior mind, and, 
notwithstanding he was emphatically a "self- 
made" man, his political career had not thus 
ended if his life had been spared him. His 
influence was probably more directly felt in 
all the great State interests generally, atid in 
railroad interests especially, than that of any, 
if not all, of the administration, although oc- 
cupying a secondary position. 



490 



lilOORAPHICAL BISTORT. 



In 1847 lie passed the point where La 
Crosse now is, and became captivated with 
the scenery. After examining into the com- 
mercial prospects of the situation, he was 
convinced that very few villai^e sites possessed 
so many natural advantages. lie purchased 
half the interest held by Myrick & Miller, 
and in 1850 he moved his family into what 
then seemed a lonely and almost unapproach- 
able solitude. From the commanding in- 
fluence of Mr. Burns in the entire State, and 
his honest devotion to La Crosse, to him 
especially belongs the honor of giving the 
village a real existence. Through his enter- 
prise a surveyor was employed to lay out a 
reasonable number of lots. He thus became 
one of the founders of La Crosse, and was 
always foremost in promoting any scheme 
for its advancement. 

His bi'illiant and successful political career 
was terminated by death September 20, 1853, 
and in his demise Wisconsin lost one of its 
most gifted statesmen, its councils one of the 
most sound, energetic minds of whicii it could 
boast, and La Crosse its most popular and 
distinguished citizen. 



fPAMES GILFILLAN, Sr., an aged and 
highly respected citizen of West Salem, 
was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, 
November 9, 1810. His parents were Will- 
iam and Jane (Warden) GilfiUan, both from 
Scotland and married in Vermont. The 
father, a farmer, left the old country at the 
age of twenty-five years, and died on the farm 
he lirst bought on coming to America, as did 
his wife also, at the age of seventy-seven 
years, though she was seven years younger. 
They were active members of the old-school 
Presbyterian Church. They had three sons 
and two daughters, of whom one sister, Mar- 



garet, wife of Nathaniel Ray, and our sub- 
ject, are the only ones living; her age is 
ninety years past. 

Mr. Gilfillan, our subject, has been a hard- 
working farmer during his active life, and 
fairly successful. As an early settler he has 
known much of the hardships and privations 
incident to Wisconsin pioneer life. 

He was married in Vermont, November 
21, 1838, to Miss Maria Redding, daughter 
of Stevens and Abigail (Gilman) Redding, of 
Vermont. They came West in 1848, settling 
first in Dodge county, on a farm; seven years 
afterward they came to La Crosse county and 
settled in Burns township, Adams valley, all 
wild land. He bought 200 acres and after- 
ward added to it until it amounted to 500 
acres. He sold his farm about eight years 
ago. They have been living in West Salem 
the past seventeen years. Mr. Gilfillan was 
a farmer during the prime of life, quite suc- 
cessful and enterprising and numbered among 
the worthy, respmisible and energetic. He 
has held various ollice« la the town of Burns, 
notably as member of the town board, for 
many terms. His official life was of a satis- 
factory character, as is evidenced by his re- 
election to the same office. In Vermont he 
held the office of First Lieutenant in the 
militia, taking great delight in the military 
affairs of those days. 

He has had four children, namely: Abbie 
J., a rheumatic invalid for a number of years; 
Mary M., wife of Hiram Bowles; James H., 
one of the hardware merchants of West 
Salem; William S., connected in business 
with the West Salem Creamery. 

Mr. Gilfillan had the serious affliction of 
losing his sight, having been blind since July 
4, 1884, on account of a cataract, which had 
been forming for some years; there is no 
possibility of his sight ever being restored. 
He and his wife were for many years mem- 



BIOaRAPHIOAL BISTORT. 



491 



bers of the church. In politics he is a Re- 
publican. He voted for General William H. 
Harrison, and recently for General Benjamin 
Harrison, and has never missed voting at a 
presidential election. He is a highly es- 
teemed and worthy citizen, such as gives 
character to a community. 

"-" "I ' !"! ' ! '-^ 



.|^EV. JOHN N. RAPP, of La Crosse, 
was born in Germany in 1858, studied 
the classics in Anstrie, philosophy in 
Bavaria, and came to America in 1882, since 
which time he has been ^•famulus episcojya- 
lis,'" living in the bishop's house at 308 South 
Eleventh street. In 1887 he was ordained 
clergyman for the diocese of La Crosse, and 
in 1888 was admitted to citizenship in the 
United States. 



Hi 



^ 



fS. MEDARY is the leading member of 
the J. S. Medary Saddlery Company, 
" which is among the oldest, most exten- 
sive and reliable wholesale manufacturing 
concerns in the saddlery trade to be found in 
the Northwest. Li addition to the manufac- 
ture of saddlery and leather goods, they con- 
trol a trade of considerable magnitude in 
saddlery-hardware, shoe findings, leather, etc. 
This enterprise is the outgrowth of a busi- 
ness that had its beginning in 1860, but until 
1866 Mr. Medary's business interests in Ga- 
lena, Illinois, engaged a considerable portion 
of his attention. In the last mentioned year, 
the firm of Grant, Burke and Co. was suc- 
ceeded by Messrs. Uavis, Medary & Hill. 
This connection continued until 1871, when 
Mr. Hill retired, the firm name becoming 
Davis & Medary until 1885, wlien Mr. Me- 
dary became sole proprietor. January 1, 1891, 



the company was incorporated under its 
present name. The membeps of this firm 
are widely known throughout the community 
as energetic, honorable business rnen, and 
their standing and position in botli commer- 
cial and social circles are of the highest and 
most creditable character. In quality and 
workmanship the goods of this house have 
become recognized as first-class. They carry 
an extensive stock, and do a constantly in- 
creasing business, employing from three to 
four traveling salesman, who make their regu- 
lar trips through Western Wisconsin, Minne- 
sota, Iowa and the Dakotas. Mr. Medary is 
also president and treasurer of the Davis, 
Medary & Platz Co., manufacturers of leather. 
This important industry was started in 1877, 
and incorporated in 1883. 

M' Medary was born in Clermont county, 
Ohio, March 12, 1839, a son of A. C. and E. 
B. (Tliornton) Medary, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. 
The father was called from life about 1846, 
at the age of thirty-seven years, the mother's 
death occurring in 1884, when she was aged 
seventy-five. 

J. S. Medary remained in the State of his 
nativity until he had attained the age of 
twenty years, when he went to Jo Daviess 
county, Illinois, but one year later he took 
up his residence for a short time in the State 
of Wisconsin, but did not locate permanently 
at La Crosse until 1866. Since the last men- 
tioned date he has been an honored resident 
of La Crosse, and has been prominently con- 
nected with her business interests. His 
sound and conservative views on all subjects 
led to his election to the position of city 
Alderman, the duties of which he discharged 
in an eflicient manner for two terms, his 
election being a victory of the Republican 
party, of which he has long been an ardent 
member. The year 1871 witnessed the cele- 



492 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



bration of his inarriase to Miss Frances E. 
Burns, daughter of ex-Lieutenant Governor 
Timothy Burns, whose sketcli will be found 
on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. 
Medary hav^e three children: Grace, who was 
for several years a student in Granger Place 
School, is at present studying music and the 
languages in Berlin, Germany, and is well 
versed in all the fine arts — music, painting 
and drawing; Walter B., a student in Lake 
Forest Seminary, and Frances E. 

fOSEPH FAY.— The vast amount of 
adulteration in wine and brandies in 
use at the present day has made the 
public wary, and they are only too glad 
to patronize an establishment where only 
the purest and best of goods are handled, 
and consequently the establishment of Mr. 
Fay, located at 309 Main street. La Crosse, 
lias an extended and paying patronage. 
His assortment embraces the linest im- 
ported and domestic wines and liquors of all 
kinds and he does the largest business in his 
line in the city, atnounting to about $60,000 
annually. 

Mr. Fay was born in Prussia, Gerinany, 
February 7, 1821, and on July 3, 1840, first 
landed on American soil. He came thither 
with his parents, Charles and Eve Fay, whose 
eighth child was born the day of their arrival, 
and being in almost destitute circumstances 
they found it most difficult to secure a liveli- 
hood for a number of years. In 1844 they 
arrived in Burlington, Wisconsin Territory, 
and here they suffered all the hardships and 
privations of frontier life. The first two 
years of their arrival they lived on corn bread, 
as flour was $60 per barrel and had to be 
hauled from Chicago, a distance of seventy 
miles. The mother lived to the ripe old age 



of ninety-six years, dying in 1891, in Burling- 
ton, Kacine county, Wisconsin. She was a 
noble and self-sacrificing mother, a devoted 
wife, and was noted for her many womanly 
virtues. She reared the following children 
to honorable manhood and womanhood: 
Marie, wife of John Lever; Margaret, wife of 
Asa Walter; Kate, wife of Frank Weinbone; 
Sarah, wife of John Brush; Peter, married 
to Elizabeth Pfiffner; Anthony, married to 
Mary liigger; Mary, wife of Maud ice 
Alresch, and Joseph, who is the eldest of the 
family. 

The latter made his start in this country 
as a weaver of fine goods, such as table- 
cloths, etc., in the city of Buffalo, and was 
there married on April 15, 1845, to Miss 
Mary Incinburg, who was born in Germany, 
October 8, 1820, and died August 29, 1851, 
after having borne Mr. Fay three children: 
Mary, born September 12, 1846, is the wife 
of Jacob Hashley; Carl, and Alice, who died 
in early childhood. Mr. Fay's second mar- 
rigge was celebrated on July 29, 1851, to 
Miss Julia Bushart, by whom he has the fol- 
lowing children: Sarah Louisa, born Septem- 
ber 1, 1852, the wife of Joseph Bushart; 
Charles, born May 16, 1854, married to Katie 
Moser; Andrew, born January 26, 1856, 
married to Miss M. Lutz; and Joseph, Jr., 
born July 8,1857. 

Soon after his first marriage Mr. Fay came 
to La Crosse to see the country, and being 
pleased with the outlook he here determined 
to pitch his tent. lie came hither with his 
family in 1855, and has been an honored 
resident of tiiis section ever since. Thougli 
past the allotted age of three-score years and 
ten, he is acknowledged to be a leader in the 
affairs of this portion of the county, and his 
intelligence, enterprise and integrity have 
acquired for him a popularity not derived 
from any fictitious circumstances, but f, per- 




|-->-j ^ i^c^K 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



493 



manent and spontaneous tribute to his merit, 
and this has been proven by his call at differ- 
ent times to positions of trust and responsi- 
bility. He held the office of Supervisor for 
five years; Street Cominissioner three years; 
the Aldermanship of La Crosse six years; 
a member of the City Police for six years; 
the position of Secretary and Treasurer 
of the public schools on numerous occa- 
sions; treasurer and secretary of the paro- 
chial fchool, the duties of which offices he 
discharged with the same care and fidelity 
that has ever characterized his career in busi- 
ness circles. He has been quite an important 
factor in educational circles, and besides build- 
ing the Catholic school at La Crosse he built 
two in llurlington, one in Geneva and one in 
the city of Buffalo, and another at Nutbush, 
near Buffalo. He is very liberal in the use 
of his means; is filled with the milk of human 
kindness, and those who know him best 
recognize in him a warm friend and a useful 
citizen. His parents celebrated their golden 
wedding at Burlington, Wisconsin, August 
24, 1870. The father died January 18, 1876, 
at the age of eighty-two years. 



" S"! " ! ' " "^ 



fAMES B. RAND, proprietor of the livery 
stable and meat market in Onalaska, with 
his son-in-law, A. N. Moore, as partner, 
was born in Brooke county. West Virginia, 
October 2, 1822. Ilis parents were Robert 
and Hettie A. Rand, natives of Vermont. 
Mr. Robert Rand was one of six brothers 
who settled in Vermont in pioneer times. 
He and his wife started from Veruiont for 
the West, and on their way became sick and 
remained in Brooke county, eventually for 
eiglit years, when they came on to Jefferson 
county, Ohio, settling near Steubenville. 
Finally they returned to West Virginia, 

83 



locating in Jackson county, where the father 
died of cancer, at the age of sixty-five years, 
after a residence there of nearly twenty 
years. Both himself and wife were old-time 
Methodists all their lives, and died in the 
triumphs of a living faith. She died at the 
age of eighty-six, in Brice's Prairie, at the 
residence of her daughter, Lucy Pittinger. 

Mr. James B. Itand, our subject, is tbe 
seventh in a family of ten children, nine of 
whom lived to mature years; four sons and 
one daughter are still living. He bewan life 
for himself by digging out grubs and making 
rails in West*Virginia. After that he flat- 
boated on the Ohio river, loading at Cincin- 
nati for New Orleans. He commenced on 
the river at the early age of sixteen years, 
and quit at twent}'-six, when he came td 
Wisconsin, settling on Sun Prairie, near 
Cottage Grove, in Dane county. He fol- 
lowed farming there ior three years, and 
while threshing his third crop of grain he by 
accident lost his right arm, and at that time 
was not worth a dollar in property. He had 
good friends and always a credit wheu he 
wanted it. He has made much of oppor- 
tunity. He has owned hundreds of acres of 
land, but now only 200 acres. 

Quitting the farm, he began logging on 
the Lemon Wire river, a tributary of the 
Wisconsin river, and also teamed from tbe 
logging headquarters, Madison, to La Crosse, 
in the winter of 1850-'51, when there were 
no roads. From this place be emigrated to 
La Crosse county in 1852. He is now the 
oldest settler in Onalaska, and one of the 
oldest in the county. He has been engaged 
in several kinds of business: kept hotel for 
a tiiue, was Deputy Sheriff for twenty-five 
years (under the first Sheriff of the county, 
and under Sheriffs Eldrid, Moses Clark, 
Staley, etc.), and he has been in the cattle 
business ever since he has been in the county; 



494 



BIOGRAPHJGAL HISTORY. 



has speculated in laud, and now owns a good 
farm in the town of Holland. He entered 
the livery business with his son-in-law, A. N. 
Moore, in 1884, and in the meat market in 
1889. Thej are doing well in both. 

Mr. Rand was married in Jackson county, 
West Virginia, August 9, 1846, to Elizabeth 
Latimer, daughter of George and Jane Lati- 
mer, of Scotch descent. She was horn in 
Washington county, Pennsylvania, and came 
to La Crosse in 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Rand 
have six children: Isabel, wife of William 
Evans; George, the oldest son, is on a farm 
near Holmen; Artemas R., ]flartha, wife of 
Charles Staples, and living in Polk county, 
Wisconsin (he is a millwright and carpenter); 
Anna, who married A. N. Moore, November 
21, 1883, and resides in Onalaska; and 
Willie, her twin brother, who died in his 
second year, in 1867. Mrs. Rand died April 
19, 1892, after a long and painful sickness, 
the result of la grippe. 

Mr. Rand's mother's father, Artemas Reed, 
was a "Green Mountain boy," and was in 
the Revolutionary war, engaged throughout, 
commencing as a disguised Indian in aiding 
to throw British tea overboard in Boston 
harbor. Thomas Buchanan Read is well 
known to the literary world as an author and 
poet. He wrote "Sheridan's Twenty Miles 
Away." He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, 
and is of the same age as Mr. Rand. Mr. 
Rand's youngest son, Artemas R., is named 
for his grandfather. 



CHRISTIAN BUOL was twenty years 
of age when he crossed the sea with his 
father's family, and took up his resi- 
dence in the United States. He is a native 
of Switzerland, born August 15, 1832, and 
is a son of John and Sula Buol; the father 



was a carpenter by trade and followed this 
calling in his own country, but upon coming 
to America he embarked in agricultural 
pursuits. The mother died in 1842, leaving, 
seven children, all of whom came to this 
country with ^heir father; they settled in 
Sauk county, Wisconsin, andjopened a small 
farm. Two of the sons, John and Caspar, 
enlisted in the Ninth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and went out to defend the Hag of 
their adopted country; John had not been on 
duty long when he was taken ill and died in 
the hospital; Caspar participated in, many 
of the most severe battles of the war, and 
was finally shot and instantly killed. 

Christian Buol began making his own liv- 
ing in his youth, his first en]ployment being 
on a farm, where he received $9 a month for 
his services. This was a small beginning, 
but he was royally endowed by nature with 
perseverance and energy, and so made the 
most of his opportunities. He worked by 
the month for several years, saved his earn- 
ings, and was enabled to purchase a tract of 
eighty acres in La Crosse valley about the 
year 1861. It is no light task to convert a 
wild tract of land into a fertile farm, and it 
is a difficult thing for the present generation 
to realize the debt they owe to those sturdy 
pioneers who made the path for the advance 
of civilization. Mr. Buol has added to his 
first purchase from time to time, and now 
owns 400 acres of land in one tract, and 
forty acres of timber land. He has erected 
substantial and convenient buildings, and has 
surrounded himself and family with many of 
the comforts of life. The land in this farm 
is well adapted to the raising of live-stock, 
and Mr. Buol has given especial attention to 
the dairy business, keeping forty cows for 
this purpose; he also runs a cheese factory in 
company with a partner, which has proved a 
profitable enterprise. He is one of the most 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



495 




advanced agriculturalists of the county, and 
his judgment in matters pertaining to his 
vocation carries great weight among the farm- 
ers of this locality. 

Our subject was united in marriage, in 1855, 
to Miss Anna Ackley, a native of Switzer- 
land, and one of a family of live children. 
She emigrated to America in 1847. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Buol have been born live children: 
Jolin, Christian, Minnie, wife of Andrew 
Wolf; Paul and Anna. The parents are 
members of the German Presbyterian Church, 
and enjoy the esteem and confidence of the 
entire community. 

5ILLIAM J. RADTKE, a jeweler and 
barber of Bangor, was born in Prus- 
sia, Germany, April 15, 1842, a son 
of Ludwig Radtke, deceased. He is the 
eldest of his father's seven children, three of 
whom survive, viz.: William, our subject; 
Pauline, of Clinton, Iowa; and George, of 
La Crosse. The father died when our sub- 
ject was eleven years of age, after which he 
came to Canada with his mother and step- 
father, Gottlieb Tonkey, in 1855, settling in 
Preston, Upper Canada. Two years later 
they removed to Buffalo, New York, and 
soon afterward to Erie county, same State, 
where Mr. Yonkey worked at the tailor's 
trade. Our subject's mother had four chil- 
dren by her last marriage, namely: Edward, 
Theodore, Rudolph and Henry. 

Mr. Radtke was patriotic during the late 
war, but his mother refused to give her con- 
sent and he consequently ran away and en- 
listed under the name of John Yonkey. He 
was wounded in the left temple in 1862, at 
the battle of Winchester, and a portion of 
the skull was removed. He was pronounced 
fatally wounded, and reported killed. In 



1863 he was discharged, but re-enlisted the 
same year and served until the close of the 
war. He was again wounded in the left 
knee by the kick of a horse, and now draws a 
pension of $24 a month. His first service 
was in Company C, Twenty-eighth New York 
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Naples, 
and his second enlistmeut was in Company I, 
Second New York Mounted Riflemen, known 
as the Veteran Regiment. He endured many 
hardships, and was in the battles of Spott- 
sylvania. North Anna River, Bethesda Church, 
Tolopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, James' 
Farm, Petersburg, Fort Rice, Weldlon Rail- 
road, Hatch's Run, Stony Creek Station and 
Warrens raid to Garret's Station. He parti- 
cipated in these battles during his second 
enlistment. During his first enlistment he 
fought in the battles of the Wilderness, 
second Bull Run, Winchester, Gettysburg, 
Strausburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission 
Ridge and many others. 

After the war, Mr. Radtke conducted a 
barber shop in Buffalo until 1875, when he 
came to Norwalk, Wisconsin, and conducted 
the same business until April 25, 1884. He 
then came to Bangor, where he now carries a 
stock of clocks, jewelry, cigars, and also 
repairs watches and clocks. 

He was married in Lancaster, New York, 
in August, 1867, to Albertine Wagner, a 
daughter of Emanuel Wagner, deceased. 
They have Ave children, namely: William, 
Emma, Ida, Albert and Heniy. Socially Mr. 
Radtke is a member of the G. A. R , and 
religiously of the Lutheran Church. 



fOHN N. JONES, of section 30, Burns 
township, was born in Hamilton county, 
si.x miles below Cincinnati, September 
29, 1881, a son of William W. Jones, a 



406 



niOGRAPIIICAL HISTORY. 



native of New Jersey. Tlie latter came to 
Cincinnati in 1811, and was a soldier in tlie 
war of 1812, as was also liis brother, John 
W. Jones. The brother was captured at 
Hull's surrender, and afterward exchanged. 
Our subject's mother, Mary Ilildreth, was a 
daughter of Rev. George Ilildreth, who emi 
grated from Cape May, New Jersey, to Cin- 
cinnati in a wagon in 1815, requiring two 
months to make the trip. lie was a pioneer 
preacher of Ohio, and also preached in pri- 
vate houses and school houses. He worked 
without salary all over that country, and 
organized Baptist churches in various places. 
He studied on Saturdays and preached three 
times on Sunday. He died at CJheviot, six 
miles west of Cincinnati, May 24, 1839, in 
his fifty-seventh year, after a life well spent 
in hard work in his Redeemer's cause. He 
was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church, 
of Hamilton county. Our subject's parents 
had eleven childreTi, nine of whom grew to 
maturity, namely: Matilda, deceased ; Sylvia, 
deceased; John, our subject; Sarah, the wife 
of John M. Chapin, of Clear Lake, Iowa; 
George H., who was killed at Corinth, Mis- 
sissippi, May 17, 1862, in the Eighth 
Missouri regiment, while lighting for the 
Union; Hannah, deceased; William W., of 
Clear Lake, Iowa; Mary, now Mrs. Charles 
L. Moe, of Denver, Colorado; and Sabra, 
deceased. The father died May 1, 186(5, in 
Barry township, at the age of seventy-eight 
years, and the mother February 9, 1872, at 
the age of sixty-six. 

The subject of tliis sketch came to Wis- 
consin in the fall of 1855, spending the first 
two years in La Crosse, working for Deacon 
Smith. In the fall of 1S57 he located on a 
farm in Barry township, and lived there and 
in Hamilton township for twenty-five years, 
engaged in teaching school during the win- 
ters, and in farming in the summers. Mr. 



Jones came to this county in 1856, by steam- 
boat, as did also his fatlier, making the trip 
in eleven days. He located on his present 
farm, of 160 acres, February 1, 1882, where 
he is entjaged in farming, stock-raising and 
dairying. 

He was married March 12, 1858, in Ham- 
ilton county, Ohio, to Elizabeth McFarland, a 
native of that county, and (laughter of James 
and Ann (Decraft) McFarland, the foi-mer a 
native of Scotland, and the latter of London, 
P^ngland. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have eight 
children: Anna, Lillie, Martha, George, 
Abbie, J. Newton, Eldridge, and Joseph. 
Anna married William Sherman, of La 
Crosse, and has three children: Roger, Abbie 
and Leslie. Lillie married Enos Streeton, of 
this township; Martha married Charles 
Sherman, a brother of William, of La Ci-osse, 
and has two children, Lillie and Benjamin; 
George and Abbie are well-known teachers 
of this county. Mr. Jones is a member of 
the A. O. U.W., the Farmers' Alliance, and 
of the Baptist Church of Bangor. He was a 
deacon in the church of West Salem before 
moving to his present farm, and is also a 
deacon of tlie Bangor Church. 



fOHN TORGERSON, one of the prom- 
inent and progressive farmers of La 
Crosse county, resides in Hamilton town- 
Uip, wdiere he owns one of the best tracts of 
land in the country. He is a native of Nor- 
way, born July 8, 1836, and is a son of Torger 
and Mary Johnson. The parents emigrated 
to America in 1854, and settled in La Crosse 
county; they first purchased forty acres of 
wild land and set themselves the task of re- 
ducing it to a state of cultivation. Our sub- 
ject now owns this tract, and has added to it 
120 acres. He is one of the most intelligent 



BIOOBAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



497 



agriculturists of the township, and merits 
the prosperity that has attended him. His 
principal crops are wheat, oats and corn. He 
also gives some attentioa to the raising of 
live-stock, and keeps some of the best grades 
of horses and hogs. One of the most val- 
uable features of this farm is the spring situ- 
ated in the back portion; this furnishes an 
abundant supply of water to the house and 
barn, being pumped by a windmill and car- 
ried in pipes to the desired points. 

Mr. Torgerson has been a member of the 
town board for twenty years, and during 
these two decades some of the most import- 
ant questions have been settled and some of 
the most valuable improvements have been 
made. His official services have given a 
high degree of satisfaction, a fact that has 
been attested by his continued re-election to 
the office. He is a member of the Republican 
party. 

He was married in 1879 to Miss Martha 
Simenson, of La Crosse county, a daughter of 
Gennres and Mary Simenson, natives of Nor- 
way, who emigrated to America in 1850; 
they now reside on a farm in Barnes county, 
North Dakota Our worthy subject and wife 
are the parents of two children: Theodore G. 
and Margaretta. They are members of the 
Norwegian Lutheran Church and are highly 
i-espected members of the community. 




S. HOLMES, Deputy Collector of 
I Internal Revenue, Postoffice Build- 
1"^=^!^]* ing, La Crosse, Wisconsin, owes his 
nativity to the Buckeye State, his birth oc- 
curring in Jefferson county, July 29, 1842. 
His parents are "William and Eliza (Vorhees) 
Holmes (see sketch of La Fayette Holmes). 
W. S. Holmes began for himself in the lead 
mines at Galena, Illinois, and continued there 



until the day after he was twenty years of 
age, when he enlisted in Galena, in Company 
A, Ninety-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, and was in the army of the Cum- 
berland. He participated in the battles of 
Franklin, Chickaraauga, Lookout Mountain, 
and through the Atlanta campaign, when he 
was under lire 110 days, and was then in the 
battles of Franklin and Nashville. He was 
in the Fourth Army Corps. He returned 
home with his company in 1865, and was 
mustered out in Galena in June, 1865, after 
serving three years. He was slightly wounded 
twice, but was never taken prisoner. After 
this he was engaged in steamboatinw on the 
Mississippi river, from St. Louis to St. Paul, 
as steward. 

From the history of the Ninety-sixth 
Illinois is copied the following: "Sergeant 
William S. Holmes, aged twenty, born in 
Jefferson county, Ohio, enlisted from Galena, 
was appointed Sergeant at the organization 
of the company, participated in all the en- 
gagements of the regiment but escaped se- 
vere wounds, was struck in the foot by a 
piece of shell at the battle of Cliickamauga 
July 20, 1868. Since has been steamboating 
on the Mississippi from St. Louis to St. 
Paul. Is now part proprietor of a hotel at 
Beatrice, Nebraska." Mr. Holmes followed 
steamboating until 1885, was then in the 
hotel business until he was appointed to his 
present position in 1889, under President 
Harrison's administration, receiving the ap- 
pointment July 1. He was married in 
April, 1867, to Miss Frances H. Graham, at 
Galena, daughter of William Graiiam, who is 
a prominent business man, manufacturer of 
furniture, and a well-known and respected 
citizen. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have been born 
four children: Mabel, who assists her father 
in the office; Sadie, a pupil of the high school; 



498 



BWGRAPUICAL HISTORY. 




Kayinond, Blaine and Paissell. Mr. and Mrs. 
Holmes are members of the Universalist 
Churcli. Mr. Holmes is a member of the 
"Wilson Colwell Post, No. 38, La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, and is also a member of the Mod- 
ern Woodmen. In politics he is a strong 
advocate of the Kcpublican party, and has 
been secretary of the city Republican Cen- 
tral Connuittee for several years. Mr. Holmes 
is a gentleman of natural business ability, is 
unusually intelligent, and is esteemed by all. 



P. JACOBS, deceased, one of the 
most higlily esteemed and respected 
I® citizens of the community in which 
he resided, was born in Loveland county, 
Pennsylvania, June 16, 1823, and was of 
German descent. His paternal grandfather 
came from Germany at an early day, and was 
among the first settlers of Lovelace county. 
He was the owner of rolling mills, smelting 
iron ore, etc., which he conducted success- 
fully for many years. He died in Loveland 
county. His son, and the father of our sub- 
ject, William Jacobs, carried on the same 
business started so successfully by his father 
until Ills death many years ago. His wife 
was of a Quaker family, and she was of that 
belief. She is also deceased, and with her 
husband lies buried in a cemetery in Loveland 
county. W. P. Jacobs, the only son and the 
youngest in a family of seven children, was 
educated in Philadelphia, and is a man of 
more than ordinary ability, being well-read 
and a very fine conversationalist. While liv- 
ing in his native State he was engaged with 
his father in the milling business. 

He was subsequently engaged in business 
in Erie, Pennsylvania, and on the IGth of 
August, 1855, he was married to Miss Pau- 
line H. Geer, a native of Hamburg, Erie 



county, Pennsylvania, near Buffalo. Her 
parents, Josiah and Huldah (Green) Geer, 
were natives of Vermont, where their nup- 
tials were celebrated. Mrs. Jacobs is the 
youngest of fifteen children, three of whom 
are still living: Mrs. Caroline Endicott, widow 
of James Endicott, at Burr Oak, Wisconsin, 
and Mrs. John H. Willard, of Melrose, Wis- 
consin. Mr. Jacobs and wife came from Erie, 
Pennsylvania, to Belvidere, Illinois, in 1855, 
and there Mr. Jacobs followed merchandising 
for two years. Selling out he moved to Ken- 
tucky (Frankfort and Lexington), and trav- 
eled all over the State. From there he went 
to Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1858, and was 
there engaged in the wagon- making business 
for about two years. He subsequently went 
to St. Louis, where he manufactured soda 
water and light drinks. In 1863 they moved 
to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and on the 22d of 
August of the following year, Mr. Jacobs en- 
listed in Company L, First Regiment Wis- 
consin Artillery Volunteers. His discharge 
dates from June 20, 1865, at Fort Lyon, Vir- 
ginia. He was a man who had been un- 
usually healthy up to the time he enlisted, but 
he returned to his home an invalid after peace 
was declared. He embarked in blacksmithine: 
and wagon-making, but his shops were burned 
in 1867. After this he went on the railroad 
(Southern Minnesota), as civil engineer, and 
continued on the same for two years, when 
his health failed. He was troubled with 
heart disease, and on the 6th of November, 
1871, he went to Florida for his health. His 
death occurred on the 19th of April, 1872, 
when but forty-nine years of age. He was 
for many years a devout and active member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and had 
been Sunday-school Superintendent at his 
home in Loveland, Pennsylvania, for many 
years. He was a good citizen, a worthy man 
in every respect, and one who gave character 



BIOORAPHWAL BISTORT. 



499 



to a community. His funeral occurred April 
20, 1872, and be lies buried in Mount Pleas- 
ant (Cemetery, Florida. 



flMOTHY A. LEWIS.— Tbe name of 
Tiniotby A. Lewis has long been ac- 
W' lively and prominently identified with 
the building u]> of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
and tbe erection of many of her largest and 
most stately edifices. lie is now in a measure 
retired from the active duties of life, and is 
enjoyincf the fruits of his early labors. He 
was born in Schoharie county, New York, 
March 12, 1831, to James and Susie (Hoge- 
land) Lewis, the former a native of Lyons, 
France, who was taken by bis parents to Can- 
ada in 1S18. He followed farming through- 
out life, and was one of the noblest and best 
of Christian gentlemen. He was a member 
of and an officer in the Presbyterian Church, 
was an earnest believer in the promises of 
the Bible, and died in tbe triumphs of a 
Christian faith, October 12, 1877, his birth 
having occurred on the 9th of September, 
1795. His wife was born October 12, 1794, 
of German parents, and died May 5, 1844, 
at which time she was also in full com- 
munion with the Presbyterian Church. Ten 
sons and two daughters were born to their 
union, but only four members of this family 
are now living: Benoni was Captain of a 
New York battery, and died in 1891 in the 
Soldiers' Home at Corning, New York; 
Abraham resides at Leeds, New York; Elisha 
H. lives at Union, Oregon; Timothy A.; 
Winslow Page is an engineer in New York 
city. Timothy A. Lewis left home at an 
early day and learned the carpenter and cabi- 
net-maker's trade, a calling he followed for 
many years, except while in the Union array. 
December 28, 1863, he enlisted in Com- 



pany F, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry, 
under Jerry Rusk, of national fame, and took 
part in all the battles from Resaca to Atlanta. 
On the 22d of July, 1864, he was wounded 
by a shell at Decatur, Georgia, and about 
twentj'-five minutes later was wounded in 
the face, losing most of his teeth, which has 
caused him much discomfort and pain ever 
since. Ten minutes later he was taken pris- 
oner, but a short time afterwards was re- 
turned to his regiment, and tiie next morn- 
ing was sent to the hospital, where he 
remained until the war closed. His discharge 
dates May 10, 1865, which shows him to have 
served about seventeen months. Although 
he was often sent to the hospital, his interest 
in the cause he espoused would not allow 
him to remain inactive, and he would rejoin 
his regiment, although many times unfitted 
to do so. 

Upon his return home alter the war was 
over, he resumed contracting and building, 
and this occupied his attention until a few 
years since, when his means permitted him 
to retire from the active duties of life. 
He became very skillful in his calling, and 
being a natural mechanic, can make almost 
anything that can be built from wood. Al- 
though he has held some minor otticial posi- 
tions, he has not been a political aspirant, 
much preferring to devote his time and at- 
tention to his business, rather than mixing 
in the strife and turmoil of the political 
arena. He was married at Montrose, Penn- 
sylvania, July 24, 1852, to Miss Miranda 
Newcomb, daughter of B. S. and Lucinda 
(Decker) Newcomb. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis 
have had three children: George, residing in 
Atlanta, is retired, having been crippled 
while working on the railroad; his wife was 
formerly Mabel Harris, and by her he has 
one child, George; May. after several years 
of married life, resumed her maiden name 



500 



BIOORAPUWAL HISTORY. 



of Lewis; she has two cliildren, George and 
Guy; and Kate, wife of John S. Van Clure, 
Professor of Music in the Weslejan College 
at Cincinnati, Ohio. Tlie Professor lost liis 
sight tlirough sickness when he was seven 
years of age. He is a remarkable scholar 
and musician, as bis position would indicate. 
He is a graduate of three colleges tuid an 
alumnus of the Ohio AYesleyan TJuiversity, 
class of 1871. He is a remarkable man in 
many respects, and is held in high esteem 
for his many excellences of character. His 
wife is a charming and gifted young lady, 
who is a soprano singer of considerable 
celebrity. Their only child is named Paul. 
Mr. Lewis and his wife have an adopted son 
whom they love as one of their own children, 
and are esteemed and honored by him in re- 
turn. He has been with them since his 
second year, and is a young man of much 
promise, especially as regards music, to which 
he has devoted his attention for the past three 
years, and which he expects to make his call- 
ing through life. 

Mr. Lewis is a inetnber of the G. A. K., 
and in politics is an ardent Jlepnblican. He 
is a man of great force of character, is of a 
genial and generous disposition, and is pub- 
lic-spirited and progressive in his views. 

II. HARRISON, a sugar broker of 
ijaTj) La Crosse, representing all the sngar 
; ® refineries of New Orleans, Boston and 
Philadelphia, was born in Baltimore, Mary- 
land, May 28, 1852, a son of Charles Harri- 
son, Jr., and Mary (Ridgely) Plarrison. Both 
the paternal and maternal forefathers, Benja- 
min Harrison, of Virginia, and John Ridgely, 
Hampden, were signers of the Declaration of 
Independence. Charles Harrison, Jr., began 
his career in the business world as errand boy 



in the Merchant's National Bank of Balti- 
more, a,\\(\ passed throngli all the grades of 
service until lie was made cashier, a position 
which he held until the failure of his health 
in 1875; he was an ofiicer of the bank for 
thirty-eight years and never lost a day from 
illness during this long service. He was held 
in the highest esteem by the ollicials of the 
institution, and during the last fifteen j'ears 
of his service the president, Johns Hopkins, 
made him a Christmas present each year of 
twenty-five percent, of his salary. He was 
a stanch churchman, as was also his wife 
and contributed liberally to the support of 
the same; lie was one of the most thorough 
and profound of bible students. His death 
occurred in Baltimore, November 5, 1873, 
at the age of sixty-three yeai's. His wife 
died the previous year, at the age of fifty- 
two years. He was the father of twelve 
children, ten of them being the result of his 
third marriage, which was to Mary Ridgely; 
they all lived to mature years, and are all 
living at the present time, excepting one 
daughter. 

H. H. Harrison was educated at St. Timo- 
thy's Hall, a school in charge of the Episco- 
pal Church near Baltimore. He completed 
a thorough English course, and then began 
clerking in a hardware store in Baltimore, 
where he remained for three years. Li 1875 
he and his brother, W. N., went to the plan- 
tation owned by thf:ir father, and for several 
years were employed in lumbering and log- 
ging, as the plantation contained a large tract 
of virgin white-oak timber. In 1881 he went 
to Cleveland, Ohio, his first trip to the West. 
He established the Artificial Stone Company 
and conducted the business until 1886, meet- 
ing with gratifying success; he then sold out 
and went to Minneapolis as the representa- 
tive of the sugar refiners. After three years 
he came co La Crosse, February 2, 1889, and 



BIOGRAPHia^iL HISTORY. 



501 



has been filling his present position with 
great satisfaction to his employers. 

Mr. Harrison was married June 25, 1890, 
to Miss Gertrude Alice Barron, a daughter of 
William H. and Edna Barron, of La Crosse. 
Mr. Barron was for nearly a quarter of a cen- 
tury division freight agent of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee & St. Paul llailroad, but is now 
retired ; he and his wife are natives of Ver- 
mont, and Mrs. Harrison is their only child. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Harrison has been born a 
bright and promising boy, Herbert Stanley. 
They are both members of the Episcopal 
Church. Politically Mr. Harrison affiliates 
with the Republican party. He is a thorough 
business man, honorable in all his dealings, 
coui'teous in manner and fully deserving of 
the liberal patronage he has received. 




IILLIAM J. SCOTT, ex-Sheriff of La 
j| Crosse county, is a native of Ireland 
and a son of John and Mary J. 
(Rogers) Scott, who were also born on the 
Emerald Isle. The parents emigrated to 
America in 1850, and settled in Pennsylvania, 
where they engaged in farming. In 1857 
they removed to La Crosse county, Wiscon- 
sin, and are among the honored pioneers of 
this State. While a resident of Pennsylvania, 
the father had some lumber interests and 
operated a saw-mill, but since coming to this 
county he has been engaged in agricul];ural 
pursuits; he is now eighty-seven years of age, 
and his wife is eighty-three. To them were 
born eight children: Ellen, wife of William 
Blackley, departed this life in August, 1877; 
Joseph P. married Ella McDonald; during 
the late war he was a soldier in the Second 
Wisconsin Calvary, and did valiant service; 
he was elected Sheriff of the county in 1805, 
and discharged his duties with great satisfac- 



tion to the public; he has also filled positions 
of honor and trust in this city; Robert A. is 
Postmaster of La Crosse; he was a soldier in 
the late war, and passed through all the ex- 
periences of fighting, imprisonment, and being 
wounded ; he has served as Sheriff of La Crosse 
county three years; he married Miss Elsie 
Gile, a daughter of Abner Gile, who is men- 
tioned more fully on another page of this 
volume; Elizabeth died in early childhood; 
Hadessah is the wife of John E. Davis, of St. 
Paul; William J., the subject of this notice; 
Lizzie died in 1870, at the age of eighteen 
years; Eichard E. is living in Michigan. 

William J. received his education in the 
public schools of La Crosse, and at the acre of 
fourteen years he went into the Brick Pome- 
roy printing office, where he remained until 
he went into the one-hundred-day service in 
1864; his regiment was stationed at Memphis, 
Teimessee, and was on garrison duty much of 
the time. At the close of his term of enlist- 
ment he returned to his home, and from 1870 
to 1877 he traveled through the South, 
Suuthwest and West, over Colorado, New 
Mexico, Arizona and old Mexico, returning 
to La Crosse in April, 1877. In 1879 he 
was appointed under- Sheriff, M. M. Buttles 
being Sheriff; he continued to fill this posi- 
tion seven years, Mr. Buttles being succeeded 
by R. A. Scott, and he in turn by Ole Jenson. 
In the fall of 1888 he was nominated for 
Sheriff of the county, and was elected liy a 
handsome majority. He was a very capable 
official, and performed his duties to the entire 
satisfaction of his constituency. Upon the 
expiration of his term of office he embarked 
in the mercantile trade, and has met with 
much encouragement in this enterprise; his 
wide acquaintance in the county has l)routrht 
him a large patronage, which he holds by 
uniformly honorable dealings. 

Mr. Scott was married, February 14, 1884, 



502 



BIOQRAPHIGAL HISTOBT. 



to Miss Jennette M. Lang, a daughter of 
John and Ellen Lang, of Onalaska, AVis- 
consin. Mr. Lang died June 14, 1886, aged 
sixtj-three years; his wife survives him, at 
the age of sixty-nine. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott 
have been born three children: John L., 
Eobert G., who died at the age of twelve 
months, and another child who died in 
infancy. 

Mr. Scott is a member of the L O. (). F. 
and of the G. A. R. He takes an interest in 
the movements of the great political parties, 
and casts his suffrage with the Ilepublicans. 
February 22, 1892, he was appointed Deputy 
United States Marshal for the Western Dis- 
trict of Wisconsin, but declined to accept. 
He is one of the most substantial citizens of 
La Crosse, and has made a record both in 
private and official life that is an honor to 
himself, to his family and to his country. 



-f^ 



^ 



(APTAIN G. H. ALLEN, agent of the 
Diamond Jo. Line of Steamers, plying 
on the Mississippi river, has been a 
resident of La Crosse only since 1889, but 
has already formed many acquaintances and 
friendships and lias won the unreserved re- 
si)ect of all with wiioni he has had either busi- 
ness or social relations. He was born on 
Bunker Hill, Boston, July 11, 1852, to David 
and Mary J. (Kennison) Allen, who were 
born in the Granite State, and settled in 
Massachusetts in the springtime of their 
lives. The father was one of the earliest 
provision dealers of Charleston, and in the 
pursuit of this calling made a comfortable 
competency for himself and family. He 
died in 1S75, at the age of seventy-one years, 
at which time be was a member in good 
standing of the Congregational Church, of 
which his widow is also a member. He was 



one of the oldest Masons of his locality, 
having joined that worthy order in 1837. 
His widow is now sixty-eight years of age 
and resides on the old homestead at East 
Somerville, Massachusetts. 

Captain Cr. H. Allen is an only child, and 
in his youth was an attendant of the public 
schools of his native State, in which he ac- 
quired a practical educatiou. Upon attaining 
a suitable age he entered his father's store, 
but left it to engage in the express business, 
which calling he continued to follow for 
about ten years, principally in the United 
States. He took the lirst run for the New 
England Express Company, and when this 
company sold out he was the last employe to 
leave. Following this for five years he was 
connected with the United States Express 
Company, and his next move was to come to 
La Crosse and enter upon the duties of his 
present position. His services have been ex- 
tremely satisfactory, and in his business of 
looking after passengers and freight, he is 
courtesy and kindness itself, his accommo- 
dating spirit and agreeable manner winning 
him the hearty good-will and respect of his 
fellows. He is a man with whom it is a 
pleasure to have business relations, for in 
addition to being the soul of honor he is 
wise in judgment and shrewd and far-seeing 
in his views. 

He was first married in 1873, to Miss Ma- 
rion A. Hanchett, daughter of P. S. Hanchett 
of Massachusetts, but in 1879, at the un- 
timely age of twenty-eight years, she was 
called from life. She bore her husband two 
children: Florence, who has quite a reputa- 
tion as a singer and musician, and Arthur, 
who is a resident of Summerville, Massachu- 
setts. Captain Allen's second marriage was 
consummated in 1883, Flora L., the daughter 
of Jackson Carl of Birmingham, Massachu- 
setts, becoming his wife and eventually the 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



503 



inotlier of his two children: Ralph aad Carl. 
Captain Allen is a charter member of the 
Koyal Arcanum, becoming a member of the 
first lodge organized in the United States, at 
Boston, in 1877. He takes but little interest 
in politics, generally allowing the man, who 
in his estimation is best fitted for the oflice, 
to determine his party preference. Pie and 
his wife are considered acquisitions to the 
social circles of La Crosse, and their home, 
which is a charming and hospitable one, is a 
favorite resort of their numerous friends. 



' anS « 



fOlIN W. KLICK, who has been for 
many years identified with the building 
interests of La Crosse, was born in Bo- 
hemia, Austria, in 1847, a son of Simon and 
Theresa Klick; his parents emigrated to La 
CroS!^e in 1872, and are now residents of this 
city. He obtained his education in his native 
land, attending both the common schools and 
university, and in 1866 he crossed the sea to 
America in search of the fortune tlie New 
World might have for him. He had learned 
the stone-mason's trade, and upon his arrival 
in this country he settled in La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, hoping to secure employment at his 
trade; this, however, he was not able to do 
for one year, but tlie end of that time the 
way opened, and since then he has been en- 
gaged in business, meeting with marked suc- 
cess. Since 1872, he has been taking con- 
tracts for the erection of stone buildings; 
from 1879 to 1881, he built two of the large 
edifices at the State Reform School at Wauke- 
sha. In 1871 he had the contract for the 
brick and stone work of the large mills of 
N. B. Holway & Co., of this city, and many 
other brick and stone buildings in and about 
La Crosse have been put up under his direc- 
tion. Pie has won an enviable reputation as 



a conscientious and reliable builder, and 
enjoys the highest regard of his fellow- 
craftsmen and patrons. 

Mr. Klick was united in marriage in 1871, 
to Miss Barbara Karbuski, whose parents 
were of European birth; her father died when 
she was a cliild, but the mother is still living, 
at the age of sixty-five years. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Klick have been born four children: 
Samuel, Charles, John and Carrie. 

Politically our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party. He is a member of the 
Builders' Union of La Crosse, and has been 
honored with the office of president of that 
body. 

imLE L. MYHRE.— Scandinavia has fur- 
nished her full quota of substantial 
citizens for the peopling of the Republic 
of the United States, a band of men and 
women reilecting great credit upon their 
mother country. Ole L. Myhre was born in 
Norway in 1863, a son of l^ars and Mary 
Olsen, also Norwegians by birth; the father 
followed work on the river and was drowned 
in 1871, leaving his family in almost desti- 
tute circumstances. When our subject had 
attained his eighteenth year, he determined 
to cross the sea to America in order to better 
his condition. The opportunities offered by 
the New World could not be inferior to those 
of the land he was leaving, so he felt it a 
safe venture. Coming to a strange people 
speaking a strange tongue, with no capital 
and no friends, is an experience that will test 
the bravest heart. The first three years of 
Mr. Myhre's sojourn here he was variously 
employed, performing any labor that promised 
honest returns. By strict economy he man- 
aged to give himself the advantage of two 
terms in the commercial school of La Crosse 



504 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



and one term in the University at Galesvilie. 

The first money tliat he invested was put 
into lots in North La Crosse, and this proved 
a profitable outlay. In 1887 he opened a 
meat market, renting both the markets in 
this part of the town. Since that time he 
has erected a market, ice-house, stable, and a 
good frame dwelling. He has proven him- 
self a man of unquestioned integrity, and by 
the employment of strictly honorable methods 
he has established a large and paying busi- 
ness. 

Mr. Myhre was married in 1886, to Miss 
Gunda Hegge, a daughter of Hans Hegge of 
La Crosse, and to them has been i>orn one 
child, named Mary. Mr. Myhre is a member 
of the Knights of Labor. 



^lEGO LANGE, hardware merchant and 
contractor in tin and sheet-iron roofing, 
was born at Watertown, Wisconsin, 
March 13, 1859, and is a son of Adolph W. 
and Louisa (Segelke) Lange. His parents 
were born, reared and married in their native 
country, Germany, and emigrated to America 
about 1845 or 1847, landing in the city of 
New Orleans; later they removed to Water- 
town, Wisconsin, where the father followed 
his profession, that of a veterinary surgeon, 
for many years. He died in this place Sep- 
tember 2, 1890; his wife survives him. They 
reared a family of three sons and three daugh- 
ters: Ernest of La Crosse: Mary, Minnie, 
Alma, widow of Heimer Wedermeyer; Diego, 
the subject of this brief biography, and 
Herman of Spokane Falls, Washington. 

Diego Lange grew to manhood in Water- 
town, and there learned the tinner's trade; 
he also clerked in a hardware store, familiar- 
izintr himself witli all tiie details of the 
business. In 1878 he came to La Crosse, 



worked at his trade, and also served as a clerk 
in a hardware store until 1884, when he 
opened an establishment on his own account. 
He has been very successful in this under- 
taking, his methods being systematic and his 
aim being to give the best satisfaction in 
every piece of work entrusted to him. 

He is a member of the Deutsche Verein, 
of the Third Ward Aid Society, and of the 
Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man 
of sterling traits of character, and is destined 
to occupy a prominent position in the com- 
mercial circles of the State. 




ALTER SCOTT LUCE.— The sub- 
ject of this sketch was born at Gales- 
vilie, Wisconsin, March 28, 1861. 
His parents were Samuel S. Luce and Hannah 
(Gale) Luce. Tiie latter a sister of the late 
Judge Gale, from whom Galesvilie received 
its name. Our subject's career has been an 
uneventful one, being that of a hard-working, 
ambitious journalist. His father was editor 
of the Galesvilie Transcript at the time of 
his birth, and at the early age of ten years 
our subject began to learn the printer's trade 
in the office of the Galesvilie Journal, which 
was owned and edited by his brother, George 
S. Luce. This occupation he gave up for two 
or three years while he attended the Gales- 
vilie University, now Gale College, but was 
too anxious to get back to work to secure the 
diploma, aliuost in sight. In 1881 he pur- 
chased from his father the office of the Gales- 
vilie Independent, which he continued to 
publish with success until 1889, when he 
sold out and moved to La Crosse, where in 
June, 1890, he purchased a half interest in 
the La Crosse Daily Press, then but three 
months old. He bought out his partner in 
the following December, and up to the pres- 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



505 



ent time has continued tlie business with 
marked success. 

Tlie family is a literary one, both father 
and mother possessing acknowledged poetical 
ability. They united in the publication of a 
volume of poems in 1876, and since then S. 
S. Luce has issued two other volumes. George 
S. Luce, a brother, is a journalist, and Mrs. 
Dorwin, of Durand, a sister, has won several 
magazine prizes for her writings. 

In 1882 he was mai'ried to Miss Carrie 
Davis, and they have one child, a daughter, 
of eight years. 

His journalistic career thus far has been 
most flattering, and he attributes his success 
to a thorongh knowledge of every detail of 
the business, having graduated from every 
department, from oflice boy to managing edi- 
tor. He is proud of his Wisconsin birth, 
and hopes to spend the rest of his life in the 
journalistic field of Western Wisconsin. 



4^ 



^(@> 



^ 



fOSEPH PINKERTON, who lias for 
many years been engaged in agricultural 
pursuits in Hamilton township, is the 
subject of the following biographical sketch. 
He was born in Sterlingshire, Scotland, Feb- 
ruary 17, 1821, and is a son of Joseph and 
Catherine (Crosby) Pinkerton, both of whom 
are deceased; the father died in 1827, and the 
mother in 1833; they were natives of Scotland 
and passed their lives in that country. They 
reared a family of three children: Sarah, wife 
of William Robinson; Joseph, the subject of 
tliis notice, and John, a sketch of whom will 
be found elsewhere in this volume. The two 
brothers sailed from Liverpool for America 
in 1844, and after their arrival here stopped 
for a year in Canada West; thence they came 
to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and pur- 
chased 120 acres of land, which they cultivated 



until the beginning of the civil war. When 
there came a call for men to go to the defence 
of the Union, they went to La Crosse and 
enlisted in Company I, Eighth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Lifantry, serving from September 
1, 1864, to the close of the war. They par- 
ticipated in the engagement at Nashville and 
also at Franklin, and thence went to New 
Orleans; at this point they embarked on an 
ocean steamer, crossed the Gulf to Mobile; 
they cruised about this port, were in many 
skirmishes, and in the final battle were vic- 
torious. Thence they were removed to Span- 
ish Fort, and their last battle was at Blakely. 
Our subject then started to Montgomery, 
Alabama, and was finally discharged and 
mustered out of the service at Uniontown, 
Alabama; he was paid off at Madison, Wis- 
consin. He was once slightly wounded at 
Nashville, but was never taken prisoner, 
although he had many narrow escapes. He 
was a faithful, valiant soldier, always ready 
for duty, and never lost a moment from ill- 
ness or other cause. When tlie war was 
ended he returned to his home, and was met 
with this discouraging fact: the lumber he 
had ready to build a house had been destroyed 
by the forest fires. 

He was obliged to liegin life over again, 
and, taking a piece of land, began to reduce 
it from a wild state, to one of cultivation. 
He tilled the soil for fourteen years, and in 
1879, was cotiipelled to abandon farming on 
account of failing health. The exposure he 
endured in the army was too severe, and he 
has never recovered from the effects of it; 
he has been receiving a small pension from 
the Government since 1881, which has been 
recently increased. 

Mr. Pinkerton has been called to fill various 
township offices and has filled these positions 
with credit to himself. Politically he adheres 
to the Republican party, in which he is an 



506 



DIOORAPUWAL HISTORY. 



active worker. lie is a member of the G. A. 
K. Post, and takes a just pride in his mili- 
tary record. He is in every way a most 
worthy citizen, and merits the esteem in which 
he is held. 



-^^um/h- 



'^irmy^^^ 



fOHN PINKEKTON,*a retired agricul- 
turist, of Hamilton township, has 
contributed his share of labor in the 
development of La Crosse county, and has 
earned the rest he is now enjoying. lie was 
born in Sterlingshire, Scotland, December 14, 
1824. Upon the breaking out of the civil 
war in his adopted country, he enlisted in the 
same company and regiment as his brother 
Joseph, took })art in the same engagements, 
and was honorably discharged at the same 
time. After his return from the war he en- 
gaged in farming, and followed this calling 
until 1890, when failing health compelled 
him to retire from active pursuits. His farm 
is situated three and a half miles north of 
"West Salem, and contains ninety acres; it is 
well watered, by the La Crosse river, and is 
excellently adapted both to stock and grain 
raising; his cattle are of the Holstein breed, 
the hogs are Poland China, and the horses 
are of good record ; the crops are wheat, oats, 
hay, corn and potatoes. The buildings on 
the place are of a substantial character and 
are supplied with all modern conveniences. 

Mr. Pinkerton was married June 14, 1864, 
to Miss Jane Hewitt, a daughter of James 
and Eleanor Hewitt of La Crosse county. 
This union has been blessed with the birth 
of one child: Margaret, who is the wife of 
George Gilickson, and they have two children, 
Carrie and Harvey. 

Both our subject and his wife are consistent 
Micnibers of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 
Pinkerton is a member of the G. A. R. Post 



of West Salem. lie is a man of genial dis- 
position, progressive in his views, and enjoys 
the confidence and respect of the entire com- 
munity. 



fRANK D. SHAW, who for many years 
has been a trusted employe of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington and Northern Rail- 
road Company, is a citizen of La Crosse 
county, and is deserving of the place that has 
been accorded him in this record of substan- 
tial men and women. He was born in New 
Hampshire, September 25, 1854, and is a 
son of John and Susan (Shaw) Shaw, who 
were also natives of New Hampshire. Tlie 
father was a tiller of the soil, but devoted a 
portion of his life to the ministry of the 
Baptist Church. He was widely known as an 
able preacher, and accomplished much in the 
cause of his Master. He was born July 12, 
1812, and died August 25, 185G; his wife 
was born August 5, 1823, and died at Fair- 
banks, Florida, in 1883. The family re- 
moved to Wisconsin in 1856, and settled in 
Rock county. There were four sons in the 
family: James K. died at the age of forty 
years; he married Mary O'llarra and they 
had three children: Emma, Charles and 
Albert; he was a shoemaker by trade, and 
resided in Milwaukee; his wife is also 
deceased. John B. lives at Paxton, Illinois; 
he married Libbie Holcomb, and to them 
have been born live children: George, Jen- 
nie, Jessie (deceased), Frankie and Horace. 
Daniel P. is in Chicago; he married Arpie 
Smith. The fourth son is Frank D., the 
subject of this biography. He received his 
education in the public schools, and for two 
years was a student at the Illinois Industrial 
University. He was afterwards employed 
by the Chicago Times a,s mailing agent for a 
term of four years. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



507 



"When he severed his connection with the 
Chicago Times he beean liis career as a rail- 
road man, securing a position with the Chi- 
cago & Iowa Railroad Company as brakeraan; 
in six months he became train baggage-man, 
and retained this position for six and a half 
years. He was then promoted to the posi- 
tion of conductor on the above named road ; 
he ran a construction train until the road was 
finished, and then had the honor of taking 
the first regular passenger train going south 
from La Crosse. He still retains this run, 
and has never lost any time except on account 
of illness, either of himself or in his I'amily. 

Mr. Shaw was married November 14, 
1882, to Miss Anna M. Murphy, a daughter 
of James and Johanna Murphy, of Chicago, 
Illinois, both of whom survive. Three chil- 
dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Shaw: 
Franklin (deceased), Florence M. and Jessie 
E. Mrs. Shaw is a member of the Catholic 
Church. Politically Mr. Shaw affiiates with 
the Republican party. He is a man of ex- 
cellent habits, and__ during his service to the 
railroad company he has given a degree ol' 
satisfaction seldom equaled. 

James and Johanna Murphy reared a fam- 
ily of eight children: James, Patrick, 
Thomas, Anna M. (Mrs. Shaw), Nellie, wife 
of Edwin Utman, Alice, Mamie and John. 

[EORGE EARN AM, deceased, was one 
of the worthy band of pioneers who 
paved the way for the advance of civili- 
zation on the Western frontier. As such his 
name is to be preserved in the annals of La 
Crosse county. He was born in Orange 
county, New York, February 24, 1825, and 
was the son of Stephen and Keturah (Sey- 
bolt) Farnam, natives of the Empire State. 
The father was a farmer by occupation, and 



gave the strictest attention to his vocation; he 
was a quiet, unobtrusive man, and was 
greatly respected by the entire community; 
he was born October 19, 1779, and died 
April 27, 1868; his wife was born September 
6, 1787, and died December 6, 1872; they 
were married October 31, 1812, and lived in 
great harmony and happiness forty-six years; 
the faithful -wife had not long to walk alone 
on earth, but was soon called to join the com- 
panion of her worldly experience. To them 
were born seven children: Abigail, Mary 
(deceased), Harriet, Matilda, George, Emily, 
who died July 14, 1861, aged thirty-three 
years, and Sarah F., who died April 27, 1844, 
at the age of thirteen years. George Farnam 
received his education in the State of New 
York, and was reared to the pursuit of agri- 
culture; having an inclination to the profes- 
sion of teaching he devoted some time to this 
calling with gratifying success. 

He came from New York to Iowa in 1851, 
and selected La Crosse as his future home; 
Farnam street is named in his honor. He 
first embarked in the lumber business, but 
during the latter years of his life he gave his 
attention to the real-estate trade. 

Mr. Farnam was united in marriage March 
3, 1852, to Miss Ann M. Stover, and to them 
were born four children: Walter G., who 
died in infancy; Arthur S., manager of the 
Star Knitting Works, of La Crosse, married 
Miss Jennie Calvert, and they have one child, 
Margaret; Emine L., is the wife of J. 11. 
Clark, agent of the American Express Com- 
pany, at "Winona; Anna is a teacher of wide 
experience and superior ability, employed in 
the Minneapolis schools; the mother of these 
children died October 13, 1867, aged thirty- 
six years. Mr. Farnam's second marriage 
occurred December 1, 1870, when he was 
united to Miss Sarah Montgomery, daughter 
of Abel and Sarah Montgomery. The father 



608 



niOGRAPHICAL EISTORT. 



of Mrs. Farnam died in 1880, aged eighty- 
six years, and his wife passed away in 1870 
at the as;e of seventy-five years. The children 
of Mr. Farnam's second marriage are: George 
E., a type-writer in the employ of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Northern Railroad Com- 
pany since his sixteenth year; he is a young 
man of great promise, having exceptional 
business qualifications; he is a member of the 
Congregational Church, and is an active 
■worker in the Y. M. C. A., of this city; Roy 
M. was born April 13, 1873, and died May 2, 
1882; Josie F. is a pupil in the La Crosse 
graded schools; she is also a member of the 
Congregational Church. The mother has 
been a member of this church since her 
twentieth year, and until her health declined, 
was a most zealous worker. 

Mr. Farnam, after a long and painful ill- 
ness, died September 10, 1891, at the age of 
sixty-six years. He was an honoi'ed member 
of the 1. O. O. F. He took a deep interest 
in the affairs of the Government, and faith- 
fully discharged liis duties as a citizen of this 
free and independent nation; he cast liis suf- 
frage with the Republican party, and zeal 
onsly supported the principles of that body. 

— ■^^^^— - 

fKRD BRAITZMAN is the proprietor of 
the Barre Mills and is one of the pro- 
gressive and leading business men of 
the township. He was born in Germany and 
there was reared, educated and learned his 
trade. Being anxious to make his own way 
in tlie world and to acquire a competency, 
he decided that America offered the best 
field for the accomplishment of his desires, 
and in 1879 he left the old country and came 
to the United States. After a residence of 
eight years in Watertown, Wisconsin, during 
which time his attention was devoted to the 



milling business, he removed to La Crosse 
county and purchased the Barre Mills, whicli 
he repaired and put in good working con- 
dition. He has successfully conducted these 
mills up to the present time, and his large 
local trade is the strongest indorsement his 
product could have. He offers his customers 
the best terms, and by treating everyone who 
has business relations with him in a court- 
eous and proper manner, he has met with 
well deserved success. 

He was married in 1880, to Miss Anna 
Hass, daughter of Rev. William and Henri- 
etta Hass, the former of whom was pastor of 
a church at Lowell, Wisconsin, for five years, 
and later acted in the same capacity in other 
localities. He died in Mormon valley, in 
1890, his death being a source of deep regret, 
not only to his congregation but to all who 
knew him. In addition to his mill Mr. 
Braitzman owns three acres of land, which he 
uses as a pasture, and near bis mill is a sub- 
stantial two-story brick dwelling-house in 
which he resides with his famil}'. He keeps 
a number of good horses, cattle and hogs 
and is an enterprising and thrifty man of 
business. His union has been blessed in the 
birth of the following children : Louisa, Lena, 
Emma, Edwin, Amanda and Arthur. He 
and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church of Bostwick valley, aiid in politics he 
is a stanch Democrat. 



[OHN HASS has been before the public 
a miller and farmer of La Crosse 
county, AVisconsiu, since 1869, and dur- 
ing this time his career has been marked by 
honesty of purpose, thrift, intelligence, — in 
fact, all the qualities that go towards making 
a model citizen. He was born in Prussia, 
Germany, in 1841, and the same year of his 




BIOGRAPBICAL HISTORY. 



509 



birtli he was left fatherless, his mother's 
death occurring at a later period. John Hass 
was the youngest of their twelve children, and 
in March, 1866, he came to America and 
settled in La Crosse county, Wiseonsin. 
Having learned the details of milling in his 
native land, lie began following this calling 
in this county, and for a number of years 
worked for wages for other men. In 1869 
he located on the Jones farm, purchasing two 
eighty-acre tracts, and of this valuable land 
he is still the fortunate owner. He soon 
after purchased over six acres of land on 
which was erected a flouring mill, and this 
he utilizes during the winter seasons for 
grinding feed, his monthly income from the 
same amounting to about $100. He is a 
thrifty and practical farmer and his land is 
exceptionally well cultivated and improved, 
his i-esidence, which is a substantial two-story 
brick structui-e, being located on a beautiful 
building site. He has two large barns on his 
premises for sheltering stock and for storing 
grain, besides other convenient buildings, and 
an excellent wind-pump, which saves him the 
labor of pumping water for his stock. A 
good-sized creek runs through bis land, thus 
making it a good stock-raising farm, and it 
is also admirably adapted for the raising of 
the cereals, hay, etc. That often much 
abused phrase "self-made man" may be ap- 
plied to him, for on reaching this country 
his capital was very small indeed, and it is 
entirely owing to his own pluck and push 
that he is now so comfortably situated. 

Ue was married, in 1869, to Miss Ida Con- 
nell, who came from Germany the same year 
as himself, in company with a sister and a 
brother of Mr. Hass. Her parents still re- 
side in German}'. 

Martha Hass, an adopted daughter, has 
been living and making her home with Mr. 
and Mrs. Hass for the past thirteen years, and 

31 



she has found in them true and disinterested 
friends. Mr. and Mrs. Flass are members of 
the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Host- 
wick valley, and have the respect of a large 
circle of acquaintances. 

— -~^-^ ^ « ;n; «■ ^ -«<"««» — 



Jl^ll ALTER JOHN CARLYLE, deceased, 

"fPffift ^^^ '''^'"" '" Williamsburg, Dundas 
l-T^j^j county, Ontario, June 6, 184-9, the 
oldest of a family of eight children born to 
Adam and Catherine E. (Cook) Carlylo. The 
maternal grandparents, John and Catherine 
(Hess) Cook, were natives of Canada and 
New York respectively. Adam Carlyle was 
born in Scotland, February 15, 1825, and 
came with his parents to Canada, at the age 
of fourteen years. They settled near Corn- 
wall, Ontario, but later removed to North 
Willianisburg, where he married Catherine 
E. Cook, who was born April 18, 1828. 
Their family was as follows: Walter J., the 
subject of this biographical sketch; Cather- 
ine J., wife of George Spangler; Thomas D., 
the first white child born in De Soto, Wis- 
consin; Anna E. ; Mary A., wife of C. Con- 
ley; Daisy H., wife of Ed Gorry; Adam 
W., and George, who died at the age of 
seventeen. The father of, this family died 
June 7, 1891, but the mother still survives, 
and is a woman of most worthy character. 
Adam Carlyle was a cousin of the celebrated 
author, Thomas Carlyle. He was a man of 
sterling integrity, and for many years was 
identified witii the commercial growth of 
De Soto, Wisconsin, where he settled with 
his family in 1856. 

Our subject came to Wisconsin with his 
father's family when a youth of seven years, 
and grew to maturity at De Soto, Vernon 
county, and there received his early educa- 
tion. He was employed some years in erect- 



510 



JilOGRAPniGAL HTSTORT. 



ing telegraph lines, one of these extending 
from La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Lansing, Iowa. 
He set the first telegraph pole ever put up in 
Lincoln, Nebraska. 

April 21, 1873, at La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabetli 
R. Hughes, a daughter of Captain Robert 
and Hannah (Fairbanks) Hughes, a sketch 
of whom appears ne.xt after this. The 
young couple located at Fulton, Illinois, and 
Mr. Carlyle became the agent for the Dia- 
mond Joe Steamboat Company. In the 
spring of 1874 he embarked in the whole- 
sale flour business at Pacerson, New Jersey, 
in company with his father and a Mr. Wil- 
cox, under the lirm name of Wilcox & Carl- 
yies. This business venture proved dis- 
astrous, and at the end of a year Mr. Carlyle 
returned to Wisconsin, and soon after located 
again at Fulton, and resumed business for 
the Diamond Joe Company, and remained in 
their employ several years. He settled in 
La Crosse in 1885, where, in company with 
his brother-in-law, they established the well- 
known La Crosse Enterprise Marble Works. 
Later he was interested in the La Crosse 
Grocery Company; he was its uianager, and 
gave character and stability to that enter- 
prise, which is still doing business. His 
death occurred at his home, November 14, 
1890. 

Mr. Carlyle was a man of strongly marked 
character, honorable, upright, self-reliant and 
progressive; a man of great business ability, 
active, energetic and pushing, doing well 
whatever his hands found to do. A tine t^pe 
of the true American citizen, his energy was 
so great, and application to business so con- 
stant, that it gradually wore upon his physi- 
cal strength, and when typhoid fever came 
upon him he became its prey while yet in 
the prime of early manhood. He was broad 
and liberal in his I'eligious views, moral and 



generous, and at all times faithfully dis- 
charged his duty to his fellow-man and his 
family. In politics he was a Republican, as 
are all the members of the Carlyle family. 
He was a charter member of the La Crosse 
Lodge of Modern Woodmen, and his the first 
death to occur among its members. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle were the parents of 
nine children, six of whom are living: Ma- 
rion E., Jean O., Josie E., Fredericka E., 
Georgiana C. and Tomsina. Robert, Cora 
and Walter J. are deceased. 

Mrs. Carlyle is an intelligent, cultured 
woman. She and her daughters are members 
of the Universalist Church, and their pleas- 
ant home is the abode of hospitality and 
happiness. 



.^m^ 



APTAIN ROBERT HUGHES, 
for whom the La Crosse camp of the 
Sons of Veterans is named, was born 
in Anglesea, Wales, in 1822, and was edu- 
cated in his native country. He emigrated 
to America in 1842, and was successfully 
following his trade, that of a tailor, when the 
dark cloud of the Rebellion spread from the 
horizon to the zenith; every loyal citizen, 
whether by birth or adoption, had a duty to 
perform, and Captain Hughes responded to 
the call for 75,000 men to go to the front in 
defense of the old flag. He enlisted in the 
service as Second Lieutenant of the first 
company to leave La Crosse, Wilson Colwell 
being Captain, and Frank Hatch First Lieu- 
tenant. The company became a part of the 
Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, the 
mortuary record of which shows that the 
"Old Iron Brigade" lost the greatest per- 
centage of men of all brigades in the Union 
army. Upon the death of Captain Colwell, 
Lieutenant Hughes was promoted to the 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



511 



position, and discliprged tlie duties of tlie 
office with honor to himself. May 10, 1864, 
while gallantly leading his regiment on the 
sixth day of the battle, he met his death from 
a rebel ball in the woods of Spottsylvania, all 
the other officers having been killed in the 
first day's fight. It is said by his comrades 
thai he voluntarily walked to his death in his 
attempt to succor a wounded rebel who was 
crying for water, saying, " I will give liini a 
drink of water." He was an enthusiastic 
military man, and was recognized as a model 
officer. His remains were interred in Laurel 
Hill Cemetery, West Virginia. 

He came from the New England States to 
La Crosse in 1858, and this county never 
sent out a native-born son who faced death 
in a noble cause more bravely. Had he lived 
twenty-four hours longer his term of enlist- 
ment would have expired. 

hx affectionate remembrance of the dead 
hero the La Crosse camp of Sons of Veter. 
ans was named for him. A large portrait of 
the Captain adorns the hall of the Sons of 
Veterans, a treasured gift from his children 
in recognition of the honor. Upon the occa 
siou of its presentation by Mrs. W. T. 
Symons, comrades G. M. Woodward and 
Milo J. Pitkin, who were members of the 
same company, made addresses: in well chosen 
words, telling of the bravery and heroism of 
their dead soldier brother. Letters of regret 
were received and read from Hon. William 
H. Harris and Dr. L. H. Bunnell, author of 
" Yosemity." 

March 29, 184G, Captain Hughes was 
united in marriage, at East Medway (now 
Millis) Massachusetts, to Hannah, daughter 
of Leonard and Olive (Abbe) Fairbanks, 
natives of Massachusetts. Six children were 
l)orn of this union: Elizabeth R., widow of 
W.J. Carlyle, a sketch of whom is just given; 
Eugene F., of Winona, Minnesota; Ellen, 



wife of C. A. Bartlett, of La Crosse; Fred- 
ericka, now Mrs. W. T. Symons, of La Crosse, 
and two who are deceased. 

In 1808 Mrs. Hughes became the wife of 
William H. Stogdill, a prominent attorney of 
La Crosse, by whom she had a daughter, Cora 
who married J. F. Jacobson, of Portland 
Oregon. The death of Mr. Stogdill occurred 
at La Crosse, Wisconsin, October 28, 1887. 
Mrs. Stogdill resides with her daughter, Mrs. 
Carlyle. 

The ancestors of the Fairbanks family emi- 
grated to America about the beginning of 
the French and Indian war, and lived in the 
garrison at Medfield, Massachusetts, for 
many months. Leonard and Olive (Abbe) 
Fairbanks are both deceased ; the former died 
at Medway, Massachusetts, in 1875, at the 
age of eighty-six, and the latter at the same 
place in 1845, aged fifty-five years. Mr. 
Fairbanks was four times married, Mrs. 
Stogdill being a child of the third union. 
Mrs. Stogdill and Leonard Fairbanks, of MiL 
ford, Massachusetts, are the only surviving 
members of a family of eight. 



?OHN S. JONES, who has been identified 
Avith the farming interests of La Crosse 
county since 1868, was born in the 
Southern part of Wales, October 17, 1845, 
and is a son of David S. and Hannah (Davis) 
Jones, natives of the same country. The 
father was a shoemaker by trade, and was the 
owner of a large shoe store, keeping five 
skilled workmen to meet the demands of his 
trade. He was a quiet, retiring man, and a 
good citizen. He died March 15, 1861, aged 
forty-five yeai-s; his widow still survives, liv- 
ing in the same place, in the same house in 
which her children were born; she is three- 
score and ten years old, and is well preserved 



512 



BIOGltAPIHCAL HISTORY. 



in mind and body. Our subject is one of a 
family of five children; David is conducting 
the business established by his father, except- 
ing on a nauch enlarged scale. He married 
Ellen Davis, and they have two children, 
David and John T.; John S., the subject of 
this biography, is the second-born; Thomas 
died at the age of twenty-eight years; Mary 
died at the age of five years, and a second 
daughter, also named Mary, died at the age of 
three years. 

Mr. Jones learned the trade of shoemaking 
with his brother David, and followed this 
occupation until he emigrated to America. 
He set sail September 26, 1868, and landed 
after a voyage of eleven days. He continued 
his journey to La Crosse county, and located 
in Bangor, where he had a friend living. He 
was employed in various industries and 
worked diligently and perseveringly until he 
had accninulated sutlicient means to purchase 
forty acres of land; he lived on this tract 
until 1881, when he bought 160 acres in 
Hamilton township, which is still his home; 
this was wild, uncultivated land, and he has 
cleared about seventy acres; he has a good 
house, two large barns, and many modern 
conveniences. He has given especial atten- 
tion to the raising of live-stock, having a 
good grade of Durham cattle, Poliind-China 
hogs and Shropshire sheep; he also raises 
corn, wheat, oats and hay, the last being the 
principal crop. Mr. Jones furnishes another 
of the many examples of what can be accom- 
plished in a new country where will and de- 
termination to succeed are the chief capital; 
he had no money when he came to America, 
but by close application to his duties he has 
accumulated a competence. 

He was married December 7, 1865, to 
Miss Margaret Davis, a daughter of Steven 



and Mary Davis, of Yestrad, Wales. Their 
marriage was celebrated in the town church. 
Of this union fourteen children have been 
born: David, Hannah, Stephen, who died at 
the age of three years; Charles, Letitia, Jen- 
nie, who died at the age of one year; Stephen, 
who was given the name of the deceased 
brother; Walter, Maggie, Jane, and four chil- 
dren who died in infancy. Politically Mr. 
Jones atfiliates with the Republican party, 
and is an ardent supporter of the principles 
of that body. Mrs. Jones is one of a family 
of thirteen children: Mary, Margaret, t'harles, 
deceased; Jane, Sarah; the others died in 
childhood. The father died in 1885, but the 
mother still survives, aged eighty years. 



fOHN G. KEPPEL was born in Saxony, 
Germany, January 2, 1835. His par- 
ents, John David and Christiana (Bery- 
ner) Keppel, were natives of that country 
and lived and died there; the father a farmer 
by occupation, and in religion a Catholic. 
John G. was the first-born in their family of 
two sons and five daughters. He attended 
school until he was fourteen, after which he 
worked on a farm for a time. Four years he 
spent in the German army. Then, coming 
to America, he was employed in a gingiiam 
factory iu Massachusetts, he having learned 
the trade of weaver in Germany. 

When the civil war broke out Mr. Keppel 
entered the^service of the Union, enlisting in 
July, 1862, at the time when Lincoln called 
for 300,000 more, and became a member of 
Company K, Fifty second Massachusetts 
Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was sta- 
tioned for some time at New Orleans and on 
the Red river; was at the battle of Port 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



513 



Hudson and took part in a number of other 
engagements. Receiving an honorable dis- 
charge in October, 1863, Mr. Keppel came 
West and settled in Shelby township. La 
Crosse county. He made liis home in La 
Crosse valley for some three years, after 
which he came to his present location in 
Onalaska township; postoffice, Holinen. Mr. 
Keppel brought with him to this country 
that thrift and enterprise that is character- 
istic of the German people, and in his efforts 
to secure for himself and family a comfort- 
able home and living he has been successful. 
He now owns 140 acres of well-improved 
land ; has a house 16 x 20, feet, a story and a 
half, with a one-story L, 16x24 feet; barn, 
34x62 feet; granary, 16x24 feet; hog shed 
and stable, 16x20 feet; ice house, other 
buildings, etc. His land is conveniently di- 
vided into fields for cultivation and stock 
purposes, and everything about the premises 
is kept in the best of order. Mr. Keppel 
keeps fourteen cows, besides horses, hogs and 
sheep. 

He was married in Shelby township, this 
county, in February, 1864, to Miss Kate 
Schab, a native of Germany and a daughter 
of German parents, William and Margaret 
Schab. They have seven children. The 
oldest, Valentine S., a young man of good 
education, is the Assessor of Onalaska town- 
ship; Pauliua is the wife of Herman Pralle, of 
Campbell township; the names of the oth- 
ers are Rosa, Minnie, Emma, Clara and 
Willie. The youngest, Henry N., died at 
the age of five years and six months. 

Mr. Keppel is in every respect an honor- 
able and upright citizen. Republican in poli- 
tics, he is identified with the best elements 
of his party, and believes in the advancement 
of educational and religious interests. He 



has served four years as a member of the 
school board. His religious associations are 
with the Lutheran Church. 



"ini-^ 



^I^^^ILLIAM C. RICK, who is promi- 
11 nently identified with the commer- 
cial interests of North La Crosse, 
was born in Germany in 1854, and remained 
in his native land until 1865, when his par- 
ents emigrated to America. They settled in 
Jackson county, Wisconsin, and there passed 
the balance of their days; both died in 1875, 
the father aged eighty years, and the mother 
having attained seventy-five years. They 
were both possessed of many excellent traits, 
and were devout members of the Lutheran 
Church. At the age of seventeen years 
William C. Rick went to learn the wagon- 
maker's trade at North Bend, Wisconsin, 
wliere he lived four vears; he then went to 
St. Charles, and in 1876 purchased a farm 
near Sparta, and for the time abandoned hia 
trade. He found agriculture unprofitable 
and not at all to his taste, so he disposed of 
his land the next year and came to La Crosse. 

For ten years he was a bridge contractor 
on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail- 
road, and in 1887 he embarked in the gro- 
cery business. He is building up an excel- 
lent trade, and has 'ue of the best locations 
in the city. 

Mr. Rick was united in marriage to Miss 
Matilda Peters, a daughter of Louis Peters, 
of North Bend, Jackson county, Wisconsin. 
Mr. Peters is one of the leading fanners and 
politicians of Jackson county; for the past 
forty years he has been a member of the 
School Board for his township, and has also 
been chairman of the County Board. He is 
a German by birth, emigrated to this country 
about 1840, and is yet living in Jackson 



514 



DlOORAPllIGAL HISTORY. 



county, at the advanced age of ninety years. 
His wife died in 1880, at the age of sixty- 
iive years. Mr. and Mrs. Rick are the par- 
ents of four children: Kndolpli, Eddie, Fred- 
die and William. Rudolph and Eddie are 
members of the Lebbert's Jubilee Rand of 
North La Crosse. The family all belong to 
the Lutheran Church. Mr. Rick takes no 
active interest in political questions, but 
casts his suffrage for the man he deems 
best qualified for the duties of office. 



(APTAIJST CHARLES LUCE, one of the 
pioneer settlers of La Crosse county, 
was born at Montreal, Canada, in 1833, 
a son of Charles and Julia Luce. The father 
was a farmer and a master of all the details 
of agriculture. The Captain worked for his 
father and in the employ of neighboring 
farmers until 1858, when be removetl to La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. He soon secured em- 
ployment on the river, and faithfully per- 
formed the duties presented him until he 
filially reached the position of commander of 
a vessel. During the past ten years he has 
been captain of one of the boats of the David- 
son Lumber Company, and has been in the 
employ of that company continuously since 
1858, a fact showing his efticiency and the 
high esteem in which he is held by the com- 
pany. 

Mr. Luce was united in marriaire, in 1866, 
the year of his coming to Wisconsin, to Miss 
Julia Jarvis, a daughter of Charles Jarvis. 
Her father and mother were both natives of 
the Dominion of Canada, but the latter is 
now deceased. Mr. Jarvis is now eighty- 
nine years of age, and is a resident of La 
Crosse. 

Mr. and Mrs. Luce are devout members of 
the Roman Catholic Church. Although they 



have had no children of their own, they have 
been father and mother to the children of 
other parents, and have reared to honorable 
manliood and womanhood the helpless and 
dependent. Mr. Luce has always been an in- 
dustrious, energetic man, and without the aid 
of ca^iital or education has accumulated a 
competency for his declining years. He has 
given a loyal support to the government of 
his adopted country, having the highest re- 
gard for the duties of citizenship in a re- 
public. 

.^. .^MS . g ..... 



UGENE J. FARNAM is a native of 
the State of Wisconsin, born in Fond 
du Lac county, in 1856. His parents, 
Eli and Lucy 11. (Hicks) Farnam, were natives 
of Canada. Mr. Farnam came West in 1836 
and settled in Illinois, where he remained 
three years; at the end of that time he re- 
moved to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, 
where he was one of the first settlers. Mr. 
Hicks' family had come to Fond du Lac 
county in 1842, and Mr. Farnam and Miss 
Lucy IL Hicks were married in 1848. They 
continued their residence there until 1864, 

when Mr. P^arnain sold his land in Fond du 

• 

Lac county and purchased a farm in Lewis 
valley, La Crosse county; this he improved 
and made his home until his death, which 
occurred in 1891. He attained the good old 
age of four-score years. Plis wife is still 
living at the homestead in Lewis valley; she 
is now sixty-seven years old, and in excellent 
health. 

Eugene J. Farnam enjoyed tlie advantages 
ofiered in the public schools of his town, and 
had three terms in the University at (iales- 
ville. When his school days were ended he 
made a trip through Dakota, and there took 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



515 



np a section of land, which lie improved for 
eight years; when a good chance to sell out 
presented itself he disposed of the property 
and returned to La Crosse. Here he engaged 
in the milling and teaming business, and fol- 
lowed both lines until January, 1892, when 
he was appointed Janitor of the City Hall; 
then he abandoned the milling industry, but 
retains his interest in the teaming, having 
won a large patronage. 

Mr. Farnum was united in marriage, No- 
vember 24, 1881, to Miss Minnie Willey, a 
daughter of Henry and Janette (Gage) Wil- 
ley. Her father died in 1889, aged fifty-five 
years; her mother is now residing at La 
Crosse. Mr. and Mrs. Farnam are the par- 
ents of one daughter. Lulu Belle. Mr. Far- 
nam is a member of Gateway City Lodge, 
No. 153, I. O. O. F., and holds an important 
office in the same. 

fPAMES RAWLINGSON, Jr., who is 
known in La Crosse as one of the most 
prominent contractors and builders, was 
born at Chester, England, a son of James 
and Mary (Edwards) Rawlingson, a full his- 
tory of whom appears on another page of 
this volume. He is the youngest of a family 
of six children, and received his education in 
Jersey City and La Crosse, the family re- 
siding in the former city for nine years after 
coming to the United States. Afterwards 
they removed to Wisconsin, and James, Jr., 
engaged in agricultural pursuits from 1861 
to 1863. Descended from ancestors who had 
been builders for five generations, it was but 
natural that he too should finally be attracted 
to this vocation. In 1864 he gave up tilling 
the soil, and began to learn the trade of 
building with his father and lirotlier. He 
worked with them in La Crosse for a number 



of years, and was employed on some of the 
largest buildings in this city. For one season 
he was in Denver, Colorado, and also spent a 
season in St. Paul. Inheriting a decided 
talent for building, he has cultivated it to the 
fullest e.xtent, and has centered all his forces 
in this direction, the result of which has 
been very gratifying. 

Mr. Rawlingson was united in marriage in 
La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1873, to Miss Marie 
Didier, a daughter of Henry and Marie Did- 
ier, natives of France, who emigrated to the 
United States about the year 1850. Mrs. 
Rawlingson's father is still living, and is now 
a resident of La Crosse; the mother died in 
1874. To Mr. and Mrs. Rawlingson have 
been born a son and daughter, Charles Homer 
and Emma Marie. They have a pleasant 
home where they are surrounded with all the 
comforts of the nineteenth century. Mr. 
Rawlingson is a member of the Builders' 
Exchange, and the family all belong to the 
First Methodist Episcopal Church of La 
Crosse. 



fAMES RAWLINGSON, deceased, one 
of the first and best known contractors 
and builders of La Crosse, was born in 
Eaorland, July 5, 1815, and was descended 
from four generations of builders. He emi- 
o-rated to America in 1849, and settled in 
Jersey City, where he resided nine years. 
When the opportunities of the Western 
frontier became known in the East he re- 
moved with his family to Wisconsin in 1856, 
and settled in La Crosse. He and his sons 
engaged in contracting and building, the 
oldest son, William, being his partner. They 
erected many of the large and substantial 
buildings which adorn the city, and estab- 
lished a reputation as men of the highest 



516 



BIOORAPHW^iL HISTORY. 



honor and strictest integrity. Their many 
years of experience enabled them to do their 
work intelligently and with the greatest 
economy both of time and material. Mr. 
Eawlingson passed from this life October 22, 
1880, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He 
was a man of generous impulses, a loyal cit- 
izen of his adopted country, and greatly be- 
loved by his family. He had four sons and 
two daughters: William, Fred C, Joseph E., 
Elizabeth A., Emma and James. The mother 
died in 1879, at the age of fifty-nine years; 
she was a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, and for many years was act- 
ively engaged in the work of the church. 

"William llawlingson was born in Chester, 
England, in 1837. He was in business with 
his father, and they did some of the most 
important work in masonry in this city. 
Many of the structures erected under their 
supervision are monuments to their honor 
and skill that will outlast many generations. 
William Kawlingson married Miss Mary 
Holmes, and theii- only son, Harry, is a resi- 
dent of St. Paul, Minnesota. He was a 
member of the Masonic order, and was Wor- 
shipful Master of his lodge for several years, 
he also belonged to the Chapter, of which he 
was King. Fred C. was born April 27. 
1839, in Chester, England, came to this 
country, and was with his father and brother 
in business until 1858, when he went to 
Mississippi. When the war broke out he 
enlisted in a Mississippi battery, and served 
until the cessation of hostilities. When the 
war was ended lie came to La Crosse again 
and engaged in business. He was njarried 
April 3, 188G, to Miss Sarah Cooper. He is 
also a member of the Masonic fraternity. 
Joseph E. is a contractor, and a resident of 
La Crosse. He married Miss Charlotte Eer- 
nette, of Brooklyn, New York, and to them 
have been born thi'ce children: Mary E., 



James and Mattie J. Elizabeth married 
Joseph Stacy, and to this union one child 
was born, Emma E., who died at the age of 
one year. Mr. Stacy died January 3, 1866, 
aged twenty-nine years. He was a soldier in 
the late war, but at the end of twelve months' 
service he was wounded, on account of which 
he was discharged. Mrs. Stacy was married 
a second time, to Edward C. Peck, who was 
an engineer. During the civil war he ranked 
as Lieutenant in the United States Navy, and 
has a l)rilliant record as a seaman. Charles 
Edward, the only child of this marriage, lived 
to be nine years old; he was .a bright and 
promising child, and a great comfort to his 
parents. Mr. Peck died in La Crosse, at the 
age of fifty-two years. He was one of the 
most skilled engineers on the river, an up- 
right man in all his dealings, and a valued 
citizen. His widow was married December 
25, 1890, to George H. McCumber. of Fond 
du Lac, a millwright by trade. He erected 
Coleman & Paul's mill in La Crosse, and is 
now in Michigan, where he has charge of a 
mill in process of construction. Emma, the 
fifth child of our suljject, is the wife of F. X. 
De Lorie, a contractor and builder of La 
Crosse. Jan)es Rawlingson married Miss 
Marie Didier, of La Crosse, and they have 
two children, Charles and Emma. 



-^^Lnjifo— 



-q/mn^-^ 



IfSlliAM J.OVEJOY, of La Crosse county, 

tcanie to the frontier in 1855, and since 
that time has been identified with those 
enterprises which placed Wisconsin among 
the leading States of the Union. He was 
born in St. Lawrence county, New Fork, July 
22, 1833, and is a son of Ransom and Mary 
(Bromaghisn) Lovejoy, natives of Canada. 
The father was a successful agriculturist, and 
was well and favorably known in his county. 



BIOOBAPHICAL EI STOUT. 



517 



He was a devout member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, as was also his wife; his 
death occurred September 9, 1879, at the 
age of eighty-three years; his wife died 
March 17, 1888, at the age of eighty- 
eight years. They were most excellent 
people, and their many kindly deeds ren- 
der their memory dear to a wide circle of 
acquaintances. They had a family of six 
children, two of whom are living. At the 
age of eighteen years Hiram Lovejoy went to 
learn the carpenter and builder's trade, and 
in August, 1855, he came West, and for sev- 
eral years followed his trade; he also gave 
some attention to the mill business. For 
two years he lived in the city of La Crosse, 
and then came to bis present place; he erected 
the Lovejoy mill, which he operated seventeen 
years, and as his means increased he invested 
in lands, adding to the tirst forty acres he 
purchased until he now owns 300 acres of 
good farming land. His dwelling is beauti- 
fully located on a natural building site, com- 
manding a line view of the fertile valley, and 
he has large and convenient buildings for the 
care and protection of his live-stock. He 
raises horses of the Norman breed, Poland- 
China hogs, Holderness cattle, and in grains 
corn, wheat and oats; he also harvests large 
crops of hay. He is one of the most pro- 
gressive agriculturists of the comnuinity, and 
it is to men of his type that the rapid advan- 
ces in this line have been made. 

Mr. Lovejoy was married March 12, 1873, 
to Miss Sarah J. Tripp, a daughter of H. A. 
and Mary (Elsworth) Tripp, and of this union 
six children have been born: William E., 
Hiram D., Mary Gertrude, George Henry, 
Hope and Faith. Mrs. Lovejoy is a menjber 
af the Baptist Church; she is a woman of 
much intelligence, and that culture and re- 
linement that comes with close contact with 
books and schools. The children are at iiome 



with their parents, and are a happy, well- 
ordered family. Mr. Lovejoy is a Republican 
in politics, and is an ardent supporter of the 
issues of his party. 

H. A. Tripp, father of Mrs. Lovejoy, was 
a native of the State of Vermont, and was a 
farmer by occupation. He was a citizen of 
many sterling traits of character, and enjoyed 
the respect of all witii whom he came in con- 
tact. He died January 20, 1878, aged sixty- 
live years; his wife passed from this life 
January 16, 1877, at the age of sixty-three 
years. They had born to them a family of 
six children: Adalaide, wife of J.W.Johnson; 
George E. married Miss Ida A. Farnsworth, 
and resides in Madison, Wisconsin; Sarah J., 
the wife of the subject of this sketch; Au- 
gusta E., who died at the age of seventeen 
years; A. Maria, wife of W. H. Dawdy, and 
M. Alice, who died aged twenty. The chil- 
dren were all born in Trumbull county, Ohio, 
and emigrated to Wisconsin in 1857, settling 
two miles below the present home of Mr. 
Lovejoy. Mrs. Tripp was a native of Connec- 
ticut, her maiden name Mary Elsworth. She 
married Mr. Tripp with two children: Joel 
Hawley, who resides in Trumbull county, 
Ohio, and Lavina (Mrs. L. J. Burlow), who 
resides in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was 
highly esteemed by all who knew her. 



0DWARD LARSON, of the firm of Lar- 
l. son & Jordson, proprietors of the Ban- 
gor Creamery, located on section 14, 
Bangor township, was born in Hamilton town- 
siiip, December 28, 1869. He is the son of 
Christian and Cornelia (Sather) Larson, na 
tives of Norway. The father came to the 
United States about forty years ago, when a 
small boy. The parents had ten cliildren, 
viz.: Ludwig, Nettie, Mattie, Benjamin, 



518 



BIOOIiAPHICAL HlSTOItr. 



Julia, Edward, Theresa, Oscar, John and 
Clara. There has never been a death in the 
family, and all are members of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Edward, our subject, was reared to man- 
hood on the old h<miestead in his native 
place, and educated in the common school. 
At the age of eighteen years he began work- 
ing in the Salem Creamery, where he re- 
mained until the spring of 1880. In that 
year he formed a partnership with William 
Jordson and bought the Bangor Creamery, 
which they began running in April, 1891, 
and are now doing a profitable business. 
Mr. Larson is an enterprising and successful 
young man, and gives strict attention to his 
busines^s. 

fACOB IIATZ, of section 7, Bangor 
township. La Crosse county, was born 
in Switzerland, March 0, 1832, a son of 
John and Anna (Iluedi) Hatz. The mother 
died in Switzerland in 1855, and the father 
lived with our subject until his death, which 
occurred in May, 1888. Tnc parents had 
two children: Jacob and Christian, both 
residents of this township. The mother had 
four children by a former marriage, one of 
whom still survives, Catharine Florine, also 
of this township. 

Jacob Hatz, our subject, came to the 
United States in 1856, settling in Bangor 
township, and thetirst year purchased a farm 
of 160 acres where he now lives. Ilis first 
house was a log cabin, 20.\16 feet, in which 
he lived until the fall of 1873, when he 
moved into his present fine brick residence, 
36 X 27 feet, two stories high. He has two 
frame barns, one 38.\44 feet with eighteen- 
foot posts, and the other 36 x 2(5 feet, sixteen- 
foot posts; also several out-bnildings and 



wind pumps. He owns 180 acres of land, 
where he makes a specialty of Holstein cat- 
tle, which are full-blooded registered stock, 
and also has high-grade Norman horses. 

Mr. Hatz was married June 2, 1866, to 
Kosina King, a native of Switzerland, and 
daughter of George King, of La Crosse 
county. They have had eight children, 
seven of whom are now living, namely: 
Margaret, Katie, Serena, John G., Anna, 
Rosina and Lucy. Margaret married Fritz 
Schroeder, of this township, and has one son, 
Alfred. I'olitically Mr. Hatz atliliates with 
the Kepublican party. 



,ETER SOREBSON, of section 30, Ban- 
gor township, was born in Barry town- 
ship. La Crosse county, May 1, 1860, a 
son of Knud and Bertha (Olsen) Sorerson, 
natives of Norway. The father came to the 
United States when a young man and lived 
one year at Iilue Mound, Wisconsin, after 
which he came to this county and settled on 
section 25, Barry township, just across the 
line from our subject's residence. The father 
died here in 1884, and the mother in 1871. 
They were the parents of eight children, six 
now living, viz.: Ole, Mary, Samuel, Peter, 
Edward and Oluf. Edward is now a soldier 
in the regular army, and is stationed in Mon- 
tana; Ole' now lives with his brother Peter; 
Mary is conducting ^a boarding house in La 
Crosse; Samuel married Clara Peterson, and 
is now working in Crosby's planing-mill, 
where he had two fingers sawed off in the 
fall of 1888; and Oluf is working in Hagard- 
er's saw-mill. 

Peter Sorerson, the subject of this sketch, 
still owns 205 acres of the old homestead, 
and has been a farmer all his life. He was 
married July 18, 1884, to Josephine Olsen, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



519 



a native of Barry township, La Crosse 
county, and daughter of Hogan 01?en, de- 
ceased. After the father's death the mother 
married Rosraus Olseu, and now lives in 
Hamilton township. Mrs. Sorerson's sisters 
and brothers are all in La Crosse: Alma 
married Sebastian Boma; Minnie is the wife 
of John Fehig, and Anton married Anna 
Severson. Mr. and Mrs. Sorerson have three 
children: Adolph, Julius and Emma. Polit- 
ically Mr. Sorerson is a Republican, and 
religiously a member of the Lutheran 
Church. 



J. BEADLE, of Onalaska, was born in 
Hillsdale, Miciiigan, September 12, 
® 1857, the son of John Beadle, a native 
of Lyons, New York, who settled about 1840 
in Michigan, and was engaged in trade in 
Hillsdale for a number of years, and after- 
ward moved to Sarenac, that State. Mr. 
Beadle's mother, whose name before marriage 
was Sophia Rogers, was also a native of Lyons, 
and died April 23, 1891. 

Mr. Beadle learned the harnessmaker's 
trade at Lowell, Michigan, under the super- 
vision of his brother, D. C. Beadle. Next 
he was employed for about eighteen months 
by E. A. Lockett, in Chicago, on Randolph 
street. He returned to Sarenac for a short 
time and then came to La Crosse and to 
Onalaska, where he has been engaged in 
trade iu harness, etc. He built the Beadle 
Hotel. 

At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Beadle 
married Miss Abbie K. Jones, daughter of 
Hon . Thomas E. Jones, who was once a mem- 
ber of the Legislature from Ionia county, 
Michigan. He was of AVelsh ancestry. Her 
mother's name before marriage was Abbe 
Jackson, and she was born in Monroe, Michi- 



gan. Mr. and Mrs. Beadle have two children : 
Max W. and Belle. In politics Mr. Beadle 
is a Democrat, and in business he is a man of 
energy and ability. 



|ONRAD MILLER, farmer, Barre Mills, 
Hjjc. Wisconsin. — Foremost among the prom- 
inent business men and extensive far- 
mers of Barre township, stands the name of 
Conrad Miller, who was born in Hanover, 
Germany, September 10, 1830. His parents, 
Died rich and Elizabeth (Wares) Miller, were 
both natives of Germany and there passed 
their entire lives, the father dying in 1837, at 
the age of seventy-six years, and the mother 
when about seventy-eight years of age, and 
after Conrad had left for the United States. 
The father was a very successful agricul- 
turist and keenly alive to the best farm- 
ing interests. In 1864 Conrad Miller and 
family came to the United States and iu 
the fall of that year settled on a farm one 
mile north of where he now lives. He re- 
mained there six years and then bought his 
present farui, which then consisted of 200 
acres. To this he lias added from time to 
time until he now owns 396 acres, eighty acres 
of which is young timber. His farm is well 
improved and classed among the best farms 
of Barre township. Mr. Miller has also 
bought another farm of 350 acres within the 
past few weeks. His fine two-story brick 
residence is beautifully located and he lias 
large and commodious barns and out build- 
ings. His principal crops are corn, oats hay, 
wheat and barley, and he is numbered among 
the best farmers iu his locality. He has a 
line orchard, and raises small fruit in abun- 
dance. He raises an excellent jjrade of 
stock, horses cattle and hogs. 

He was married in 1854 to Miss Dora 



520 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Seidenberg, and tliey became the parents of 
three children: Mary, vvifeof William Stello, 
residing in Earre township; Deidrich, mar- 
ried Louisa Schrader, who bore him two 
children, — Dora and Rose; Sophia was the 
wife of Louis Spraine ami died September 
15, 1889, leaving one child, Dora. Mrs. 
Miller died in 1870, when thirty-nine years 
of age. She was a devout member of the 
Lutheran Church. In 1871 Mr. Miller took 
for his second wife Miss ]>ora Erockman, a 
native of Germany. William is the only 
child born to that union. lie is now with 
bis father and assisting on the farm Mr. 
Miller, his son William, and three of the 
neighbors own the Earre Mills Creamery, 
which is doing a successful business and is 
of great advantage to the farmers in the 
neighborhood. Mr. Miller and his wife and 
children are members of the Lutheran Church, 
and are esteemed and worthy citizens. 

fNUD HALDOKSON, of section 31, 
Bangor township, was born in Blue 
Mound, Wisconsin, August 29, 1856, 
a son of John and Gartru (Oldstadt) Haldor- 
son, natives of Norway, and now of Bohe- 
mia, La Crosse county. Tliey emigrated to 
the United States in 1856, settling at Blue 
Mound, Wisconsin, and the same fall came to 
this county and settled where our subject 
now lives. The parents had eight children^ 
live of whom survive; Jane, of Vernon coun- 
ty, Wisconsin; Albert, also of Vernon county ; 
Ole, a resident of Barnes county, South 
Dakota; Kiind, our subject, and Peter, of 
Bohemia valley, this county. 

Knud Ilaldorson, the subject of this sketch, 
was reared on a farm, and received his educa- 
tion in the common schools, lie was mar- 
ried, November 6, 1885, to Sophia Lang, a 



daughter of Henry Lang, of Washington 
township, La Crosse county. They have 
three children: John, Emma and Julius. 
Mr. Ilaldorson has held the office of School 
Treasurer seven or eight years, but never 
seeks official honors. He is a meml)er of the 
Lutheran Church at Barry Mills, Eostwick 
valley. 



ANIEL DAV^IS, an old soldier and pio- 
neer of this county, was born in Oneida 
county. New York, March 22, 1836, a 
son of James Davis, a native of Connecticut. 
Our subject learned the carpenter's trade 
when a young man, and in 1854 came to this 
county, settling in the village of Bangor, 
which he has since made his home. He 
served in the late war, in Company D, Four- 
teenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, four 
years and si.x days, and participated in the 
battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Champion Hills, 
Vickbburg, Black liiver Bridge, Lookout 
Mountain, Chattanooga, Nashville, Franklin, 
and Mobile Bay. He was under both Gen- 
erals Grant and Sherman, and endured un- 
told hardships and privations, and now draws 
a pension. After the war he returned to this 
county, where he has since worked hard at 
his trade. He has never married, and is now 
a jolly old bachelor. During the war he was 
a personal friend of Sherman, and was in 
many battles under that great General. His 
family relations are mostly in New York. 



fAMES STEPHENS, of section 36, Bangor 
township, was born in Norway, seven 
Norwegian miles fromChristiania, March 
2, 183-4, a son of Stephen Thompson, a native 
of the same country, where he also died. In 



BIOORAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



521 



the old country our subject worked on a farm, 
and at times in floating logs and cord wood 
for his brother on Lake Menusa. During the 
winter he received eight cents a day for his 
work, and in the summer twenty- four cents 
during hay harvest and thirty-tive cents a day 
in the drive on the lake. He came to the 
United States in 1866, settling in Monroe 
county, Wisconsin, live miles east of his 
present farm, and in the spring of 1872 came 
to his present place. After reaching this 
State he was without money and worked as a 
hired hand a few years, the first winter receiv- 
ing $30 a month and his board. He now 
owns a farm of 200 acres, mostly ridge land, 
where he raises excellent crops of grass, oats, 
wheat and corn. He makes a specialty of 
graded Durham and Holstein cattle,Ja7id does 
a large dairy business. He has one of the 
finest wells in the county, it being at a depth 
of 250 feet, with about fifty feet of water, and 
cannot be pumped dry by wind pumps. 

Mr. Stephens was married, February 2, 
1873, to Martha Olsen, a daughter of Ole 
Olsen, a native of Norway, and now deceased. 
They have one chihl, Caroline, born in 1874. 
Mr. Stephens has been a member of the 
School Board several years, is a member of 
the Lutheran Church, and a Republican, 
politically. 

""^'I'Sm S -I*'"^ 

JP^^^TLLIAM CUTHBERT, retired farmer 
fn/\fj West Salem, Wisconsin. A life-long 
I^^^l^l experience in the channels of agri- 
culture, and an intimate acquaintance with 
every detail of the calling have contributed 
to place Mr. Cuthbert among the substantial 
men of the county. He owes his nativity to 
Scotland, his birth occurring in 1847, and 
his parents, Alexander and Eliza M. (Ogg) 
Cuthbert, are natives of that country also- 



The father was a very successful farmer and 
followed that pursuit in his own country un- 
til 1871, when he and his family crossed the 
ocean to America. They settled in La Crosse 
connty. Burns township, Wisconsin, where 
they bought and improved forty acres of land, 
and there remained for twelve years. From 
there they retnoved to Sioux Rapids, Iowa, 
and there the parents are now living, the 
father retired from active life. 

William Cuthbert attended school until 
sixteen years of age, when he learned the 
trade of mason and stone-cutter, at which he 
worked until he emigrated to the United 
States in 1869. He settled on Lake Superior, 
at Marquette, Michigan, and there worked at 
his trade until 1871, when he joined his 
parents in La Crosse county, Wisconsin. He 
purchased 160 acres of land; has since added 
eighty acres, and now has a farm of 240 
acres, in section 26, Burns township. On 
this he has erected a good two-story frame 
house, a basement barn and many substnntial 
out-buildings. The place is well supplied 
with water, there being many springs on it, 
and the farm is in a good state of cultivation. 

Mr. Cuthbert was married in 1870, at 
Marquette, Michigan, to Miss Isabella Hem- 
stock, daughter of William and Anna (An- 
derson) Hemstock, natives of England. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hemstock emigrated from their 
native country to Canada, located on Geor- 
gian Ba}', and their received their final sum- 
mons, the father dj'ing in 1867, and the 
mother in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Cuthbert 
were born eight children, six now living: 
James C, William R., Mamie, Frederick B., 
Mabel O. and Glen IL, all at home with the 
parents, and making a happy family. Mr. 
and Mrs. Cuthliert sadly felt the loss of their 
two oldest children, Charles and Annie, who 
died in 1882 and 1883, respectively. 

Mr. Cuthbert has been honored with tlui 



533 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



oflBce of Justice of the Peace, of Burns town- 
ship, for twelve years, and was a member of 
the School Board from 1871 to 1891, when 
he retired from the farm and built a large 
two-story house, of modern architecture, in 
West Salem, to which town he had retired for 
rest for himself and to better educate his 
children. Mr. Cuthbert and wife are people 
of retinement and taste, and in their pleasant 
home, where they are surrounded by all the 
comforts and conveniences of life, and with 
their host of warm friends, they expect to 
pass the remainder of their days. 

Mr. Cuthbert is one of the progressive men 
of the county, and gives his hearty support 
tu all public enterprises. He and Mrs. Cuth- 
bert are members of the Presbyterian Church, 
and in politics he affiliates with the Republi- 
can party. He has by his energy and indus- 
try accumulated a good competency for 
himself and family while yet on the sunny 
side of middle age. 



►^H^ 



frlj I L L I A M T. S M I T H, liveryman. 

\]| There are few features of enterprise 
which contribute a larger quota to 
the convenience of the residential or tran- 
sient public than the well-appointed livery 
stable, and recent valuable acquisition to the 
town of West Salem is the livery, boarding 
and sale stal)le belonging to Mr. Smith. He 
was born in (.)nalaska, Wisconsin, September 
20, 1867, to Samuel and Sarah (Smith) 
Smith, natives respectively of New Hamp- 
shire and New York. Tiiey came to La 
Crosse county, Wisconsin, about 1852, and 
settled on Half-way creek, at which time 
the now tlourishinjj town of La Crosse con- 
sisted of about three houses. Mr. Smith 
entered 120 acres of land, which he improved 
and on which he resided until 1889, when 



his death occurred, at the age of sixty-four 
years. His widow survives him and resides 
on the old homestead. William G. Smith 
attended school at Half-way creek until he 
was twelve years of age, when he entered the 
graded school of West Salem, where he at- 
tended for one year. For two years succeed- 
ing this he worked for a cousin, remained one 
year at home, then spent four years in the 
employ of G. L. Willey, a farmer. He had 
by this time accumulated some means and 
could think of no better use for it than 
educating himself, and he accordingly en- 
tered the University of Galesvilie, Wisconsin, 
after wliicii he went AVest to visit friends 
and for the purpose of prospecting througii 
Northern Minnesota and Dakota, and was 
absent six months. Upon his return to La 
Crosse he began the study of medicine with 
Dr. E. C. Swarthouse, but at the end of six 
months opened a candy store in L-i Crosse; 
but a few months later traded this for 160 
acres of land. At the end of about one year 
he traded this for his present establishment, 
which he is managing with fair prospects of 
success. The stable is situated about the 
center of the town, is well appointed, and as 
Mr. Smith was reared on a farm he thor- 
oughly understands the care of horses, and 
anyone leaving their animals in his charge 
can rest assured tiiat they will be carefully 
attended to. 

Mr. Smith is a strong Prohibitionist, the 
principles of which he upholds on all occa- 
sions, and he is a rising 3'oi.ng man of the 
county, with a bright future before hiin. 



-}^^^^e> 



IHARLES N. ATKINSON, assistant 
to the superintendent of tlie Southern 
Minnesota division of the Chicago, 
Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, was born 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY 



533 



in Coi'ydon, Iowa, November 16, 1855, a son 
of John W. and Mary E. (Robinsonj Atkin- 
son. The father was engaged in the retail 
dry-goods trade at Corydon from 1854 to 
1861, when he enlisted in the Fourth Iowa Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and served with that regi- 
ment until it was mustered out May 3, 1865; 
he participated in all the battles of his regi- 
ment, and made all the long, weary marches 
that were a necessity in the conflict. When 
the war was ended, and he returned to the 
occupations of peaceful citizens, he re-em- 
barked in the dry-goods business at Corydon, 
adding a wholesale department, and conduct- 
ing both until the time of his death, which 
occurred June 2, 18 — ; the mother is still 
living, in Beatrice, Nebraska, aged fifty-seven 
years. Charles N. received his education in 
the public schools of his native town and at 
the Baptist University of Burlington, Iowa. 

In 1872 he entered the service of the 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Kailroad. and 
was in the employ of that company for seven 
years; at the end of that time he accepted a 
position in a bank at St. Joseph, Missouri, 
where he remained two years; he then re- 
turned to the railroad business, taking a po- 
sition with the Indiana, Burlington & Wa- 
bash, at Indianapolis, Indiana. In March, 
1891, he was appointed secretary to the gen- 
eral manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. Paul railroad, and in May, 1891, was sent 
to La Crosse, as assistant to the superintend- 
ent of the Southern Minnesota division of the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. 
He has made an excellent record as a rail- 
road man, having received steady promotion 
since the beginning of his service to the 
company. 

Mr. Atkinson was married October 2, 
1883, to Miss Carrie Coweu, a daughter of 
John G. Cowen, of Newport, Holt county, 
Missouri, a capitalist of that place. 



While a resident of Indianapolis, Mr. 
Atkinson became a member of the Lio-ht 
Infantry in 1885, and was actively interested 
in the work of that organization. He is now 
an honorary member of the Gateway City 
Guai-ds, of La Crosse, organized July 6, 
1889: O. N. Holway, Captain; J. J. Eseh, 
First Lieutenant; D. S. McArthur, Second 
Lieutenant. March 23, 1891, the following 
officers were elected: J. J. Esch, Captain; 
Burt C. Smith, First Lieutenant; D. S. 
McArthur, Second Lieutenant. January 4, 
1892, the election resulted as follows: Charles 
N. Atkinson, Captain; Burt C. Smith, First 
Lieutenant; J. P. Salzer, Second Lieutenant. 
The company has fiftysi.x members, and is 
well equipped with arms and uniform. Mr. 
Atkinson is also a member of the Knio-hts 
of Pythias. 






UGUST KRAEMEPv, farmer, Sigel, 
Wisconsin, is one of the industrious 
tillers of the soil in La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, and a man of sound judgment and 
good practical sense. His parents, AYilliain 
and Carolina (Smith) Kraemer, were natives 
of Germany and came to the United States in 
1866, settling in La Crosse county. There 
the father, who followed the occupations of a 
brick-maker and farmer, died in 1884. The 
mother is still living and makes her home in 
La Crosse county. August Kraemer came 
with his parents to the States in 1866, and 
three years later he purchased sixty acres of 
land, and he has since occuj)ied and improved 
the same. He lias a good, comfortable 
house, a large stone-basement barn and other 
outbuildings suitable for storing grain, keep- 
ing grain, etc. He also rents a portion of the 
farm of Mr. Keinholtz and his principal crops 
are barley, wheat, oats and corn. He keeps 



524 



B TOG RAPE ICAL UrSTORT. 



about ten bead of cattle, tbree liorses, and a 
lara;e number of hogs. He selected as his 
companion in life Miss Frederica Horgan, 
daughter of John Ilorgan, and tbeir nuptials 
were celebrated in 1874. Mr. Horgan came 
to the United States in 1804, and here his 
death occurred in 1883. The mother died in 
Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Kraenier are the 
parents of five children: Frederick, Oscar, 
August, Caroline and Herbert, all at home. 
Mr. and Mrs. Kraemer are exemplary mem- 
bers of the German Reformed Church. 

kROCKOP MICKSCHL belongs to that 
sturdy and independent class, the 
farmers of Wisconsin, and none are pos- 
sessed of more genuine merit or a stronger 
character than he whose name stands at the 
head of this sketch. He was born in Bohe- 
mia in 1823 and emigrated to the United 
States in 1858, settling first in Chipmunk's 
Cooley in Vernon county, Wisconsin, where 
he purchased a tract of land on which he 
resided for eight years and which he greatly 
improved. He then sold out and purchased 
120 acres of land in Shelby township. La 
Crosse county, on which he is still residing. 
He built him a roomy and substantial frame 
house, erected some commodious barns and 
sheds, has a good wind pump, and also has a 
large slaughterhouse on tlie premises and 
does the slaughtering for the butchers of La 
Crosse. He also buj's considerable stock, 
which he fattens fur the La Crosse markets, 
and keeps about 300 head of pigs constantly 
on hand, feeding and turning them off as 
fast as fattened. He is possessed of those 
advanced ideas and progressive principles 
regarding agricultural life which seem to be 
among the chief characteristics of those of his 
nativity, and as a result is in good circum- 



stances, and has a comfortable home for his 
family. 

He was married in the old country in 1857, 
to Christina Boeme, whose parents lived and 
died in Bohemia, and their marriage has been 
blessed in the birth of seven children: Prock- 
op who married Christina Willing, resides 
in La Crosse, and is the father of two chil- 
dren, Prockop and Celia; Jacob, John and 
Frank, who are at home, and are managing 
the slaughterhouse; Christina, wife of Hugo 
Leffreys, of California, and Eva, wife of 
Alvin Albert, also of California, by whom she 
has one child, Isabel. Mary is at home with 
her parents. He has held a number of town- 
ship offices, and all measures of morality, 
education, temperance, etc., find in him a 
strong advocate. 

fACOB RENNER, a prosperous and 
enterprising citizen of La Crosse, is a 
native of the Buckeye State, born in 
1848, a son of George and Mary M. Renner, 
who emigrated from Germany to the United 
States about the year 1830, and settled in 
Ohio; they lived on a farm until the time of 
Mr. Renner's death, which occurred in 1866. 
Jacob Renner is the eighth of a family of ten 
children. The year following the death of 
his father, he, his mother and brother, Louis, 
came to La Crosse. The first employment 
he secured was in a lumber mill, but he after- 
wards engaged in teaming, following this 
business for seven years. His next work was 
ill a grocery store, and then he bought and 
kept a saloon for nine months; this occupa- 
tion, however, was distasteful to hi in, so he 
sold out, and went to work in the foundry 
owned by the John James Foundrj' Company; 
he attendee' to the furnace there for about 
three years, and in 1884 embarked in the 




/^e<,^^iU^G^Q^t,j'TG(^f'fa^B<t^ . 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORT. 



525 



house-moving business. In this he lias been 
more than ordinarily snccessful. He owns a 
tract of 129 acres in Shelby township, from 
which he sells quite an amount of wood and 
hay. 

Mr. Renner was married, September 22, 
1872, to Miss Catharine Jungbluth, of Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin, a daughter of Tobias and 
Mary Jungbluth. Mrs. Renner's parents are 
natives of the Fatherland, but emigrated to 
the United States and settled in Milwaukee, 
where they lived for a few years; about 1801 
they came to La Crosse, and are still residents 
of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Renner are the 
parents of seven children: Frederick, Louisa, 
Peter, Frank, Clara, George and Albert. Mr. 
Renner is a member of the Third Ward Aid 
Society, and interests himself in all the 
movements which tend to advance the com- 
munity. 

Frederick Renner, a brother of Jacob, was a 
member of the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and 
served with distinction for nearly five years 
in the Army of the Cumberland. 



^ DRICH (or DEITRICH) SANDMAN, 
late of Holland township, was an hon- 
ored and highly esteemed citizen of La 
Crossecounty for manyyeais He was born at 
Hanover, Germany, November 20, 1823, son 
of John Henry and Anna Sandman. His 
parents were natives of Hanover, passed 
their lives and died there, the father dying 
when Uedrich was sixteen years old, and the 
mother some years later. He was reared on 
a farm, and attended school until he was 
fourteen. While a boy he was confirmed in 
the Lutheran Church. 

In 1846 Mr. Sandman sailed from Bremen 
to New York, and landed on American soil 
after a voyage of thirtysi.x days. In the 

35 



same vessel in which he crossed the Atlantic 
was a family by the name of Sprehn, from 
Hanover, and Margaret Sprehn, then four- 
teen years old, in after years became the wife 
of Mr. Sandman. From New York he went 
to Albany, thence to Buffalo, and across the 
lakes to Milwaukee. There he obtained em- 
ployment on a farm and worked by the 
month for seven years, saving his money all 
the while. In April, 1853, he came to La 
Crosse county with Fred Sprehn and Her- 
man Sandern, and bought land in Bostwick 
valley. One Sunday morning the three men 
raised the logs for a home, and they soon had 
their cabin comfortably fixed. Fred Sprehn 
then returned to Milwaukee, making the 
journey on foot in six days. He came back 
in the fall and brought with him his family. 
October 14, 1853, Mr. Sandman was 
united in marriage with Miss Margaret 
Sprehn, at the Talmage House in La Crosse. 
Her parents were Fred and Sophia (Dinker) 
Sprehn, both natives of Hanover. Her 
father died in Bostwick valley in September, 
1867. He and his wife had six children, 
four sons and two daughters. One of the 
sons, Louis Sprehn, was a member of Co. 
D, Fourteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and was 
wounded in his first battle, and died in Min- 
nesota. Fred Sprehn died in Bostwick 
valley, June, 1887. Mr. Sandman and his 
family lived in Bostwick valley until 1876, 
when he sold out and came to Holland town- 
ship. Here he passed the rest of his life. 
He owned two farms, comprising 360 acres 
of tine land, each well improved with good 
dwelling-houses, barns, and other buildings. 
In his farming operations he was very suc- 
cessful, as, indeed, he was at everything he 
undertook. His death occurred May 3, 1885. 
In politico he was a Republican. He was an 
enthusiastic and active worker and was al- 
ways identified with the best elements of 



528 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



his party. He was a man of the strictest 
integrity and lionored and respected most by 
those who knew him best. He left a limit- 
less circle of friends and a widow and eight 
children to mourn their loss. The names of 
his children are as follows: Anna, wife of 
Fred H. Miller; Sophia, wife of Henry 
F. Miller; Amelia and Adelia, twins, 
the former the wife of Andrew Bratberg, 
and the latter the wife of Henry Esmiller; 
Rachel, wife of F. D. Miller; Mary, wife of 
Herman Weingarten; and Willie D. and 
Robert D., who reside with their mother in 
Holland township. Mr. and Mrs. Sandman 
lost one daughter, aged twenty-four years. 




5RS. RHODA ANN CRONK, widow 
of John W. Cronk, has successfully 
managed the farm of 320 acres that 
was left her at her husband's death, and has 
manifested considerable ability as a business 
woman. Her husband was born in Steuben 
county, New York, in 1825. to John and 
Margaret Cronk, and on a farm in his native 
county he was reared, his education being re- 
ceived in the public schools near his home. 
At the age of twenty- tiiree years he was mar- 
ried to Miss Rhoda A. Spike, a lady of good 
family, who was born, reared and educated in 
Steuben county. She was a faithful wife and 
helpmate to her husband as long as he lived, 
and has carried on the work he so ably in- 
augurated, in a very effcient manner since 
his death. She is a daughter ot Daniel and 
Anna (Vale) Spike, who were natives of 
Montgomery county, New York. John W. 
Cronk came to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, in 
1850, and purchased eighty acres, on which 
he lived for six years; then came farther 
west, where he could have a Ijetter oppor- 
tunity of purchasing more land for his sons. 



and eventually became the owner of the farm 
on which his widow now resides. Had his 
life been spared he would have undoubtedly 
become wealthy, for he was a man of sound, 
practical yet enterprising views, and possessed 
an abundant fund of energy. His death, 
which occuri'ed October 8, 1872, was felt as 
a great loss to the community, and was a 
source of deep and lasting sorrow to his own 
immediate family. In social life he was 
highly esteemed, and in the domestic circle 
he was a model husband and father, and 
loved his family with extreme devotion, and 
made their happiness and comfort the chief 
aim and object of life. He was keenly alive 
to the sufferings and misfortunes of others, 
and no one ever appealed to him in vain for 
consolation or succor. He was a consistent 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
The names of his children are as follows: 
John, who is married and has a farm near his 
mother, was married to Helen Ryder, by 
whom he has seven children; Georgiana is 
the wife of Warren Moore, of Onalaska; and 
Moses C, who resides on the homestead with 
his mother. The family residence is a sub- 
stantial structure, two stories in height, 28 x 
28 teet, and the barn is also a commodious 
and well-constructed building. Mrs. Cronk's 
many amiable qualities have endeared her to 
a large circle of friends, and although she 
has seen much sorrow, it has only served to 
draw her into deeper sympathy with all forms 
of human suffering and affliction. 



THOMAS RODEN, proprietor of the 
Iron r>luft' Dairy and Stock Farm, 
dealer in milk and breeder of Jersey 
cattle, is one of the most progressive men in 
his line of work in La Crosse county. He 
has some of the tinest Jersey cattle in his 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTOJtT. 



527 



part of the State, keeps fifty head of cows, 
and also fifty head of other cattle. Thomas 
Roden was born at Belfast, Ireland, July 2, 
1847, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Mc- 
Kee) Roden, of the same place, and when a 
lad of nine years he went to work in a linen 
manufactory. At the age of eighteen he 
found himself in the city of Quebec, where 
he S]ient six months, after which he located 
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He then resided 
for a short time in Sparta, afterwards in Vi- 
roqua, Vernon county, where his uncle, 
David McKee, was one of the first settlers; 
but in 1870 he came to this county and 
bought some swamp land near North La 
Crosse for $500, which he improved and sold 
for $10,000. He at one time owned 350 
cows, and kept the largest dairy northwest of 
Chicago. He located on his present farm in 
1887, where he owns 760 acres of well-im- 
proved land, on which are valuable iron de- 
posits. His residence is a good two-story 
structure; his barns and sheds are commodi- 
ous, enabling him to stable 240 head of cat- 
tle and thirty-two head of horses, the latter 
animals being of the Bashaw and Ilamble- 
tonian breed, and some of them very tine 
roadsters. Mr. Roden has been a breeder of 
Jersey cattle for the past eleven years, and 
has twenty-seven full-blooded cows. He has 
a stone milk-house, 18x40 feet, which has a 
twenty-four-horse steam power, and is now 
sole owner of a fire proof paint which he is 
introducing. He also keeps 240 Cots wold 
sheep, and everything about his place is kept 
in model order and indicates that Mr. Roden 
is a man of progressive and enterprising 
views, thoroughly up with the times in all 
particulars, and admirably fitted for the busi- 
ness which receives his attention. 

He was married at Belfast in 1865 to Miss 
Rachel Ann McClerry, daughter of John 
McClerry and Margaret (Mc Bride) McClerry, 



the former a superintendent in a linen factory 
in Belfast. Mr. and Mrs. Roden have a 
daughter, Anna, who is the wife of Mell. 
Smith, of Onalaska, and they are all mem- 
bers of a Protestant Church. Mr. Roden 
is a prominent citizen of the county, respected 
and esteemed for his sterling integrity, sound 
judgment and broad and progressive ideas. 
In the fall of 1886 he made a visit to his old 
home in Belfast. 



-^^^yt/l/h- 



-Ifiriy^^^ 



HARLES A. GLOVER, farmer, Ona- 
laska, Wisconsin. It cannot be ex- 
pected, in a work of this kind, where 
but brief biographical sketches of prominent 
citizens of the county are presented, that a 
lengthy laudatory article should he written 
of each one, and yet at times there are met 
with some who have been so intimately and 
closely identified with the county, and whose 
names are so familiar to all, that it is only 
just to dwell upon what they have done, and 
the influence of their career on others, not as 
empty words of praise, but the plain state- 
ment of a still plainer truth. Mr. Glover 
was born in Leicestershire, England, Febru- 
ary 15, 1848, and his parents, Charles and 
Martha (French) Glover were natives of the 
same country. About 1857 the parents 
crossed the ocean to the United States and 
located in Campbell township. La Crosse 
county, Wisconsin, where the father remained 
for three years and then returned to England. 
The mother died in La Crosse county. They 
were the parents of six children, viz.: George, 
who enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Cav- 
alry, in 1861, and died in the service of his 
country; Mrs. Lydia Gibbs, of Minnesota; 
Mrs. Mary Moss, of Campbell township. La 
Ci'osse county; Mrs. Lucy Tull, of Georgia; 
Charles A. (subject), and Mrs. Margaret 



5?8 



BTOORAPHWAL UTSTORY. 



Totten, of Burns township, La Crosse county. 
Charles A. Glover was reared on a farnn and 
received a good practical education in the 
common schools. On March 20, 1865, in La 
Crosse county, Wisconsin, he enlisted in 
Company H, Fifty-first "Wisconsin Volunteer 
L\fantry, and served until honorably dis- 
charged, August 17, of the same year, His 
regiment was stationed at Benton Barracks, 
Mi.s8ouri, and at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. 
Returning to La Crosse county after cessa- 
tion of hostilities Mr. Glover engaged in 
farming, and in F'ebruary, 1868, he came to 
his present farm, which now consists of 270 
acres of ricli land a short distance from Ona- 
laska. He has a good modern residence, the 
bay window of which is filled with beautiful 
plants and flowers, and everything about the 
place indicates to the beholder that the owner 
is a man of energy and taste. His barns and 
out buildings are commodious and substan- 
tial, and the barn is one of the most conven- 
iently arranged of all in the county. He 
feeds a great deal of stock, and is the owner 
of some fine Hambletonian and Clydesdale 
horses. "Glover Farm" is a beautiful place, 
and Mr. Glover has reason to be proud of it. 
He was married in February, 1866, to Miss 
Martha French, a lady of culture and refine- 
ment and of a good family. Her parents, 
Joseph and Charlotte (Rogers) French, are 
both natives of England. Tiie father died in 
1889, at the age of sixty-seven, but tiie 
mother is still living, and is a resident of 
Campbell township, La Crosse county. Mrs. 
Glover was but five or six years of age when 
she came with her parents to this county, 
and she received the rudiments of an educa- 
tion in Campbell township, finishing in the 
schools of La Crosse. She was the eldest of 
six children: George, Elizabeth, Oliver, 
Emily and Robert. To Mr. and Mrs. Glover 
have been born two children: Martha Ellen, 



at home, and George Arthur, the latter's 
birth occurring November 11, 1869. George 
Arthur was deaf and dumb and received a 
thorough education in the College for Mutes, 
at Delavan, Wisconsin. His death, which 
occurred in 1886, at the age of seventeen, 
was a sad blow to his parents. Mr. Glover 
is a Republican in politics, and socially he is 
a member of the G. A. R., John Flynn Post, 
No. 77. He is one of the substantial and 
prosperous men of La Crosse county, and is 
well respected by all. 



►iMf. 



''^^Wl^ C. EGAN, farmer. La Crosse, Wis- 
'Mlv l\\l «onsin, a resident of French Island 
^^^® and one of the best infornied men 
of the same, is a native of the Emerald Isle, 
born August 14, 1820. He was but a babe 
when his parents, William and Catherine 
(Kavanaugh) Egan, crossed the ocean to New 
Brunswick. They remained there a short 
time and thei) went to Nova Scotia, afterward 
to Washington, District of Columbia, thence 
to the Bay of Fundy and finally to Platts- 
buro-. New York. The father was a merchant 
tailor and died when eighty-two years of age. 
The mother was eighty at the time of her 
death. Of the nine children born to tliis 
union, six sons and three daughters, M. C. 
was the oldest in order of birth. One sister, 
Mary, resides in North La Crosse. M. C. 
Egan grew to manhood in New York State, 
learned the baker's and afterward the mold- 
er's trade, which he followed many years at 
Ogdensburg, New York, and in difl'erent 
cities of Canada. He was a skilled workman 
and for thirteen years was in the employ of 
N. S. Pitkins. In 1856 he came to Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin; followed his trade here 
for five years, and then came to North La 
Crosse, where he continued his former busi- 



BIOORAPniGAL HISTORY. 



539 



ness for some time. He came on his present 
farm April 29, 1863, and it was known as 
tlie old "Antoine La Bell Farm" for years. 
This fine farm, consisting of 207 acres of 
valuable land, is situated one and a quarter 
miles from North La Crosse, and the excel- 
lent buildings on the same increase its value 
very materially. Mr. Egan's nuptials with 
Miss Eliza Ann Miltimore were celebrated 
on September 8, 1844, and the ceremony 
uniting them was performed by Rev. Father 
McCoy, of the Catholic Church. Mrs. Egan 
comes of a good family and was born at Og- 
densburg, New York, where she was reared 
and educated. Her father, John Miltimore, 
was born at Londonderry, New Hampshire, 
and his parents were natives of Londonderry, 
Ireland. Mrs. Egan's mother was Catherine 
(Kartell) Miltimore. Mr. and Mrs. Milti- 
more lived for a number of years in Cornwall, 
Canada. She died when forty-nine years of 
age and he when eighty-two. They were the 
parents of eight children. The father was 
married the second time and by this union 
became the father of five children. Mr. and 
Mrs. Egan's union was blessed by the birth 
of eight children: William John died when 
thirteen months old; Catherine was but a 
few days old when siie died; Eliza Ann died 
wlien nine years of age; Caroline is the wife 
of Joseph Boucher of West La Grosso; Fran- 
ces E. became the wife of Arthur Horner and 
resides in La Crosse; William J. married aiid 
resides in La Crosse; Eliza Ann is the wife 
of William Atkins, and Joseph resides on tlie 
home place with his wife. Mr. Egan is a 
Prohibitionist and is independent in his po- 
litical views. In religion lie is a Methodist. 
Mrs. Egan was reared an Episcopalian, but 
is now an active and wortliy member of the 
Catliolic Church. Mr. Egan is now seventy- 
one years of age, but the years have dealt 
leniently with liim and he looks much 



younger. He has traveled extensively and 
is a well informed man. He has a patent on 
a very valuable seeder and five small plows 
attached, which is a very valuable invention. 



-3»«« 



EORGE G. BARBER, of Mindoro, Wis- 
consin, is one of the old and well-known 
settlers of La Crosse county, arriving 
here in 1851. He was born in Cayuga 
county. New York, August 26, 1827, a son 
of Phiueas B. Barber, who was born in Warren 
county, that State, and married Miss Orpha 
Morse, a native also of Cayuga county, and 
had four sons and three daughters. In 1830 
the Barber family moved to Ohio, where 
George received a good education and became 
a successful teacher. Coming to La Crosse 
county, he settled in the Lewis valley, in 
1851. 

He has been married twice, first at the age 
of twenty-four years, to Miss Frances Cowles, 
by whom he had one daughter, Frances; she 
married a man named Martin, had two chil- 
dren. May Ellen and George, and died in 
1880. Mrs. Frances Barber died July 25, 
1853, and Mr. Barber, December 19, 1855, 
married Mrs. Rachel (Ward^ Jackson, and by 
this marriage there were three children: 
Charles, Willis Eugene and May A., now the 
wife of J. W. Cook, of La Crosse. This Mrs. 
Barber died May 2, 1891. 

Mr. Barber has been Justice of the Peace 
about forty years, marrying in that time 
seventy-five couples. He has been a member 
of the Methodist Church since 1855, and of 
the Masonic order since 1858. 

W. E. Barber, of the firm of Barber Bros., 
liverymen in Onalaska, was born in the Lewis 
valley. La Crosse country, Wisconsin, Sep- 
tember 8, 1858, the son of George G. Barber, 
whose sketch precedes. He was educated at 



530 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



a business college at Galesville, this State, 
taught school for some time, and afterward 
engaged in farming in Lewis valley. He 
commenced business with Buttles & Pierce, 
buying and shipping live-stock. Finally, in 
March, 1883, he came to Onalaska and pur- 
chased the interest of William Martin, of the 
firm of Barber & Martin, since which time 
the firm name has been the Barber Bros. 
Previously, in December, 1881, Charles Bar- 
ber had bought out T. B. Shoveon, on both 
sides of J street. The Barber Bros, built 
their barn, 40 x 76, on the corner of J and 
Third streets, in 1886. The posts are twenty 
feet ill height, and the barn generally is well 
arranged. They keep eighteen to twenty 
horses, a sale and boarding stable, and make 
a specialty of fancy turn-outs. For the past 
four years the brothers have also engaged in 
logging. Last winter they had a force of 
sixty men in the woods, in two camps, super- 
intended peisonally by W. E. Barber. 

The subject of this' sketch was married 
December 28, 1880, at Mindoro, to Miss 
Aurilla Gilfillan, who was born in Hamilton 
township. La Crosse county, a daughter of 
William Gilfillan, of Onalaska. She was 
educated at West Salem, and afterward be- 
came a careful iyid popular teacher for six or 
seven years, in La Crosse county. Mr. and 
Mrs. Barber have two children: Mary A. and 
Newell E. They lost their first-born, Eva, 
in her fourth year. Mr. Barber is a Repub- 
lican in his political views, and in his social 
relations is a member of the orders of Odd 
Fellows and Modern Woodmen. 

fOHN KUPP, banker, merchant, real- 
estate and insurance agent of Bangor, 
was born in Bohemia, Austria, May 13, 
1852, the son of l"'runz Kupp, a native of the 



same place. The father brought his family 
to the United States in 1861, settling in Bal- 
timore, Maryland, where he drove a team for 
the United States Government. He remained 
there until the fall of 1865, when he located 
in Bangor, where he has since resided. His 
family consisted of six boys and three girls, 
and all are still living, and all are married 
but three sons. 

John, the eldest son and third child, was 
educated in the Bohemian, German and Eng- 
lish languages, and also graduated at the La 
Crosse Business College. In 1869 he met 
with a sad misfortune, a white swelling caus- 
ing the loss of his left leg, the amputation 
taking place on St. Patrick's day. In 1870 
he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where 
he secured an artificial limb, after which he 
returned to Kansas City, Missouri, and 
clerked in a grocery store thi-ee years. He 
next established a confectionery store at the 
same place, which be co.nducted until 1876, 
and in that year returned to Bangor and ran 
a l)arber shop until in July, 1885. He then 
accepted the appointment of Postmaster, 
which position he held until December, 1889, 
and during this time he was also made No- 
tary Public, which honor he still holds. After 
retiring from the office he established the 
Bano-or Exchange Bank, in which he has been 
remarkably successful. He was elected Treas- 
urer of the School Board in 1888, and re- 
elected in 1891, and during the first term he 
assisted in establishing a free high school, 
and in building an addition to the school- 
house. 

Mr. Kupp was married March 11, 1877, to 
Lillie E. Fletcher, a daughter of William 
Fletcher, deceased, an early settler of this 
county. At one time he owned one of the 
finest farms in La Crosse county. Mrs. Kupp 
was born on this farm September 7, 1861. 
Tliey have had two cliildi-cn, only one of 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



631 



whom survive, John, Jr., born June 2, 1879. 
Mr. Kupp i^ treasurer of the I. (). O. F. 
Lodge, which he has represented twice in the 
Grand Lodge; is banker of the M. W. of A., 
in which he has passed the principal chairs, 
and is also a member of the A. O. U. W. and 
the K. of P. of La Crosse. 



^ON. WILLIAM SMITH, of the firm of 
William & A. Smith, dealers in hard- 
ware, farm implements and turniture, 
Bangor, was born in Saxony, Germany, Au- 
gust 15, 1846. His father, Charles C. Smith, 
a native of Weimar, Germany, brought his 
family to the United States in 1854, locating 
in Sauk county, Wisconsin, among the In- 
dians and wild animals. He traveled from 
Sauk City to Mineral Point to enter his land, 
and improved a farm on the prairie at the 
edge of the timber. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
the common and private schools of Germany, 
and in 1861 came to Bangor township, this 
county, where he settled on a farm, lie left 
tliis place in 1865, and clerked in a store at 
Bangor three years, after which, in 1875, he 
was engaged in buying grain for some time. 
In the latter year he engaged in the hardware 
business in tliis county with his brother Au- 
gust, and they now carry a stock of $4,000 
in hardware, $600 in ijiiplements, and $600 
in furniture. They also have a hardware and 
implement store in Viroqua, where they carry 
a stock of $10,000. Mr. Smith was elected 
to the Legislature in 1889 on the Republican 
ticket, and served to the satisfaction of his 
constituents. He has been a member of the 
County Board of Supervisors for seven or 
eight years, and has also been a member of 
the Side Board about the same lentfth of 
time. 



He was married November 19, 1871, to 
Sarah J. Barber, a daughter of Daniel Bar- 
ber,' deceased. They have four children: Lee 
A., Russell D., Clyde C. and Wayne W. Mr. 
Smith is a member of the Masonic order and 
of the A. 0. U. W. 

R. ALEXANDER B. NEWTON, a 

physician and surgeon of Bangor, was 
born in Oneida county. New York, July 
3, 1842, a son of Liberty J. Newton, a native 
of Rutland, Vermont. He was an edge-tool 
maker by trade, but after coming West he 
worked at the blacksmith's trade. He emi- 
grated to Lily Lake, Kane county, Illinois, in 
1849, and later removed to St. Charles, same 
county, and in 1859 to La Crosse. Our sub- 
ject's mother, 7iee Cordelia Baxter, was a 
daughter of the renowned Rev. B. S. Baxter, 
a pioneer minister of Illinois. She was one 
of fourteen children, and taught the first 
school at Lily Lake. The mother of our 
subject died in October, 1874, and the father 
in April, 1890. They were the parents of 
six children, only two of whom survive, 
Alexander and Elihu B. One daughter, 
Sirs. S. H. Moody, died in La Crosse, in 
1889, at the age of forty-one years. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
the La Crosse high school, and also graduated 
at the Rush Medical College, January 25, 
1867. He settled in Bangor February 10, 
same year, where he has built up a large 
practice. He served in the late war as Hos- 
pital Steward, from April, 1861, to Septem- 
ber, 1865, when he returned from the war a 
physical wreck. His hospital experience emi- 
nently qualifieil him for surgical and general 
practice. Mr. Newton is vice-president of 
the La Crosse County Medical Association, 
and was also made a Mason by special dis- 



533 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



pensation during the war. Itefore twenty-one 
years of age, when home on a leave of ab- 
sence. He is now a noember of the Knights 
of Pytliias, of the Baptist Church, is Health 
Officer, and was member of the School Board 
a few years. 

He was married October 6, 1872, to Ida 
McKenzie, a daughter of Charles W. Mc- 
Kenzie, a pioneer of this county. They have 
three cliildren, viz.: Charles M., Cordelia L. 
and Alexander B., all born in this county. 
Charles graduated at the Bangor high school 
in June, 1891. 



•^^ 



•s^ 



^OTTLIEB BOSSHARD, one of the pro- 
prietors of the Bangor Cheese Factory, 
was born in Switzerland, August 14, 
1836, a son of Casper Bossiiard, who was 
killed by the cars on the railroad bridge at 
Bangor. The jiarents came with their young- 
est son, John, to this country in July, 1855. 
The mother died April 6, 1863, and was the 
first one buried in the Bangor cemetery. The 
father died September 4, 1884. They were 
the parents of live children, two of whom died 
in Switzerland. 

The subject of this sketch left home De- 
cember 31, 1853, and came by sail-ship to 
the United States, encountering heavy storms 
en route, and two of the passengers died on 
board and were buried at sea. He stopped 
first in Honey Creek valley, Sauk county, 
Wisconsin, where he worked for William 
Campfield, near Baraboo. In October, 1854, 
he came to this county with an uncle, John 
Bosshard, who had previously settled here. 
The next winter our subject and his brother 
Henry began work for themselves on land 
their uncle had bought for them with money 
their father had sent for that purpose. It 
was a part of section 4, where Bangor now 




stands, and here they made rails and fenced 
furty acres. They raised twenty acres of corn, 
potatoes, etc., a part of which they sold at a 
good price. Mr. Bosshard was town Treas- 
urer and Assessor a few years, and is now 
agent for the Shelby Farmers' Mutual Fire 
Insurance Company, in which he does a large 
business. He is also a member of the A. O. 
U. W. 

He was married October 1, 1858, to Min- 
nie Saxer, a daughter of Peter Saxer, who 
died in 1875. They have had nine children, 
six of whom still survive, viz.: Albert G., 
Amelia, William, Louisa, Eliza and Hulda. 



ILLIAM JORDSON, of the firm of 
Larson & Jordson, proprietors of the 
Bangor Creamery, located on section 
4, Bangor township, was born in Hamilton 
township, this county, February 18, 1865. 
His father, John Jordson, now of this town- 
ship, is a native of Norway, and came to the 
United States about forty years ago, when 
but a small boy. Our subject was engaged 
in tarmiiifr until 1809, when he went to West 
Salem and clerked in the hardware store of 
George Palmer until the spring of 1890, 
after which he worked one year in the Salem 
Creamery. In March, 1891, in partnership 
with Edward Larson, they purchased the 
Bangor Creamery, and began operating it the 
April following. They make aliout 1,000 
pounds of butter daily, and keep from 100 
U) 150 head of hogs. Their churning is 
done by steam, in two large churns. The 
creamery was built in 1884 by Bordwell 
Bros., who ran it but a short time and then 
sold it to J. Starr, who conducted it about 
two years. Larson & Jordson ship their 
butter to Chicago and New York, where they 
receive the highest market price. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBT. 



533 



Mr. Jordson is a member of the Norwegian 
Liitlieran Church, and is an active, energetic 
young man, with l)right prospects for tiie 
future. 

AVID R. A. SHEPARD, a member of 
the army of contractors and builders re- 
siding in La Crosse, is a native of the 
State of New York, born in Otsego county, 
at Exeter Centre, July 17, 1828, and is a son 
of Elisha and Jerusha (Angel) Shepard. The 
father was a blacksmith by trade, and was a 
son of Caleb Shepard, of Massachusetts. The 
maternal grandfather was Caleb Angel, and 
he was a farmer by occupation. David R. A., 
the subject of this notice, was reared with a 
family of live sons and one daughter, in Ot- 
sego county. New York, where he obtained a 
good education in the common schools. At 
the age of twenty-one years he went to Water- 
town, New York, where he learned the trade 
he has since followed. In 1854, while "Wis- 
consin was still on the frontier, he came to 
Ripon and cai-ried on a building and con- 
tracting business until 1863; in that year be 
went to Winona, Minnesota, and spent seven 
years in that place. Twenty-one years ago 
he first came to La Crosse, and has been since 
that time closely identified with those move- 
ments which have aided very materially in 
tlie development of the county and its re- 
sources. 

Mr. Shepard was married in Ripon, Wis- 
consin, in 1856, to Miss Ruth A. Root, a 
native of New York, V)orn near New Lisbon, 
Otsego county, and a daughter of Truman 
Root. Mrs. Shepard's parents were descend- 
ants from old Puritan stock of New England. 
Our subject and his wife have reared a family 
of five sons and two daughters: De Witt 11, 
a mason and builder, of Denver, Colorado; 



Charles D., of Winona, Minnesota; Wright 
E., a builder, of La Crosse; Jennie J., wife 
of George Hyde, of Montana; Ida May, 
Harry E. and Arthur M. The father is a 
member of the I. O. O. F., and the mother 
and two daughters belong to tiie Daughters 
of Rebekah, in which society Mrs. Hyde 
occupies a high ofiicial position. Mr. Shep- 
ard is a Worthy Past Grand of the I. O. 
O. F. 



DOLPH SIEBRECHT.— Among the 
lif<v& inany successful, rising young builders 
^^^^ and contractors of La Crosse, none have 
gained a superior position to that occupied 
by the subject of this biographical notice, 
Adolph Siebrecht. He was born in Pome- 
ran ia, near Bergen, November 17, 1860, and 
is a son of Charles and Johanna (Jahn) Sie- 
brecht. The father died in Bergen in 1881, 
and the following year, the mother and family 
crossed the sea and settled in the United 
States; there are three sons living: Charles) 
a gardener living in Winona, Minnesota; 
Adolph; and William, who is engaged in the 
same business as his brother Adolph. Our 
subject began the business of contracting in 
1883, and rapidiy made his way to the front 
ranks of his fellow-workmen. He is an 
active member of the Builders' E.xchange, of 
the Third Ward Aid Society and of the Ger- 
man Soldiers' Society. 

Mr. Siebrecht was united in marriage to 
Miss EmmaTechman, a native of Pomerania, 
Germany. Of the many countries that have 
contributed to the population of the United 
State, none have given to this nation a hardier, 
more industrious, or more honorable class of 
citizens than the German Empire. 

Since embarking in his present business, 
Mr. Siebrecht has been connected with tlie 



534 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



erection of the City Hall, the Crematory 
Building, Metzger's Building, Concordia 
Hall, Bartl's Brewery, and many others, too 
numerous to mention in detail. 



fOHN U. SPENCELY is a member of 
the Builders' Exchange of La Crosse, 
and is one of the most successful con- 
tractors of the city. He was born in Leeds, 
Encrland, May 19, 1835, and is a son of James 
and Hannah (Hilton) Spencely. His father 
was a plasterer by trade, and emigrated to 
America in 1840, residing for sixteen years 
in Philadelphia. In 1856 he came to La 
Crosse, Wisconsin, where he ended a long 
and useful life August 13, 1890. The mother 
of our subject died iu England when he was 
an infant. He passed his boyhood and youth 
ill Philadelphia and there learned his trade. 
He then spent ten years in traveling through 
the West and South. When the great civil 
war Ijroke out in this country, he enlisted iu 
Company E, Third Missouri Volunteer In- 
fantry, and served eighteen mouths, receiving 
an honorable discharge at the end of that 
time, as First Lieutenant of his company. 

After leaving the army he went to Chicago, 
and two years were spent in contracting and 
building in that city. In 1864 he came to 
LaCrosse, and in 1865 he returned to Chicago, 
where he remained seven years. In 1873 he 
went to Streator, Illinois, and was actively 
entjased in business there until 1886, when 
he came back to La Crosse. 

Mr. Spencely was united in mrrriage in 
Caledonia, Minnesota, to Miss Amelia Hundt, 
a native of Westphalia, Germany, and a 
daughter of Joseph Ilundt, deceased. They 
had born to them one sou and a daughter: 
Frederick is yet iu school, and Sopliia is de- 



ceased; she was the wife of J. N. Blair of 
this city. 

In early manhood our subject spent some 
time in Washington city, and was employed 
as a journeyman on the Capitol building of 
the United States. 




iOIlTON MARCUS FAREWELL, 
one of the early settlers of La Crosse 
county, is a native of Massachusetts, 
born at Lowell, November 13, 1838, a son of 
Mason Spooner and Sarah (Hawkins) Fare- 
well; the father was born in Windsor county, 
Vermont, and was a son of Captain Abel 
Farewell, a soldier in the war of 1812; the 
mother was a native of the same town and 
county as her husband, and was a daughter of 
Deiiison Hawkins; they had born to them two 
children: Joseph D. and Morton M. The 
latter was nine years old when the family 
emigrated to the West, coming i)y team to 
Buffalo, New York, and thence by the Great 
Lakes to Racine, Wisconsin. From this 
point they removed to Fond du Lac county, 
where they lived until 1851; in that year they 
came to La Crosse county, and resided near 
the town of La Crosse for three years; there 
the motuer died March 30, 1877, aged sixty - 
five years, eight months and five days; the 
father died February 28, 1879, aged eighty- 
three years, seven months and seven days; he 
was a carpenter and wheelwright by trade; 
politically he afBliated with the Democratic 
party in his early days and later voted the 
Republican ticket; in his religion he was a 
Universalist; he was twice married, and by his 
first union had six children. 

Morton M. Farewell passed his youth on a 
farm and acquired an education in the com- 
mon schools. After starting out in life for 
himself he was occupied with various pursuits 



BIOORAPBWAL HISTORY. 



535 



until 1866, when he located in this county on 
the Caleb Roberts farm, one of the first im- 
proved tracts in the township; it contains 183 
acres, has a good two-story residence, and 
substantial barns and sheds for the care of 
crops and the protection of live-stock. 

Mr. Farewell was married, November 5, 
1863, to Miss Abigail Seraphena Honck, a 
native of Chantauqua county, New York, and 
a daughter of Chandler Houck, of St. Law- 
rence county, New Yoik, who was a son of 
Peter Houck; the mother's maiden name was 
Parmelia Burdick, and her father was Samuel 
Burdick. Chandler and Parmelia Houck had 
four sons, who served in the civil war: Har- 
mon, Francis C, Oliver B. and Lawton K. 

Mr. and Mrs. Farewell are the parents of 
one son, Fitz Leander, born September 30, 
1864; he married Miss Maud E. Andrews, a 
daughter of Chester Andrews, an old soldier 
of the late war; of this]union one child was 
born. May 9, 1887; her name is Bessie 
Marian. 

Our subject is an ardent Democrat; he has 
held the office of township Treasurer and Over- 
seer. He is a man of many sterling traits of 
character, and is deserving of the popularity 
he enjoys. 



N. BARCLAY, a merchant of Stevens- 
town, Wisconsin, is one of the promi- 
® nent, enterprising and successful busi- 
ness men of this place. 

Mr. Barclay was born in La Crosse county. 
Wisconsin, March 17, 1856, son of James 
and Elizabeth (McCrindie) Barclay. His 
father is one of the most extensive land- 
owners in this county, and is well-known as 
the proprietor of the Union Mills. He was born 
in Ayrshire, Scotland, near the birth-place 
of Burns, December 22, 1830, one of the five 



children of David and Jane (Smith) Barclay, 
and was reared on a farm in his native land. 
At the age of twenty-one years he sailed from 
Glasgow for this country, and after a voyage 
of twenty-eight days landed in New York. 
From New York he went to Pennsylvania 
and from there came to Wisconsin, arriving 
in La Crosse county November 4, 1851. 
Here he has since resided. He owns a fine 
farm of 670 acres, well improved with frame 
house, stone-basement barn, etc. For thirty 
years he has owned the Union Mills. These 
are supplied with the roller process and 
manufacture as fine a quality of Hour as can 
be found in the State. In 1855 Mr. Barclay 
returned to Scotland for his bride, Elizabeth 
McCrindie, who was born May 16, 1830. 
daughter of W. M. and Anna (Cleveland) 
McCrindie. Of the eight children born to 
them seven are living, viz.: David N., the 
subject of our sketch; Anna Casberg; Will- 
iam, of Minnesota; Jennie, wife of James 
Friend, a prosperous farmer of Mindoro, this 
county; John and James, twins; and George, 
of Montana. Lizzie died at the age of eleven 
years. 

David N. was reared on a farm and re- 
ceived his education in the common schools. 
When a young man he learned the miller's 
trade, and followed the same for some years 
in the Union Mills. In 1887 he bought out 
the store of Peter Casper at Stevenstown, or 
Union Mills, as it is sometimes called by the 
old settlers. He carries a well assorted stock 
of general merchandise — ^dry goods, boots and 
shoes, groceries, provisions, etc. — and is do- 
ing a thriving business, which averages some 
$12,000 per annum. 

Mr. Barclay was married, at the age of 
twenty-two, to Mary Friend, daughter of 
John and Elizalieth (Hodge) Friend. Her 
father is a prominent early settler and an old 
soldier. To Mr. and Mrs. Barclay four children 



636 



BIOORAPHICAL El STORY. 



have been born, two of whom, James and 
Helen, are living. David died at the age of 
five months and Bessie at the age of eight 
years. 

Politically Mr. Barclay is a Republican; 
socially, a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 318 
of Mindoro. June 14, 1887, Mr. Barclay was 
appointed Postmaster of Stevenstown, and is 
still filling that position most acceptably. 
He is a successful business man and a popu- 
lar citizen. 



■^^x/x/iyh- 



-^Ifi/xn^^ 




[ILLIAM N. NORTH, is the proprie- 
tor of the Campbell dairy, which is 
located one mile from North La 
Crosse, in one of the most picturesque parts 
of the county. Mr. North is well known to 
be a good business man, a law abiding and 
enterprising citizen and an accommodating 
and reasonable neighbor. On his dairy farm 
he keeps thirty or forty cows, and sells their 
milk on his farm; but at one time be kept 
seventy-three cows and a number of delivery 
magons. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, 
March 31, 1854, to Henry W. North, a na- 
tive of county Gal way, Ireland; and Mary 
(Boulger) North, who was born on the Cape 
of Good Hope. Her father was an officer of 
the English army, and held the rank of Ma- 
]\)r, in the Ninety-third Highlanders, of the 
Queen's Own. He was a native of Scotland, 
but his wife was born in Ireland. 

William N. North received a good educa- 
tion, in Dublin college, and in 1864 came 
with his parents to America and in 1865 
settled with them at Onalaska, where the 
mother died, in August, 1888. She bore her 
husband two children: Anna, wife of Rufus 
P. White, residing in Adams, Jefiferson 
county. New York, and William N. The 



father resides with his daughter in New 
York, and is a well-read gentleman, having 
descended from Irish land owners and gen- 
tlemen. In religion he is an Episcopalian. 
William N. North was eleven years of age 
when his parents located in New York, and 
twelve years of age when they took up their 
abode in Wisconsin. He located on his 
present farm December 16, 1879, which was 
then known as the old Couch farm. It com- 
prises 120 acres and is one of the most fertile 
farms in the neighborhood. On it is a nice 
frame house, which is furnished in a manner 
showing a refined and cultivated taste. This 
home is beautifully situated, is surrounded 
by handsome trees and fiowering shrubs, and 
has become noted for the hospitality which 
is extended to all who enter its portals. One 
barn is 32 .\ 80 feet in dimensions; another is 
23 X 48 ; and both are furnished with tracks 
for cars to carry feed down the center. He 
also has a horse power for catting feed and a 
large windmill for drawing water, which 
during the winter time is warmed by a tank 
heater. 

On the 29tli of March, 1880, Mr. North 
was married to Miss Henrietta T. McCarty, 
who was born, reared, educated and married 
in La Crosse county. She is a daughter of 
Michael and Elizabeth (Davis) McCarty, the 
latter of whom died on the 24tli of April, 
1867. The father is still living, at the age 
of seventy-six years, and makes his home 
with Mrs. North. He came to this section 
in 1857. 

Mr. and Mrs. North have the following 
children: Eugene N., born June 30, 1882, 
and Villa Anna, born November 19, 1886. 

Mr. North is independent in politics, and 
socially is a member of the Catholic Knights 
of W^isconsin. He is a member of the Cath- 
olic Church, is an intelligent and well in- 
formed man of business, and is popular with 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



537 



all classes, for he is of a genial, social tem- 
perament and the soul of honesty in his busi- 
ness transactions. 



-J«-^ 



HESTER ANDREWS, a well-known 
and highly respected citizen of La 
Crosse county, residing near Stevens- 
town, has made his home here since 1871. 

Mr. Andrews was born in Potter county, 
Pennsylvania, at the head of the Allegheny 
river, on May 5, 1836. His father, Chester 
Andrews, Sr., was born in Hartford, Connec- 
ticut, son of Levi Andrews, who was of 
AVelsli ancestry and who served as a soldier 
in the war of 1812. Mr. Andrews' mother 
was before her marriage Miss Susan Chand- 
ler, She was born in Connecticut, daughter 
of Abrain Chandler, who came of an old line 
of English extraction. Chester and Susan 
Andrews had a family of six sons and one 
daughter. Two of the sons, Abram and 
Chester, did good service in the late war. The 
Andrews family came West and were among 
the early settlers of Fillmoi-e county, Minne- 
sota. The father died there in 1863, at the 
age of sixty-three years. He had been a 
farmer all his life; was, politically, a Repub- 
lican; religiously, a Baptist. The mother 
died in Allegan county, Michigan, in 1877. 

Chester Andrews was reared on a farm and 
received a common- school education. He 
was twenty years of age when the family 
emigrated to Minnesota. When the war 
broke out he was among the first to enter the 
service of tlie Union. Early in 1861 he 
enlisted in Company A, Second Minnesota 
Infantry, and was actively engaged in the 
war four years and four montlis. He was 
first under fire at Bowling Green, Kentucky, 
and afterward took part in a number of im- 
portant engagements; was with General 



Sherman on his march to the sea, and was at 
the Grand Review at Washington. He was 
honorably discharged and returned to his 
home in Minnesota, remaining there until 
1871 when he came to his present location. 

Mr. Andrews was married July 26, 1865, 
to Mrs. Sarah Frances McNeal, widow of 
Hiram McNeal, who was a member of the 
Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and who died 
in the service of his country. Mrs. Andrews 
is a daughter of James Sykes, a prominent 
early settler and an old soldier. Mr. and 
Mrs. Andrews have one daughter and three 
sons, namely: Emma, wife of F. Farewell; 
Benjamin G., of Burr Oak, this county; and 
James C. and Willie L., at home. They lost 
an infant daughter, Eunice, aged seven 
weeks. 

Politically Mr. Andrews is a Republican. 
He is a charter member of Nelson Quygle 
Post, G. A. R., of Mindoro; and is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity, having been made 
a Mason in Minnesota, in 1863. He is a 
prosperous and well-to-do citizen of this 
vicinity, and owns a fine farm of 160 acres. 



-■I^ a ^ *R 



fOHN JOHNSON, of West Salem, has 
been a resident of La Crosse county 
since 1869, and has been a prominent 
factor in developing its best interests. He 
is one of the many enterprising and successful 
men who have come from Norway to this 
country' and have made Wisconsin their 
home. 

Mr. Johnson was born in Norway, July 31, 
1841, son of Michael and Malina Johnson, 
natives of that country. The Johnson family 
bade farewell to friends and native land on 
the fifth of May, 1859, and sailed for Amer- 
ica, landing in Quebec after a voyage of six 
weeks. They came by the lakes to Detroit, 



538 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



tlience ty rail to Prairie du Chien,and up the 
river to La Crosse, arriving liere on July 1. 
The father purchased laud in Farinington 
township, and lived here two years, then 
moved to the town of Holland, where he 
lived until near the time of liis death, which 
occurred when he was seventy-six years of 
acre. Tiie mother died at Half-way creek. 
The subject of our sketch is one of a family 
of ten children, whose names are as follows: 
Maria Olson, a widow, residing at Half-way 
Creek; Tonette Chritiason, of the same place; 
Ellen Larson, living near "West Salem; John; 
'Michael, who was born February 5, 1844:, 
and who was a member of Company I, 
Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, Eagle Regiment, 
contracted disease while in the army, and 
died in 1867; Jennie Johnson, of West 
Salem; Martha, deceased; Thomas, a promi- 
inent citizen of Holland township, this 
county; J. K., a well known merchant of 
West Salem; Alexander, the Postmaster and 
a druggist of West Salem. 

John Johnson was eighteen years of age 
when he began life in this county. He had 
attended school in Xorway until he was 
fifteen and had received a fair education. 
After he came here he spent three win- 
ters in the woods and on the river, engaged 
in the lumljer business. In 1864 he settled 
on a farm in Farmington township, where he 
lived until the fall of 1891. At that time 
he sold his land, a line farm of 200 acres, and 
moved to AYest Salem. 

He was married in the spring of 1364 to 
Paulina Lewis, a daughter of the widow 
Lewis and a native of Norway. She was six 
years old when she came to this country, and 
in Wisconsin she grew up and was educated. 
She died April 6, 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnson four daughters have been born, three 
of whom are living, namely: Matilda L., a 
popular and successful teacher for four years; 



Julia H. and Ida P., who are now attending 
the Salem high school. Laura J., a bright 
and amiable young lady, died at the age of 
twenty-four. Siie was loved by all who 
knew her, and her untimely death was a sad 
blow to the family and her many friends. 

In his political views Mr. Johnson is a 
Republican. For twelve years he has served 
as a member of tiie board of Supervisors of 
Farmington township, and has been chairman 
of the board eight years. He was active in 
helping to orgatiize the Scandinavian Mutual 
Insurance Company, and has been its secre- 
tary and treasurer seventeen years. He is a 
member of the Lutheran Church, and has 
been a trustee of the church six years. He 
takes an advanced ground on all educational 
and religious matters, and his influence is 
ever ijiven on the side of truth and right. At 
the present writing he is retired from active 
business. 



-^►V^*^**^*""*'" — 

,ARMON SACIA, was born in Holland 
township, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, 
on the farm on which he now lives, Feb- 
ruary 13, 1855. His father, H. B. Sacia, a 
prominent pioneer of this county and a vet- 
eran of the late war, is now an honored 
resident of Galesviile, Trempealeau county, 
Wisconsin. He was l)orn in Schenectady, 
New York, his paternal ancestors being 
French, and his mother's people German. 
In 1851 he came to Wisconsin and settled in 
La Crosse county, where he lived until a few 
years ago, when he moved to Galesviile. The 
mother of Mr. Sacia was born in Vermont, of 
an old New England family, and was, before 
her marriage. Miss Cordelia Packard. This 
worthy couple had a family of ten children, 
Harmon being the seventh- born. He was 
reared at the old homestead, and received his 



BIOGHAPEIGAL BISTORT. 



539 



education in the district schools of the neigh- 
borhood. He is now the owner of 115 acres 
of valuable farming land, which is improved 
with cottage and other good buildings. One 
of the best springs in the county is located on 
his place. 

Mr. Sacia was married April 6, 1881, to 
Lena Halter. She was born in Norway, but 
has lived in this county since she was a child. 
They have six children: Howard Marvin, 
Pearl Cordelia, Lizzy, Lilly, Harrison and an 
infant son. 

Mr. Sacia is a Kepublican. Although a 
young man, he is ranked socially and finan- 
cially among the representative citizens of 
the township. 

|TEPHEN LAMBERT.— This gentle- 
man has long been identified with the 
best interests of Holland township. La 
Crosse county, and is well and favorably 
known here, he having settled in this county 
in 1858. 

Stephen Lambert was born in Chester 
county, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1844. His 
father, John Lambert, was also a native of 
Pennsylvania, and was a descendant of Ger- 
man ancestry. His mother, nee Catherine 
Brockem, was born in that State, the daugh- 
ter of Pennsylvania-Dutch people. Grand- 
fatlier Brockem served in the war of 1812. 
Mr. and Mrs. Lambert had a family of nine 
children, five sons and four daughters. One 
son, John Tobias, was confined in Libby 
Prison, and was starved to death. He 
weighed 210 pounds at the time he was ta- 
ken prisoner, and at the time of his release 
was reduced to 100 pounds. He died a sliort 
time afterward, aged twenty-seven years. 
John Lamliert was l)y occupation a cliarcoal 
burner. In politics lie was a Jackson Dem- 



ocrat. His death occurred when the subject 
of our sketch was three years old. His 
mother canje to La Crosse county, and passed 
the residue of her life here, dying in 1876, 
at the age of sixty- seven years. She was a 
devoted Christian woman, and a member of 
the Methodist Church. 

At the age of fourteen years Stephen Lam- 
bert came to La Croose county. For several 
years he was variously employed, working on 
the farm, in tlie woods and at sawmilling. 
He gained what schooling lie has at Phila- 
delphia, previous to his coming West. When 
the war came on he enlisted, in February, 
1862, in Company D, Fourteenth Wisconsin 
Infantry Volunteers. He took an active 
part in many of the important engagements 
of the war; was with his regiment at Shiloh, 
when they covered themselves with gloi-y and 
honor by capturing a New Orleans battery. 
One of tlie guns, a twelve-pound Parrot gun, 
is now at Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Lam- 
bert was also in tlie battles of Corinth, luka, 
Black River Bridge, at the siege of Vicks- 
burg, in the Red River expedition, at Cham- 
pion Hills and Nashville. From the latter 
place he went to Cairo, Illinois, where lie 
was honorably discharged, after a service of 
three years. 

Mr. Lambert owns a farm of 180 acres of 
well improved land, which he purchased in 
1870. His house is 16 x 24 feet, two-stories, 
with a one-story L, 16 x 24 feet, and is located 
on a good building site. His commodious 
barn is 62x54 feet, and liis other farm im- 
provements are all first-class. A modern 
wind puni]) supplies water for liis stock. 

Mr. Lambert was married, April 7, 1878, 
to Dora Grassma, a native of Minnesota, and 
a daughter of Bowker and Clara (Turkler) 
Grassma, natives of Holland. Her father 
died in tliis county in 1875, aged sixty- one 
years. Her mother is still living. Mr. and 



540 



BTOORAPHIUAL HI STORY. 



Mrs. Grassma had a family of nine children. 
Mr. Grassma served in tlie late war as a 
member of the Fourteenth Wisconsin Infan- 
try Volunteers, being one year in tbe regi- 
ment with Mr. Lambert. While they were 
on the Red River expedition lie received a 
sun-stroke, from the effects of which he 
never recovered. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert 
have five sons: John, Jacob, Benjamin F., 
Stephen G. and Harry E. 

Socially, Mr. Lambert is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, Acadia Lodge, No. 41. 
He is also a member of the John Flynn Post, 
G. A. R., of North La Crosse. 

— .•«»i ? . ; m s . ?i <^ — 



fUEODORE T. WIDVEY, attorney at 
law. — Of the many prominent names 
which make up the strength of Wis- 
consin bar is that of Theodoi'e T. AVidvey, 
who is to the manor born, and is a true type 
of the conservative, yet progressive and cul- 
tured Norwegian. He was born on October 
17, 1835, to John and Anna (Peterson) Wid- 
vey, natives of Norway, the former of whom 
was a sea captain and the owner of vessels. 
He followed this calling in the fisheries for a 
livelihood, but was also engaged in the lum- 
ber business. Of seven children born to this 
union, only three are living, of whom the 
subject of this sketch is the eldest. The 
other brothers, P. A. and O. Smith (twins) 
reside in Round valley, Custer county, Neb- 
raska, the former a minister of the Norwegian 
Lutheran Church. O. Smith Widvey is a 
farmer in that locality. Theodore T. Widvey 
received a thorough education, being an attend- 
ant of some of the higher schools of his native 
land. In the spring of 1854 he came to 
America and settled in Rock county, Wiscon 
sin, where he did editorial work on the Nor- 
wegian paper called the Emigrant, which 



was published by the Scandinavian Press 
Association, with which paper he continued 
until the spring of 1856. He then began 
the study of law with the firm of Crawford, 
Wakely & Tenney — the former a late member 
of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. He was 
admitted to the bar in November, 1857, and 
at once entered upon his practice in Madison, 
being associated with J. T. Knapp and Levi 
Booth. This partnership continued until the 
call of President Lincoln for 75,000 men in 
the month of April, 1861. 

At this time Mr. Widvey offered his servTces 
in defense of his adopted country, but 
he was notified by Governor Randall of 
the State not to respond to the first call for 
troops as he had other work for him to do, 
which afterwards proved to be the recruiting 
of a company, which became Company K of 
the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. 
Although he was chosen its Captain he would 
not accept the office, but finally accepted the 
First Lieutenancy, being promoted Captain 
in the latter part of 1862. He took part in 
the battles of Winchester, Bnckton Station, 
Cedar Mountain, Fredericksbui-g, and other 
engagements; and was in the Pope campaign 
in the Army of Virginia, and in the Army 
of the Potomac under McClellan, Burnside 
and later nnder General Joseph Hooker. He 
was Aid-de-cainp and Adjutant of General 
C. S. Hamilton's command from August, 

1861, until rolieved at Fortress Monroe in 

1862. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, it 
should be mentioned, he was in command of 
a battalion of his regiment on the extreme 
right of the line of battle. During the thii-d 
and last charge in that battle, he was severely 
wounded, and left on the field a prisoner, and 
was sent to old Libby, whore he was confined 
for about forty days, then was exchanged, and 
was sent to Annapolis to take command of 
the Fourth Battalion of exchanged prisoners 




f"!^ 'h^r GKarma^"'^- 




C^^^t^ (y^t.-^^":^ , 



.J^^y-.-<^C. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



541 



of war. Deceral)er 10 he was in cliarcre of 
that battalion at the battle of Fredericksburg. 
About December 13 he reported to General 
Williams, commander of the division to wliich 
his regiment belonged, and was told by the 
latter to remain at his headquarters as addi- 
tional aid until the regiment en route from 
Harper's Ferry should arrive. About De- 
cember 25 he reported to his regiment at 
Fairfax Station, and resumed his position as 
Captain of Company E. Owing to a wound 
which he had received he could not march^ 
and also owing to this wound his voice was 
very weak, so that upon tendering his resigna- 
tion in March, 1863, it was accepted. He 
had devoted about two years of his life to the 
service of Uncle Sam and prior to responding 
to the call for troops he had served some three 
years in the Governor's guard of Madison, 
Wisconsin. He did noble service, and was 
well-known as a brave, capable and zealous 
otiicer. 

After the close of the war he spent several 
years in Europe at different saTiitariums try- 
ing to restore his sliattered health. In 1869 
Governor Fairchild appointed him Fish 
Inspector for the State, which position oc- 
cupied iiis attention for three years. He then 
returned to his law practice and since 1882 
much of his attention lias been given to edi- 
torial work in La Crosse, hut at the present 
time he is principally engaged iti the practice 
of law, and is a well-read and able attorney 
and a ripe scholar. He was admitted an 
attorney to the Supreme Court of the United 
States in 1862, and has held the office of 
Court Commissioner since 1881. 

He was married, in 1870, to Miss Andrea 
C. Joys, a native of Norway, who came to 
this country with her parents at an early age. 
They have two children: Edward John, who 
is studying pharmacy, and Valborg. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Widvey are members of the 

30 



Norwegian Lutheran Church, and the former 
is a member of the F. & A. M., of the G. A. R. 
and the Loyal Legion of the United States. 
In politics he has always been an ardent 
Republican. He has become a prominent 
citizen of the county, respected and esteemed 
for his sterling integrity, his broad intelli- 
gence and lil)eral and progressive ideas. 

M Y R I C K. 



■ ® REMINISCENCES OF EARLY TIMES. 



St. Paul, Minnesota, January 28, 1892. 
Hon. F. A. Copeland, Mayor, 

La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

My Dear Mayor: — I have the honor to 
acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed 
letter of January 22, 1892, enclosing and 
officially transmitting to me an engrossed 
preamble and resolution passed by the Com- 
mon Council of the city of La Crosse, wherein 
a kind invitation is extended to rae to be 
present on the 10th of February, 1892, the 
fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of La 
Crosse, and also requesting me to permit a 
portrait of myself to be placed in the new 
City Hall, or in the Public Library. 

I cannot express in words the great pleas- 
ure which this most marked and distinguished 
invitation and request has brought to me. 
The deepest feelings of respect for the city 
of La Crosse, which now seem in volume 
doubled by this distinguished act of kind- 
ness, are, at this moment, so mingled with 
all my own reminiscences of the settlement 
of La Crosse that it is now almost impos- 
sible for me to set in phrase my appreciation 
of the high consideration thus paid me. 

To explain to you briefly these feelings, 
go back wit!i me fifty years, and stand, with 



Mi 



BIOORAPIIIGAL IIISTORT. 



a few companions, in an uncivilized and un- 
settled place on the bank of the Mississippi 
river. While standing there in snch a deso- 
late spot, contemplate and imagine, if pos- 
sible, that within fifty years, out from the 
sands of the echoing shore there shall arise 
a populous and modern metropolis, from 
whose center the eagle engines hourly scream 
their flight to all the distant seas; whose 
hills shall be dotted with churches, dedicated 
to the ever-living God; upon whose slopes 
and plains permanent institutions of educa- 
tion, science and learning shall be erected, 
and upon whose tributary waters the com- 
merce of a hundred-millioned republic shall 
be carried. This may seem possible. You 
may dream tiiis: so did many of the first 
settlers of the republic dream. But imagine, 
if you can, that even under the lofty policy 
of this republic, before your own humble 
Career shall be entered, that there will be 
fouiid the high magnanimity and thoughtful 
Consideration, under whose tender influences 
the great business interests of such metropo- 
lis shall pause in the exercise of their infinite 
energies to remember the young and unlet- 
tered trader who first erected a cabin on the 
site of the city of La Crosse. I therefore 
feel all the respect and luimility which this 
'confusing train of thought engenders, and I 
cannot write these down in words. 

I tnost heartily desire that the 10th of 
February next shall be a glurious holiday to 
the good citizens of La Crosse, on which all 
the old settlers may again Join hands with 
the new, pledging to each other alike, with 
the unanimity ever necessary to metropolitan 
advance, a loyal devotion to the liberties, 
civilization, security and peace of the city of 
La Crosse. 

It is with the deepest regret that I am 
compelled to inform you, that both my health 
and the emergencies of my business will re- 



quire that I shall be, upon February 10, in 
the distant State of CaliforTiia, but my heart 
will be with yon on that day. as my affec- 
tions and my hopes are with you ever. It 
seems strange that the city of La Crosse, 
which is, in the single consideration of early 
settlement, somewhat of a child of mine, 
should, by its own graceful act, make me a 
child of itself. 

My dear Mayor, in your letter you asked 
me, in case it should not be convenient for 
me to be with you on the fiftieth anniver- 
sary, that I send you a brief account of my 
life and reminisoenses in relation to the set- 
tlement of La Crosse. This I have concluded 
to dn, not in any spirit of vain-glory, but by 
an effort, overcoming a modesty with which 
I think your people are familiar. And, 
prompted ,by a sense of duty, and from tiie 
pleasure of doing, so far as in my power, 
whatever may be requested of me by the city 
of La Crosse, I will herein give you the mod- 
est circumstances of my life, and, so far as I 
can, complete the chain of reminiscences 
which have already been put on record in 
relation to the settlement of La Crosse. 

I have the honor to inform yon that I have 
this day forwarded to the City of La Crosse, 
in your care as Mayor, a portrait of tnyself. 
It is my desire, dear Mayor, if it shall so 
please tiie city, that this portrait be placed 
in the Public Library. 

Permit me to relate to you the events of 
my life as follows: 

I am the son of Barnabas Myrick and Lo- 
vina Bigelow, who were married about 1818. 
I was born at Westport, Essex county. New 
York, on July 7, 1822. My father had 
removed from Middiebury, Vermont, to Essex 
county about 1818, and continued to reside 
at Westport until his death in 1844:. During 
his life iu New York he was actively engaged 
in business in various forms; was at one time 



BIOGHAPHWAL HISTORY. 



543 



Loan Commissioner of the State of New 
York, and served in the House of Represen- 
tatives of that State about 1834. I was one 
of eight children, five of wliom lived past 
their majority. These were Ira Myrick, now 
living at Elysian, Minnesota; Louisa Myrick, 
now married to Hiram Buckland, of Brandon, 
Vermont; the late Andrew Jackson Myrick^ 
who removed to Minnesota in 1852, and was 
murdered by Indians at the Sioux Agency 
near Redwood, in August, 1862; Abigail 
Myiick, who was married during the '4:0s to 
Stephen Goodall, who afterwards removed to 
Minnesota and lived at Elysian,and died in 
1874. Tlie other children were Hiram, Charles 
and Martin Van Buren Myrick. 

My mother lived in Brandon the last few 
years of her life, and died in 1857. I was 
with her at the time of her deatli, and took 
her remains to Westport, JMew York, where 
they were buried by the side of my father. 
My paternal grandfather was Brazilla Myrick, 
who was born in Vermont, and served in the 
Revolutionary war. He was a pensioner of 
the Government at the time of his death in 
1841, at Westport, where he was buried. His 
y?ife survived him until 1849, and was buried 
by the side of her husband in the cemetery at 
Westport. 

I went to the disti'iet school until about 
ten years of age, and was then entered in the 
academy at Westport, which was founded 
largel}' through the efforts of my father. I 
remained there about three years, and at the 
expiration of that tertrt was employed by my 
father in his tannery at Westport, going to 
school in the winter. Afterwai'ds I was 
employed in a general store owned by my 
father in Westport, and remained there until 
1841. At tliat time I was eighteen years of 
age, and was an intimate friend of the late 
Major Hatch, of Minnesota, who then worked 
for his father in a rival store in Westport. 



We both became entliusiastic over the <rreat 
West, at that time an almost unknown coun- 
try. The railroads were not then built, and 
the travel to the West was by canal boat to 
Lake Erie, and l)y steamboat to Chicago. 

My father was an austere man, thoroughly 
engrossed by many enterprises other than 
those heretofore enumerated, — owning and 
operating canal boats and sail boats on Lake 
Clianiplain, lumber mills and lumber yards 
at Albany, sawmills at Westport, iron forges 
and other enterprises. One evening I went 
over to Mr. Hatch's store, and the West was 
discussed and talked about. I returned to 
ray father's store, and as we were about to 
close the store for the night I asked my 
father if he would give me my time. He 
almost flew into a passion and said, "You 
have already had too much of your time." 
lie soon got over the excitement which he 
was thrown into by the audacity I had in 
asking for my time, and said if I could do 
better for myself than he could for me I 
could have my time. That ended the con. 
versation, and we went home to the house. 
I made up my mind then to seek my fortune 
in the West. This was mid-winter, and there 
were no means of travel before navigation 
opened on the lakes and canal: consequently 
I had to remain there until about the first of 
May. By that time I was ready to start and 
embarked on one of Tny father's boats. My 
friend, the late Major Hatch, intended to ac- 
company me, but was detained in New York 
by the illness of his mother. 1 started from 
home with an outfit of about |100, my own 
savings, being however well provided with 
books and clothing. After commencing ray 
journey I was very much pleased to find in 
my trunk, between the pages of a pocket 
bible, an affectionate letter from ray mother, 
enclosing a present of $15 from her own pri- 
vate purse. As soon as I had exhibited ray 



544 



BTOnRAPIIICAL BISTORT. 



earnest desire to go West by actually making 
a start from home without seeking pecuniary 
assistance from my father, he seemed struck 
with tlie seriousness of my purpose; and by 
letter, which he forwarded by my brother to 
intercept me, offered to restock the tannery 
at home and make me a present of the plant, 
or, if I would be better pleased to stop at the 
hotel in Albany and remain there until he 
came, he would start me in a lumber-yard at 
Albany, oi' some other congenial business. 
But I had that sense of independence 
and desire for personal achievement that I de- 
clined my father's very tempting offer and 
continued on my western journey. My 
brother traveled on the packet boat with me 
until we met the packet boat going north, 
on which he took return passage to White- 
hall and home, he all the time trying to per- 
suade me to return home. I told him that I 
had started for the West and could not return 
home, as many of my friends said that I 
would return to stay the first night. I went 
by canal boat to Troy, and rail to Albany 
and to Schenectady, and then by packet boat 
on the canal to Buffalo, where I took the 
steamer Chesapeake to Chicago. I left Chi- 
cago, which had then about 5.000 inhal)i- 
tants, by stage, and went to Galena, Illinois, 
arriving there June 3(1, there being no boats 
or stage running to Prairie dn Chien. I hired 
a team and went from there directly to Prai- 
rie du Chien, where 1 arrived June 5th. My 
immediate object in going to Prairie du 
Chien was to visit some former acquaintances 
from AVestport, who were then living at the 
former place. I had with me a letter of in- 
troduction from General Hunter, of Westport, 
who had visited Prairie du Chien some years 
before, to II. L. Dowsman, then in charge of 
the American Kur Company, — Alexander 
McGregor and Judge Lockwood. Upon pre- 
senting these letters, I was very kindly 



received by the gentlemen named, but they 
declined to employ me in any services on 
account of my inability to speak Indian and 
my inexperience in Indian trading. I re- 
mained at the hotel until my funds were 
nearly exhausted, being unable in the mean 
time to secure employment. Among other 
efforts in that direction, I applied to the pro- 
prietor of a tannery which had just been 
started in the noith part of Prairie du Chien. 
This tannery was not enclosed, the vats being 
out in the open air. The proprietor, not- 
withstanding my re])resentations of knowl- 
edge of the business, would not offer me 
more than $15 a month, which I declined, 
and said to him that I had left a good home 
to get rid of working in a tannery, of which 
fact, however, I never informed my father. 

My first adventure was with one II. J. B. 
Miller, who was at that time engaged in the 
butcher's business at Prairie du Chien. 
Business being rather dull, he was desirous 
of making a trip to Cedar river, about 100 
miles west of Brairie du Chien, into an un- 
civilized country, occupied only Ijy Indians. 
Mr. Miller happened to mention in my pres- 
ence that if he could secure some one to go 
with him he would like to make this trip for 
the purpose of seeing the country and doing 
a little shooting if any profitable hunting 
could be found. I promptly offered to ac- 
company Mr. Miller, and we set out in a 
single covered wagon, with tent and supplies, 
for Ce<lar river, having obtained permission 
from General Brooks, in command of Fort 
Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, and afterward 
from the commanding officer at Fort Atchi- 
son, near the Turkey River Agency. It was 
necessary to get permission frotn tlie mili- 
tary authorities in order to go into the Indian 
country. We were informed at Fort Atchi- 
son tiiat there had been a tight between two 
tribes of Indians a few days Ijcfore at Cedar 



DIOGRAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



545 



river, and that it was dangerous to go any 
farther; that the troops had been out to quiet 
the trouble, and had just returned. We paid 
no attention to what they told us, and pro- 
ceeded on our journey. We did not see 
mucii game nor any Indians on our trip. We 
camped on the banks of the Cedar river two 
or three days, shot a few tish, and then re- 
turned to the tort and to Prairie du Chien, 
where we were again about two weeks. It 
was during this trip that Mr. Miller and my- 
self became thoroughly acquainted with each 
other, and commenced the friendship which 
finally led to our entering into co-partnership. 
After our return from this Cedar river 
trip, I was employed in the postoffice at 
Prairie du Chien, receiving only my board 
for my services. I liad only worked there a 
few weeks when I was taken sick. It had 
been arranged between Mr. Miller and myself 
that we should make a trading trip to the 
Turkey River Agency, permission having 
been granted upon our application, and the 
arrangements almost completed; but my ill- 
ness prevented my joining this adventure, 
Mr. Miller going out alone. Mr. David 
Clark, an acquaintance of mine, was very at- 
tentive to me during my illness, but his 
attention was in a characteristic Western way, 
and may be appropriately referred to here. 
Mr. Clark was satisfied that I was taken with 
a fever, and informed me that he would 
either cure me or kill me, and proceeded to 
pour ice- water upon the back of my head as 
long as I could endure it, keeping np this 
operation for about an hour, very nearly 
accomplishing the alternative of killing the 
patient, but very fortunately killing the fever 
as intended. Upon my recovery I returned 
to the postoffice, where I remained a few 
weeks; and, having two trunks, I sold one for 
$4U, and gave Mr. Clark $20, which left me 
quite" a little stake. About this time I formed 



the acquaintance of Eben Weld, who had 
made a trip up the Mississippi river on 
liorseback, as far as Fountain city, and who 
reported in a conversation with me, on the 
occasion of his calling at the office for his 
mail, that there were a number of good points 
up the river to trade with the Indians, and 
particularly at Prairie La Crosse, distant 
about eight miles from Prairie du Chien. 
The Postmaster at this time was J. B. Bris- 
boys, who had maintained a number of Indian 
trading posts on the Mississippi river, and 
who was well acquainted with the points 
along the river. Mr. Brisboys told me that 
the American Fur Company had at one time 
had some rails cut, and had started to make 
a claim at Prairie La Crosse, but that the 
steamers had burned np the rails, and the 
claim had never been perfected. Mr. Bris- 
boys' advice was favorable to the establish- 
ment of a trading-post at La Crosse. I made 
arrangements with Mr. Weld to establish a 
trading post there, if we could secure a stock 
of goods and conveyance for the same up the 
river. I obtained from General Brooks, in 
command of Fort Crawford, the loan of a 
Government keel-boat, partially decked over, 
which would carry about forty tons. It 
was the nicest keel-boat I ever saw. It had 
standards along the sides, about six feet high, 
with an arch roof or deck, open on the sides; 
this extended to within about ten feet of each 
end of the boat; was sharp at both ends, had 
running-boards on each side the whole length 
to walk back and forth, for the purpose of 
poling the boat, with a rudder. I cut a hole 
through the upper deck, or roof, put a mast 
in, and made a square sail of bed-ticking and 
rigged it to the mast, for the purpose of sail- 
ing when the wind was in the right direction. 
I purchased some lumber to floor the bottom 
of the boat, and some clapboards, twelve feet 
ong, and made a cabin by siding up the 



546 



DIOGRAPUICAL UISTORT. 



Standards at the stern end of the boat; made 
some berths to sleep in, put a sheet-iron 
stove in to cook on, and prepared to enclose 
the whole boat with lumber and live in it 
throutch the winter in case we were frozen in 
on the way up the river. We loaded with a 
stock of goods obtained from every merchant 
in Prairie dn Chien, except H. L. Dowsman, 
of the American Fur Company, who was 
under contract with an Indian trader living 
about four miles from where I intended to 
go. While 1 was getting ready to leave, Mr. 
Kurts, a Mormon from Nauvoo, came up on 
a steamboat with some goods whicii he 
wished to carry up on the Black river. I 
had his goods loaded on our boat, and Mr. 
Kurts and two or three men in his employ 
assisted to pole the craft up to Prairie La 
Crosse, where it was unloaded. These goods 
were unloaded where the public landing now 
is, and sent up Black river. The last money 
which I had was expended in the purchase 
of crackers from the late Louis Roberts, 
afterward one of the founders of St. Paul, 
Minnesota, who was at that time engaged in 
closing np his business, in the expectation 
of removing to the Upper Mississippi. After 
this purchase there remained the sum of ten 
cents, whicli I told Mr. Koberts I was going 
to keep for seed. The weather was pleasant, 
and leaving Prairie du Chien on November 
4 we reached our destination on November 
9. We went ashore and looked around, and 
found that there was no timber there to build 
witli, — nothing but a few oak shrubs. 1 then 
told the boys to shore the boat over to the 
island. On the island we built a double 
cabin of logs and puncheons, and prepared 
for our trade with the Indians. 

At the time of our arrival there was not a 
man, either white or Indian, in sight, or in 
the vicinity of Prairie La Crosse. The In- 
dians had all gone to the Turkey River 



Agency to draw their money and supplies. 
There was not a habitatiou of any kind about 
the place. There was a dispute at one time 
as to who was the founder of La Crosse. We 
had quite a controversy over it, looked up 
the record, and it was finally decided that 1 
was the first settler. If there was any one 
near there at the time 1 came, they must 
have settled some miles farther down the 
river. We put up our cabin, and after wait- 
ing perhaps ten days the Indians returned 
with plenty of money, and we had a pretty 
good trade. On the 18th of December, I 
started for Prairie du Chien for more goods. 
I took some provisions and blankets with 
me, and about $100 in silver. I did not 
know how to carry money, so I put some in 
one pocket and some in anotlier, crossed the 
Mississippi river in a canoe, and took the 
Indian trail along under the bluffs. It 
commenced raining soon after I started. 
1 found it difficult to cross Coon creek, but 
finally found a tree felled toward me across 
the river. This was my only chance: so I 
threw my pack over and jumped for the tree- 
top. I sank into the water up to my neck, 
liut caught hold ot the limbs and fortunately 
got out. After 1 had crossed Coon creek, it 
commenced to snow. I was following the 
Indian trail down, and met a squaw. I tried 
to speak to her and find out where I could 
get shelter, but she seemed afraid and turned 
off the trail. I followed her track through 
the snow, and came upon quite a camp of 
Indians on an island formed by the Bad Axe 
river and a slough; the latter I had to wade 
through to get to the camp after dark. The 
Indians were all drunk and were liaving a 
dance. The squaw came out, and she could 
speak a little English: she told me they were 
good Indians. I dried my clothes the best I 
could, and tried to sleep in a wigwam. I 
lay in sucii a position that an Indian could 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



547 



not sret in or out of the wigwam without 
stumbling over rae. They kept up their 
dancing all night, and kept coming in and 
out of the wigwam, so I didn't get much 
sleep. I didn't know what those drunken 
Indians might do, although the squaw told 
me tliey were good Indians. It turned very 
cold that night and the river closed with ice. 
I took a severe cold during the night, and 
was so lame and sore the next morning I 
could scarcely get up. The squaw made me 
some coffee and gave me refreshments such as 
thej had. After partaking, I resumed my 
journey. I crossed the Bad Axe river on a 
fallen tree with the aid of a long pole; I was 
so lame and stiff that, when I came to a log 
or pole lying across the Indian trail, I had 
to stoop and pick up one leg and get it over, 
and then the other. After walking an hour 
or two I got limbered up a little. About 
noon I arrived at a place called Winoshick, 
a trading post kept by a Frenchman, about 
seven miles from the Indian camp where I 
staid all night; being very tired, I concluded 
not to go any farther that day. After drink- 
ing about a pint of hot water, whisky and 
common brown sugar to sweeten it, and eat- 
ing a hearty dinner, I felt very much revived. 
A Frenchman was there with a large pack, 
and was about ready to start for Prairie dn 
Chien, and asked me if I would go on with 
him that afternoon. I said to him that I 
would not be ai^le. to keep up with him, and 
he said he would travel slowly. So I made up 
my mind to make the effort and started witii 
him. Some of the time I was in sight of 
him and some of the time not, for he was a 
pretty good traveler. 

We put up at a deserted cabin that night, 
and before I went to sleep I took off all my 
clotiies and went out and rolled in the snow, 
and riibl)ed myself with it. T had heard tiiat 
that was good for a man who was as stiff and 



tired as I was, and it worked very well in my 
case. I rested very well that night, and felt 
quite fresh the next morning, and after we 
ate our breakfast, such as we had, we started 
on our journey. About ten miles above 
Prairie du Chien I found Alexis Baylie, with 
a flat-boat load of goods frozen up in the ice. 
I had known him the summer previous, and 
staid with him the balance of that day and 
night, going on to Prairie du Chien the next 
day, where I remained about a week, waiting 
for the ice to become strong so I could return 
with loads of goods on the ice. After dis- 
bursing what little money I had, I hired six 
or eight Frenchmen at Prairie du Chien, 
with their teams — one-horse teams — and 
loaded them up with goods and provisions, 
and drove up on the ice to the island opposite 
to Pi'airie La Crosse, taking three days to 
make the trip. The first night out I slept 
in the snow. It was the first experience of 
the kind, and I enjoyed it first-rate. When 
I got back we had quite a little experience 
with the Indians. One Sunday morning, just 
as we were finishing breakfast, two Indians 
came in and we asked them to sit down and 
eat breakfast, which they did. They then 
went away. Being Sunday morning, I 
thought I would look over my school-books 
a little, and I took from my trunk the "Life 
of Washington," in French, and was sitting 
straddle of a four-legged bench, my back 
against the log wall, reading the book. In 
about half an hour one of the Indians re- 
turned; he asked for a number of little 
things, which we gave him, but finally re- 
fused to give him any more. Then he went 
away and came back with a gun. I saw that 
his gun was loaded, and he let me take it, 
and I went out and fired it at random across 
the river and returned the gun to him. He 
went out and reloaded his gun, and com- 
menced to act in a threatening manner. I 



548 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTORT. 



got up and took liold of tlie gun and passed 
tlie muzzle past my side, and, it being an old- 
fasJiioned flint-lock shotgun, opened the pan 
and turned tlie gun over and knocked the 
priming out. About that time a squaw came 
to get hiin to go away, and 1 went out with 
them, keeping the nmzzle past my side, he 
having hold of the gun too, until we got 
about 100 feet from the door. 1 then let go 
and started for the house, and just before I 
got to the house looked round and saw him 
aiming the gun at nie. The gun snapped, us 
the priming had been knocked out; I sprang 
into the house in haste, closed the door, and 
above the door was a half-window. 1 rolled 
a barrel up, looked out of the window, and 
saw the Indian rejjrime the gun and tire it; 
but it simply threw the ball out. I watched 
him and saw him reload with a bullet. I 
then said to Mr. Weld that we were going to 
have trouble and to load up some guns; and 
he replied that he would make a noise and 
that would be sufficient. "No," I told him, — 
that the Indian had loaded up his gun and 
that we must defend ourselves, and to load 
up some guns. So we went to work and 
each loaded up a gun. About that time the 
Indian came to the door, and in a word or 
two of English said, "Me got no gun." To 
satisfy myself, I got up on the barrel and 
looked out of the window; he had got away 
about twenty-live or fifty feet, turned and saw 
me at the window, and quick as a flash leveled 
his gun at me and fired before I had time to 
get down, the ball passing through the win- 
dow. I got down, rolled the barrel away, 
opened the door, and Mr. Weld rushed out 
and fired at an Indian who had got behind a 
big oak tree. I attempted to fire at another 
Indian, who was running away, his blanket 
flying almost straight behind him, but my 
gun .snapped and did not go oif. We both 
retreated to the house and commenced barri- 



cading the door with barrels of flour and 
beans, and loaded up several guns, with the 
intention of giving them a good fight, should 
they attempt to break in. 

There was quite a large camp of Indians 
on the island, some fifteen or twenty camps, 
and when they heard the firing tiiey rushed 
out and joined with the one who had com- 
menced the row. While we were loading up 
our guns and getting ready for a battle or to 
protect ourselves, a bullet came through the 
door, passed close by my head and through a 
tin kettle which was hanging on a nail in 
the shelf. We then saw the danger we were 
in by standing up in range of the door, and 
took a position, one on each side of the door, 
with our loaded guns and a.\es, calculating to 
give the Indians the best we had if they at- 
tempted to force open the door. The Indians 
continued to fire through the door and win- 
dows for about half an hour. The door was 
completely riddled with bullet holes. Soon 
after the Indians ceased firing, a rap at the 
door was heard, and I asked who was there, 
white man or Indian. The reply was, "Part 
white." I rolled the barrels away, opened the 
door and let him in, and, lo and behold! it 
was Ale.xis Baylie, a mixed blood, whose 
boat-load of goods was frozen in about ten 
miles al)Ove Prairie du Chien, and with whom 
I had staid over night on my way to Prairie 
du Chien. Ke had been up the river with 
two or three loads of goods, and was on his 
return when he heard the firing, while yet 
some distance from the island. When the 
Indians saw him coming they stopped firing; 
the Indians all knew Mr. Baylie, and they all 
flopped around the trading post. I asked 
Mr. Baylie to ask the Indians why they had 
made the attack on us. They told him that 
we had commenced firing fir.st. Baylie went 
on to a trader's cabin further down the river. 
He saw the Indiati who had commenced the 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



549 



trouble going ahead of hiiu down to this 
cabin. The Indian, when he saw him, turned 
out of the trail and let him go by. After he 
had passed, the Indian fired at him, and 
Baylie heard tlie bullet whistle past his head. 

When he got down to the trader's cabin 
the Indian soon came in. He asked the In- 
dian why he had fired at him, and the Indian 
said that he had fired at a lump of ice along- 
side of the track; Mr. Baylie told him to 
leave and not come in the trading house 
while he was there; and he did so. I thought 
at the time that perhaps this trader did not 
like the idea of having us so close to his 
business, and tried to make trouble for us 
with the Indians. 

We told the Indians that if this Indian 
ever came back we were going to kill him. 
This trouble hurt our trade for a few days. 
One day, after quite a while, this same Indian 
came into the cabin with several others one 
evening. I went and told Mr. Weld that 
this Indian was there, and asked him wliat 
we had better do about it. We made up our 
minds that we had better not pay any atten- 
tion to him, and pretend not to recognize 
him. He staid around there some time. lie 
always was an ugly Indian and inclined to 
make trouble. I have often thought since 
that if we had shot any of the Indians 
both of us would have been killed, as there 
were two or three hundred Indians around 
there; but I didn't think of that at all at the 
time of the excitement. The gun which I 
had was a very loug-barreled gun: the gun 
must have been si.x; feet long! 

After the excitement was over 1 found that 
I had loaded the gun nearly to the muzzle! 
Every time I heard a shot I must have put 
in a load. I was afraid to shoot tlie gun off, 
and I couldn't get any of the Indians to shoot 
it off, so I took the barrel from the stock 
breech-pin, put it against an oak stump, and 



fired it off with a slow match. I expected 
that it would blow the gun to pieces, but it 
did not. 

There was another instance that I recollect. 
I was sitting on the counter in the store when 
an Indian came in and sat down on the 
counter beside me. He put his left arm 
around me and pulled out his knife with his 
right hand and drew back to stab me. I 
siiook his arm ofE and threw him off the 
counter. Then I jumped behind the counter 
and put my hand under it as if 1 had a pistol. 
He thought I had and ran away. I never 
knew what was the cause of his wanting to 
kill me. He acted as if he was in earnest, 
and I think he was. 

We had about one hundred cords of 
white-ash wood cut during the winter, and 
I banked it with a hand sled and sold it to 
the steamboats in the spring for $1.25 per 
cord. We got out logs to build a cabin on 
the main land at Prairie La Crosse, and put 
one end on a hand-sled and hauled them 
across the river on the ice. H. J. B. Miller 
(or Scoots Miller, as he was generally called) 
on his return from his Turkey river trading 
expedition, came up to the foot of Coon 
slougii and established a trading post. H. 
L. Dowsman, of Prairie du Chien, in charge 
of the American Fur Company's business, 
hired Mr. Miller to haul some Indian pro- 
visions from Prairie du Chien up to Black 
river, where Onalaska is now situated, to be 
distributed to the Indians. On his return I 
hired him to haul my logs, that we had 
hauled across the Mississippi river on a hand- 
sled and left on the shore, up to the prairie 
where I wanted to build, and he remained 
one or two days to assist in erecting the 
cabin. It consisted of hewn logs, about 
16 X 20 feet in size, with a crutc.i in the 
ground at each end and a ridge-pole across 
from one to the other, to support the board 



550 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



roof. The logs were put up by being notched 
down at the corners, chinked and inudded up 
after the weather became wanner. The roof 
was made mostly with boards running up 
from the top log to the ridge-pole in the 
center, and nailed to the ridge-pole and logs. 
1 recollect vividly the first night I slept in 
the new cabin, which was the first one built 



wl 



lere no 



w standi^ tlie flourishing and second 



city in the State of AVisconsin. The cabin 
was built near the south side of State on 
Front street. We were anxious to get the 
roof on so we could sleep under cover that 
night, and worked until after dark. We had 
a sheet-iron stove, with no oven, a hole on 
top to put on a frying-pan, or to let a pot or 
kettle hang down in it when cooking. The 
stove was put up and a hole cut in the roof 
for the pipe to go through We cooked our 
supper, and afterward prepared for bed. Our 
bed consisted of a straw tick, fllled with 
swamp-grass, and blankets, and was spread 
down on the ground alongside the sheet- 
iron stove. The weather was cold, and that 
night a northwest blizzard Jsprang up which 
thoroughly tested our cabin. On the south 
side of the ridge-pole the boards extended 
two or three feet above the ridge-pole, and 
they wer3 not then nailed down on top. I 
lay in bed listening to the wind, and feeling 
it sensibly, too, and occasionally the part of 
the roof which extended above the ridge-pole 
would rise up two or three inches and fall 
back on the pole again. The wind kept on 
rising until finally a gust of wind came, 
stronger than any of the others, and off went 
the roof with it. It left the little stove stick- 
ing up about six feet liigh. I got up and 
pulled the pipe apart and set the stove down 
on the ground, and lay down again, but 
there was no more sleep for me that night, 
as the wind iiowled and the snow was flying 
in all directions, and when morning came 



about six inches of snow were in the cabin, 
and we were nearly frozen. We got up, 
cleared out the snow, picked up the scattered 
boards and put the roof on again, and nailed 
it down. It was the bluest morning 1 ever 
experienced ; 1 was sick, and homesick, too, 
and it was the only time I wished myself 
back home in the East. 

When the weather got warmer we built a 
shed addition on the east end, covered with 
split puncheons and covered with dirt, which 
was shelved and a counter put across, and a 
space left between the counter and the end 
of the main building for the Indians to stand 
while trading. They had to come in through 
the main building to get to the store part. 
We made three double sleeping-bunks or 
berths, one over the other, in the front cabin 
by putting up poles and cross-pieces and 
boards across, put our straw ticks and blan- 
kets on them. We were then in clover. The 
trade had been good while on the island, and 
continued good during the spring. Prairie 
La Crosse was a central point for the Indians. 
A number of small rivers emptied into the 
Mississippi river within a radius of fifteen or 
twenty miles. Black river, Trem^jealeau 
river. La Crosse, Root, Coon and Bad Axe 
rivers, where tlie Indians used to hutit and 
trap, and Prairie La Crosse was their most 
central point to trade after a trading post 
was estabiisiied there. 

Some time in March, Mr. Weld, my partner, 
imagined he could do better farther up the 
river, and became dissatisfied and wanted to 
draw out; so I purchased his interest and he 
went up to Fort Snelling on the first steam 
boat and was hired as superintendent of the 
Indian farm. In the summer of 1842 I went 
up to Fort Snelling on the steamboat "Rock 
River," and saw him there, and we went 
from Fort Snelling on horseback to see the 
Falls of St. Anthony, where the city of 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



551 



Minneapolis is now located, with a population 
of 170,000. At that time there was not a 
soul living there on either side of the Missis- 
sippi river. There was a small corn-mill 
there, erected by the Government to grind 
feed for the animals at the fort when wanted. 

In April I loaded my furs on the Govern- 
ment keell)oat, which General Brooks had 
so kindly loaned me, and started down the 
river to Prairie du Chien to sell my furs and 
purchase goods, and to return the keel-boat. 
On ray way down, and below Coon slough, I 
overtook II. J. B. Miller, in a large canoe 
loaded with furs, on his way to Prairie du 
Chien. I took his whole outfit on board of 
the boat, and we went on down to Prairie du 
Chien together. We sold our furs to the 
American Fur Company, at fair prices. 1 
had formed a very favorable opinion of Mr. 
Miller, and desired to have him return with 
me to Prairie La Crosse. I made him a 
proposition in which I told him I had a claim 
there, a cabin, such as it was, and a few 
goods on hand, and if he would return and 
go in partnership with me,. I would give him 
a half interest in all I had. He asked for 
time to consider, and toiiear from his brother 
in Illinois, and if favorable he would accept 
the proposition. In a few days he received 
a letter which was favorable, and we entered 
into partnership on the above basis. We 
jointly purchased goods, and loaded up his 
big canoe, which carried three or four tons. 
In our stock we purchased a small cast-iron 
cooking stove, which was a big improvement 
on the sheet-iron one I had, with no oven. 
We paddled and poled this big canoe, loaded 
to its full capacity, to La Crosse in four or 
five days, and it was not boys' play, either. 

We unloaded our canoe and commenced 
trading jointly, both feeling satisfied with 
the arrangements and location. Having no 
horses or o.\en to do work with, Mr. Miller 



soon left for Rockford, Illinois, and returned 
in two or three weeks with five yoke of oxen. 
During Mr. Miller's absence, I spaded up 
about two acres of land for a garden, and 
planted it. It embraced parts of blocks 7 
and 19. With the oxen we plowed and en- 
larged the garden patch, and plowed a fur- 
row around our claim, which was the original 
plat of La Crosse, containing nearly 100 
acres. We then plowed around a claim made 
out at the bluffs, now known as the Miller 
farm, and also a claim at the lower end of 
the prairie. After this work was completed, 
Mr. Miller went to Prairie du Chien with 
the oxen, and put them on the road hauling 
Government freight out to Fort Atchison 
and Turkey River Agency. When tlirough 
hauling freight, he returned to La Crosse 
with the outfit. In the early summer men 
were sent up Black river for the purpose of 
getting hewn pine logs for a new house, 
which were rafted and floated down to La 
Crosse, and a house 20 x 30 was erected, 
one and one-half stories high, chinked and 
pointed up with lime mortar, inside and out- 
side, lathed and plastered and weather-boarded 
outside, with a shingle roof and brick chim- 
ney. We purchased bricks in Galena, which 
were brought up on a steamboat, and I built 
the chimney, which was the first one in La 
Crosse, and the only mason-work 1 ever did. 
The chimney remained there until the build- 
ing was torn down in the '50s or '60s. There 
was a cellar under the house, about ten feet 
square, walled up with round logs. We 
looked upon this house as the best one at 
that time between Prairie du Chien and St. 
Peter or Fort Snelling. While constructing 
the house a little incident happened which I 
will relate. One day as we came out from 
dinner and went to the new house, we saw a 
large snake lying on the door-sill in the sun, 
sunning itself. On seeing us approaching, 



552 



lilOORAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



it crawled into tlie house and out of saglit. 
We went back to the cabin and remained 
awhile to see if the snake would return; after 
awhile it returned, and one of the naen, with 
gun in hand, went out, and the snake again 
crawled into the house; the man followed 
and fired at the snake; it filled the room so 
full of smoke that we could not see around 
for two or three minutes; when the smoke 
cleared off no snake- could be seen, but we 
saw the track of the snake in the sand down 
in the cellar. The floor was only partly laid 
below, but the upper floor was laid, and a 
short ladder, almost perpendicular, was onr 
only means of getting up into the upper part 
of the house. I had some boards laid from 
a cross tie or timber in the center of the 
building to the end log, on which I had my 
bed, and slept there. I recollect having 
some hesitancy in retiring that night, as I 
always dream of snakes after killing or having 
an encounter with one. Well, I went to bed 
and took the chances. When I got to sleep 
I began to dream there was a snake in the 
bed. I woke up, got out of bed and felt and 
looked around for the snake, but found none, 
and so went back to bed. This was repeated 
during the night two or three times. In the 
morning I got up and went out to the cabin 
to get l>roakfast, and after breakfast one of 
the men said he would like to have a smoke. 
I told him to go up in the now house and in 
back of my bed, in the corner, he would And 
an Indian tomahawk and some stone pipes. 
He went up and was reaching over, and had 
just taken hold of a tomahawk pipe when he 
discovered a snake on the top log behind the 
bed. It drew back its head and hissed at 
him; he jumped back, threw the pipe, hit- 
ting the snake, cutting it partly in two, and 
then "hollered" to me to hand him up a gun, 
which I did; he shot the snake and threw it 
out of the window. The snake was between 



five and six feet long, and supposed to be a 
house-snake. I never could understand how 
the snake was able to come up from the cel- 
lar and into the attic, and get around behind 
my bed, there being no stairway, only a very 
steep ladder. I have not the least doubt but 
that the snake was there when I was dream- 
ing of it. 

During the summer an Indian challenged 
me to run a foot-race. It happened that 
there was no one around there but the Indian 
and myself. Of course he had no money, 
and we put up a lot of silver ear-bobs, about 
$5 worth. We put them on a stake, about 
100 yards off, and the first one there was to 
take them. It so happened that I won the 
race, though I think he would have beaten 
me if we had run a few yards farther, as he 
was gaining on me when the race ended. I 
afterward learned that he was the fastest 
runner and the best hunter in the Winnebago 
nation. After that a number of other Indians 
challenged me to run. They thought I must 
be a good runner because 1 had beaten tliis 
man, but I had made my reputation as a fast 
runner and I refused to hazard it again. 

In the summer ot that year, 1842, I went 
down to Prairie du Chien and hired Ira 
Brunson, who was a surveyor, to come up 
and survey out a town site at Prairie La 
Crosse. His survey embraced the land that 
is now in the original plat of La Crosse; a 
plat was made of it, but not recorded, as the 
land had not been surveyed by the Govern- 
ment, and we had no title to the same. The 
buildings which were erected from that year 
to 1850 or 1851 were located on lots and 
blocks as designated by that plat. 

In 1842 the steamboat "Rock River," 
commanded by Count llerasta, was the first 
steamboat that made regular trips from Ga- 
lena to Fort Snelling, once in two weeks. 
Before that time there were two or three 



BIOGRAPlirCAL HISTORY. 



553 



boats, each of which made a trip, loaded with 
supplies for Fort Snellivig, the A.iiierican Fur 
Company at St. Peter, as it was then called, 
and now Mendota, and for tlie St. Croix 
Falls Lumber Company. 

In August of that year I made a trip on 
the steamboat "Rock River" to where St. 
Paul now is, and to Fort Snelling; and 
there were then only about half a dozen 
houses there. The main settlement was at 
Pig's Eye, about one mile below St. Paul, 
containing twenty or thirty log houses, and 
occupied mostly by French and lialf-breeds. 
A few days before making this trip, the 
Sioux and Chippewa Indians had a severe 
battle on the St. Croix river, and many were 
killed on both sides, and the Sioux Indians 
at Crow's village and at Kapozie were painted 
in black, mourning for their lost friends in 
battle, and dancing around the scalps taken 
from their enemies. The sight was some- 
thing new to me, and their whooping and 
dancing was hideous in the extreme. At 
that time there were only a few landings be- 
tween La Crosse and Fort Snelling — Reed's 
Landing, twenty miles above; Home's Land- 
ing; Pratt's, where Wabashaw now is, at the 
Indian village; Mission and Iiidian farm, now 
Red Wing, mouth of the St. Croix river; 
Pig's Eye, St. Paul landing and Fort 
Snelling. 

Colonel Mills came up from Dubuque to 
La Crosse, and liked the location very much, 
and I told him that 1 would give him a con 
tract to deed him a lot, when the title was 
obtained from the Government, if he would 
build a house. He accepted the offer, and 
selected a lot on the corner of Pearl and Front 
streets, where now stands the International 
Hotel. The house was built of hewn pine 
logs, one and one-half stories high, shingled 
roof. Colonel Mills lived in it about a year 
and then sold the house and contract for tiie 



deed to Jacob Spaulding, of Black River 
Falls, and returned to Dubuque. Mr. Kounts 
and Scott came up, I think, from Potosi, 
Wisconsin, and made a claim adjoining ours 
to the south, embracing what is now known 
as Dunn, Dowsman & Cameron's addition. 
They went away and left the claim. 

William Bunnell came up that year and 
located at Mountain de Trempealeau, about 
twenty-eight miles up the Mississippi river. 
Peter Cameron came in the fall, and seeing 
the claim made by Kounts and Scott appar- 
ently abandoned, took possession and built a 
log house and stable, and commenced trading 
with the Indians. 

I recollect an incident that happened in 
the winter of 1842'43. Wats Hatakaw or 
Blind Decorah, the head chief of the Winne- 
bago nation, had a son wlio was a great 
hunter. He was out hunting deer on Root 
river, and had wounded one and was follovv- 
ing him, and had thrown his blanket away so 
as not to be encumbered. The deer crossed 
Root river, and the Indian after him. He 
broke througii the ice, but succeeded in get- 
ting out, and being without a blanket was 
frozen to death! He was found where he had 
apparently walked around a tree for the pur- 
pose of getting warmed up and keeping from 
freezing, but was c )mpelled to succumb to 
the severe cold. He was found partially in 
a sitting position, frozen stiff. The remains 
were carried to my house, and at the reques-t 
of the old chief I had a coffin made to bury 
him in, which was nearly square, as he had 
frozen in a sitting position. A large number 
of Indians came to attend the Indian burial 
services, as the Indian had many friends. 
Some of |iis friends claimed that his blanket 
had been stolen, or taken from him, and that 
was the cause of his freezing to death. They, 
in consequence of this difference of opinion, 
got up quite a fight among themselves, an 



554 



BIOGRAPHICAL IIISrORY. 



in the course of the row the coffin was broken 
open and the corpse was thrown out on the 
floor. 1 finally succeedecl in getting them 
quieted down, and laid the corpse back into 
the box or coffin, and nailed it up again. At 
the request of the chief, I liad a grave dug 
between State and Main on Front street, on 
quite a high place near the river, and bnried 
him in it, put up a picket fence around the 
grave and erected a cross and painted it white. 
When the chief and his family would come 
there, they would put tin pans filled with 
food, tea and coffee on the head of the grave 
for him to feed on, on his way to the happy 
hunting grounds. The grave remained there 
until the street was grailed in 1851 or 1852. 

I have heard it claimed that La Crosse de- 
rived its name from that cross, which was 
put up at this Indian grave. At one time 
we had quite a lengthy controversy as to the 
oricrin of the name, in which I maintained 
the theory that it was given to the jilace be- 
cause the Indians used to asseml)le there to 
play la crosse, a game of ball, and after much 
arirument and discussion it was decided that 
my version was correct. 

In the winter of 1842 and 1843 Peter 
Cameron and myself made a trip jointly with 
goods up the river on the ice to Fort Snelling 
with three or four teams. We had to make 
a portage near the mouth of tlieZunbro river, 
below Lake Pepin, to above what is now 
known as Keed's Landing. The portage 
alongside of the foot of Lake Pepin was a 
difficult and dangerous one along the hillside, 
there being some danger of sliding down into 
the lake, and we let our teams down with the 
aid of a rope tied to the sleds and around a 
tree; crossed Lake Pepin, and went on to 
where Red Wing now is, and camped with a 
missionary. The next day we went up to the 
mouth of St. Croix river, now Prescott, and 
from there to Pig's Eye, St. Paul and Fort 



Snelling. At Red Wing, Count Herasta, 
Captain of the steamboat Rock River, over- 
took us and went up in comy)any with us. 
His boat was frozen the fall before just below 
St. Paul, and he was on his way up to look 
after his boat when the river opened, and to 
take her down the river. We sold out our 
stock of goods and had quite a lot of furs in 
a few days, and shortly after started on our 
retui-n trip. The second night we got to Mr. 
Weld's place, near the head of Lake Pepin ; 
we sold him one of our horses, and took our 
pay in furs, which made the loads pretty 
heavy for the other horses, having to haul an 
extra sleigh. The distance from Mr. Weld's 
place to the foot of Lake Pepin, where 
Wabashaw now is, is fifteen or eighteen miles, 
and we had the hardest trip I ever experi- 
enced for so short a distance. The snow was 
deep on the ice, and a crust over the snow 
which would bear a man for a few steps and 
then he would go down through the snow 
two or three feet. The distance being short, 
we did not take any food for ourselves or 
horses, expecting to get through in good 
season. We soon became tired, and our 
horses also; we tried to cut a hole through 
the ice for water, also to cut steps down in 
the ice with a long-handled ax, and had to 
give it up. We tried it at several places 
during the day, with the same result. Some 
time after dark, our horses as well as our- 
selves being nearly exhausted, we stopped, 
and Mr. Cameron suggested that we camp 
on the ice, and one of us goon to Mr. Cratt's, 
who was the Government blacksmith for the 
Indians, and get something to eat, and return 
with food for our horses. I said to him, we 
had better not separate: if we camped, to 
camp together. After being rested awhile 
and talking the matter over, we concluded to 
go on. Al)Out twelve o'clock at night we 
succeeded in getting through to Cratt's place, 



BWailAPHIOAL HISTORY 



555 



where we fared sumptuously. I never was 
so glad to get to a place as I was that night. 
The next morning we resumed our journey, 
and got to La Crosse in three or four days, 
arriving there on the 2d day of April, 1843. 
On the 4th we started on the ice for Prairie 
du Chien, for the purpose of purchasing 
more goods; and after we got down four or 
five miles I became snow-blind, which was 
very painful, and returned home, but the 
teams were sent down and returned with 
loads of goods on the ice. That winter was 
the coldest I have ever experienced in this 
country; the ice did not go out of Lake 
Pepin until the first days of May. I think 
it was in the winter of 1843-'44, Mr. Philip 
Jacobs had a trading cabin up Black River 
Lake, near where Onalaska is now situated. 
One day the Indians came into his cabin and 
scared him or drove him out; he came down 
to my place and told his story, and wanted 
some assistance. I returned with him on 
foot on the ice; when we arrived at his cabin 
we found it in possession of a big strapping 
Indian, who was deaf and dumb; nothing 
had been taken or disturbed. The Indian 
finally made us understand that he would go 
to the Indian camps which were on the 
islands above, and get some Indians and re- 
turn and take possession of the cabin oi' burn 
it. I gave him to understand that we would 
defend it; he went away; I remained there 
all night, and no Indians came. The next 
morning I returned liome. In tiiis way we 
would expose ourselves sometimes in protect- 
ing each other, even though we were trading 
in opposition to each other. 

In 1843 Dr. Snaugli, or "Dutch Doctor" 
as we called him, came up and built near Jay 
street and traded vvitii the Indians. Asa 
White came and worked for Mr. Cameron 
that fall and winter, and boarded with us 
part of the time. Mr. White made a claim 



adjoining Mr. Cameron's on the south, now 
known as Straddars & Levy's addition, built 
a house and traded with the Indians, and had 
a small piece of land under cultivation. This 
year we broke up some land back near the 
bluffs, where the Miller farm now is, and 
also down near the south end of the prairie, 
and got out rails from the islands and bottom 
lands to fence the land; corn, barley and 
wheat were planted, which was the first farm- 
ing done in what is now La Crosse county. 
Two or three years after, when a mill was 
built at Prairie du Chien, the only means of 
getting wheat manufactured into flour was 
by taking it to Prairie du Chien on the ice, 
and I remember hauling it there and return- 
ing with flour, ninety miles over the ice. 
Dr. Snaugh, or '-Dutch Doc," made a claim 
on what is now known as the State Road 
Cooley, and farmed it some, and years after- 
ward sold the land to J. C. Ramsey, of St. 
Paul. 

In 1843 I made a visit home, to fulfill a 
promise I had made some three years before, 
and to purchase goods in New York. I went 
by steamer to St. Louis, and thence to Cairo 
and up the Ohio river to Pittsburg, and took 
the stage at the Monongahela Hotel and 
traveled over the Alleghany mountains to 
Cumberland, and thence l)y rail to Baltimore, 
and by rail and steamboat to New York city, 
up the Hudson river to Albany, and by rail 
to Saratoga Springs, where I stopped for 
three or four days, not feeling very well, and 
by steamer from Whitehall to Westport, 
my former home. My people were very 
glad to see me, as well as I was them; and I 
recollect that my mother (God bless her 
memory!) asked me if Iliad come home to 
remain, and I replied that I was glad to come 
and see them, but would not remain if the 
whole of Essex county was given to me. In 
a few days I was taken sick, and was confined 



556 



BIOOHAPHICAL HISTORY. 



to my bed for three weeks or more. Soon 
after I recovered I went to New York to pur- 
chase some goods for the Indian trade. My 
fatlier, and two or three of his hnsiness 
friends, accompanied me. he having some 
business there, wanting to form a company 
to put an opposition steamer on Lake Chain- 
plain, and to see what kind of goods I pur- 
chased for the Indian trade. We went by 
steamboat to Whiteliall, packet boat on canal 
and steamboat to New York, and we stopped 
at the Lovejoy House, across from the park 
and opposite the Astor House, Mr. Lovejoy 
having once kept a hotel or store in Westport, 
but was burned out and moved to New York. 
Tlie next day I hunted up stores that kept 
Indian goods, and found only two of them. 
Grant & Barton and Syrdam, Doramus & 
Nixon. 

At this place something occurred which 
might be of interest to the reader. "While 
selecting goods (my father was with me) I 
saw a piece of light-colored fancy silk, which 
I thought would make a nice wedding-dress, 
and expecting it to be put to use very soon 
told the clerk to cut me off a pattern, which 
he did, and that I wished to pay for it and 
not have it put on the bill with the other 
goods, put my hand in my pocket for tlie 
money to pay for it, and to niy great aston^ 
ishment there was no money or pocket-book 
tiiere. I then remembered that I had put 
my money under my pillow the night before 
and had left it there. I told my father about 
it and asked him to go with me to the hotel, 
lie being acquainted with the landlord, to 
see if we could find the money. He said 
tliere was not one chance in 100 that I 
would find it. However, we went up to the 
hotel, and direct to our room. As we en- 
tered the room the chamliermaid came out; 
father stood at the door while I went in and 
examined the room; tiie chambermaid re- 



mained in the hall near the door till I came 
out. I asked her if she found some money 
under the pillow, and she said she did, and 
took it to the office and gave it to the clerk. 
I hurried to the office and asked the clerk if 
anything had been given him by the chamber- 
maid from such a room, and he said there 
had, and I described it and my money was 
returned. No one can imagine tlie relief it 
gave me to get possession of it again. I 
went upstairs and gave the maid $5, and 
have always been sorry that I did not give 
her more, as siie deserved it for her honesty. 
We went back to the store, paid for the 
wedding dress, and completed my purchases 
and made arrangements for future purchases. 
Terms were one-fourth cash, and the balance 
in six and eight months' time, note payable 
at bank, with my father's endorsement. The 
goods were shipped to Troy and stored there 
until I went West in October. We went home 
and on the 17th of August I was married to 
Miss Rebecca E. Ismon, at Cliarlotte, Vermont. 
Soon after our arrival at my father's house, 
he gave us a second-day wedding, and invited 
liis acquaintances and friends from the entire 
county. He was so well known and had 
such a number of acquaintances that it was 
the largest affair of the kind that had ever 
been given at Westport. Alwut the last of 
September I was ready to start on my return 
trip West. My money had given out and I 
went to General Hunter and borrowed $500 
with my father's endorsement. Our parents 
on both sides had given us some household 
goods, which were packed in boxes, and we 
took them along with us. We shipped on a 
fast freight l)oat, whicli was towed by steamer 
to Wliitehall, and to Troy by canal, stopped 
and took on board the goods which I had 
purchased in New York, and thence to Buffalo, 
arriving there in a week or ten days. We 
took passage on a steamer for Chicngo, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



557 



with our goods all on board, arriving in Chi- 
cago ill due time. We had with us on this 
trip a young lady by the name of Louisa 
Pearson, who wished to visit some friends in 
Illinois. 1 told her that I would pay all of 
her expenses if she would go through with 
us and spend the winter, and visit her friends 
in the spring. This she did, and was com- 
pany for Mr:-. Myrick the first winter at La 
Crosse. There were no railroads at that time 
running out of Chicago, but there were 
stages running to Galena, where we wanted 
to go; but I wanted to make sure of getting 
the goods across to Galena, on the Mississippi 
river. I finally hired three or four schooner 
wagons and loaded them up, one of which was 
loaded lightly, and on which we took passage. 
The roads were not in the best of order, and 
our progress was pretty slow, and when we 
got to Rockford we abandoned the wagon 
and took the stage for Galena. In three or 
fonr days the teams got through with our 
goods. Oar trip was a slow one, but on the 
whole pleasant, and we enjoyed ourselves 
very well. We had to remain in Galena 
eight days waiting for a steamboat to go to 
La Crosse, and finally arrived there with our 
goods, being almost four weeks making the 
journey. We were made welcome on our 
arrival by the few who were there, and tlie 
women were almost a curiosity, and tliey were 
the first white women who settled in the 
embryo now flourishing city of La Crosse. 
The news went far and near among the 
Indians that tiie tall trader, "Wonk-se-reck," 
as that was my name among the Indians, had 
returned with two white women, one his 
wife, and they came flocking in to greet ns, 
and see the curiosities, "white women." 

We passed the winter quite com- 
fortably in our house, although somewhat 
crowded for room, one end of the building 
being occupied as a store. In the spring we 

37 



built on an addition or "L" part, 12x16, 
making a kitchen, bedroom and pantry, 
which gave ns <'onsiderabIe more room. We 
also built on tiie north end of the house an 
addition, witli a stone chimney and fireplace, 
called the "Indian room," where they could 
cock their food and sleep, when coming in 
from tiieir hunts. We opened our new stock 
of goods, and when the Indians returned 
from the payment of their annuities at Tur- 
key river we had a good trade. Just before 
the river closed with ice, we sent what fall 
furs we had taken in to the American P'ur 
Company at Pi-airie du Chien, and in Decem- 
ber I made my second trip to Prairie du 
Cliien on the Indian trail under the bluffs, 
but on horseback this time, as we were now 
the owners of two or three horses. My object 
in going was to provide for the payment of 
my note given in New York. I had almost 
$1,000 in silver in saddle-bags on the horse 
under me, which made a pretty good load for 
the horse I was riding. Nothing occurred 
of any consequence until I came to the creek 
about ten miles north of Prairie du Chien, a 
little after dark. The weather was cold; in 
crossing the creek the saddle-girth broke, 
and let my saddle, money and myself into 
tile creek. I fished around and got the 
money and saddle out on the otlier side, put 
the saddle on the horse and saddle-bags across, 
and walked the balance of the way into town, 
my clothes being frozen stiff'. I got in about 
eight o'clock, tired, wet and hungry. The 
next day I went on to the American Fur 
Company's store, in charge of H. L. Dows- 
man. I sold the furs which were sent down 
to him from La Crosse, and gave him the 
money I had, and he sent to St. Louis and 
ordered a draft sent to my father of the 
amount suflicient to take up my notes that 
my father had endorsed. There were no 
steamboats running at that time, and no raiU 



nss 



BIOORAPHICAL HI STORY. 



road, and mails were carried by stages, and it 
took nearly six weeks to get the draft around 
where I wanted it. This was the only way 
that I could remit at that time, there being 
no l)anks at Prairie du Chien. This was the 
first remittance made for goods purchased 
for La Crosse. On my return trip to La 
Crosse I went part of the way on the ice; I 
recollect following up a trail on a slough, 
which ended in a round pocket about fifteen 
or twenty feet across it, and when reaching 
it my horse broke through the ice and I had 
all J could do to keep from being pawed 
under. I finally succeeded in getting out, 
and al.so the horse. It M'as only a few rods 
to the main channel of the river, which was 
frozen, and I got my horse upon it, and 
walked about three miles after dark without 
a road or track to a house near the foot of 
Coon slough. My clothes were soon frozen. 
I met there General Stewart, paymaster of 
the army, who was returning from Fort 
Snelling, where he had been to pay the troops. 
The next day I arrived at La Crosse, and glad 
to get home. 

We had men cutting steamboat wood on 
the bottom and islands about two miles above 
La Crosse, the most of which I hauled with 
one horse, crossing at the foot of Black River 
Lake, and coming down the slough and over 
La Crosse river, and banked it on the steam- 
boat landing, which met with ready sale to 
steamboats the next summer. The summer 
while I was East, Miller built an old fashioned 
ban., 30 x 40 feet, about where the Cameron 
House now stands, and also a warehouse, sit- 
uated on the corner of Front and State streets, 
where the Bellview House now is, and a 
blacksmith shop on Front, between State and 
Main streets. These were about all the im- 
provements made in 1843. 

In 1842 or 1843, quite a colony of Mor- 
mons came up from Nauvoo, in charge of 



Millerand Wight, who rented Mr. Spaulding's 
sawmill at Black Eiver Falls to get out lum- 
ber to use at Nauvoo. They got short of pro- 
visions and goods, and we furnished them 
with what they wanted during the winter, 
and took our pay in sawed lumber, to be de- 
livered at La Crosse in the spring. The 
lumber was delivered as per agreement, all 
rafted. Jacob Spanlding got a raft of lum- 
ber out at the same time, and we coupled onr 
rafts together and ran it to St. Louis, which 
was the first raft of lumber ever run from La 
Crosse or Black river to St. Louis. The 
river was high and we made a very quick 
trip, tying up to the shore only three or four 
times all the way down to St. Louis. We 
had a good deal of trouble in landing our 
rafts below the steamboats where we wanted 
to hanl the lumber out, the water being so 
high and current so swift. We however suc- 
ceeded, hauled our lumber out, and by the 
time we got the last lumber out the first 
taken out was afloat, the river rising so 
fast. We went to work and put the lumber 
on higher ground, handling it all over twice, 
and then it had to be moved the third time, 
and could not be sold as long as the river 
was rising so fast. I went up into the city 
and rented two lots, and got teams and hauled 
all the lumber upon them, and then began 
to sell the lumber. Mr. Spanlding was taken 
sick, and I attended to selling his lumber 
also. I worked in the water up to my waist 
nearly two weeks. It was said that the river 
had never been so high before or since. It 
is known as the high water of 1844. After 
our lumber was sold and supplies and goods 
purchased, we chartered the steamboat Potosi 
to bring our supplies and men to La Crosse, 
and she returned from there. The Mormons 
who were located at Black River Falls rafted 
up their lumber and went to Nauvoo in the 
summer. In October of that year quite a 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOHr. 



559 



colony of Mormonscame up from Nauvoo and 
landed at La Crosse, and camped there several 
days, and finally settled in what is now 
called Mormon Cooley, some four or five 
miles south of La Crosse. They built twenty- 
five or thirty log houses and made themselves 
quite comfortable. We hired quite a number 
of the men, some cutting cordwood and get- 
ting out rails on the islands, and some of 
them were sent up the Black river to make 
shingles. The pay was drawn by the elders 
in provisions to support the families in the 
settlement. Just as the river opened in the 
spring, the men ail came down from Black 
river, and the men stopped cattinw cordwood, 
and they had just at that time completed a 
flat or wood-boat for us. In the meantime 
they had built some flat-boats down on the 
slough hear the settlement. News got out 
that they were all going to leave. I went 
down to the settlement to see the elders and 
adjust matters. They came up to the store 
and I got a settlement by taking some oxen 
and horses for the amount they owed us. 
That night they set tire to most of their 
houses and embarked in their flat-boats, and 
left by the light of their burning houses for 
Nauvoo. 

Jacob Spaulding went to Black River 
Falls in 1839 and built a sawmill, in partner- 
ship with Andrew Wood, I think, of Quincy, 
Illinois. Horatio" Curts, from Nauvoo, came 
up in 1841, and went up Black river. Jona- 
than Nichols and family, James O'Neil, H. 
McCollom and some others went up Black 
river in 1842. John Morrison, William and 
John Levis, Andrew Shepard, Yallantine 
Thomas and William Douglas arrived and 
went up Black river in 1843, and engaged in 
the lumber business. Li 1844 Thomas and 
Peter Hall arrived, also William Pauley and 
Andrew Ferguson; they all went up Black 
river. In the spring of 1844 Miss Pearson 



went to Illinois to see her friends, and in the 
fall Mr. Miller, iny partner, went down and 
married her, and returned to La Crosse. We 
put up another addition to our house — a 
bedroom — for their accommodation. 

Lafayette Bunnell arrived, in 1843 or '44, 
and made a claim adjoining Asa White on 
the south, and made a field and put in crops, 
which claim I afterwards purchased of him. 
Dr. Bunnell and family, consisting of wife 
and two daughters, one a widow lady and the 
otiier single, and a young son, arrived from 
Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Bunnell was the first 
physician who settled in La Crosse. Shortly 
after their arrival the eldest daughter told me 
that we would have a railroad at La Crosse, 
either from Milwaukee or Green Bay. She 
was the first person that I ever heard speak- 
ing of a railroad coming to La Crosse. Her 
prophecy more than came to pass, for La 
Crosse has a railroad both from Milwaukee 
and Green Bay. If I remember correctly, 
the family all died at La Crosse, with the ex- 
ception of Lafayette, who now Jives at Homer, 
Minnesota, and is known as Dr. Bunnell. 
Newell Houghton came to La Crosse thjs 
year and made his headquarters at Asa 
White's; he was a great hunter, and was 
killed at New Ulm, Minnesota, while defend- 
ing the city during the time of the great 
massacre by the Sioux Indians in 1862. 

John and Charles Naigle came to La Crosse 
this year, and worked for us, getting out 
rails and cord wood more or less for two 
years. They made a claim south of the State 
Road Cooley, and made a farm, and I think 
it has been occupied by some member of the 
family ever since. The Naigles used to cut 
oak logs on top of the bluffs, roll them down 
and split them up into rails, which were used 
to fence in their land and mine at the south 
end of the prairie. 

In 1844 or '45 a Swiss or French colony 



560 



BIOORAPHIGAL HlSTOHr. 



came over from tlie old country and landed 
at La Crosse, camping on the banks of the 
river below Pearl street for some time. It 
was quite a sickly season, and some of them 
died; one or two families settled under the 
bluffs and the others left, some tioing up the 
river to the St. Croix country, and others re 
turned Soutli or East. If I remember cor- 
rectly, Charles Naigle married the widow 
of one of the Swiss families who had settled 
under the bluffs. 

In 1843 I was appointed Postmaster, 
under President Tyler's administration, and 
it wiis at mv suggestion to the Postmaster- 
General that the "Prairie"' be left off and the 
office be called La Crosse, which was adopted. 
I resigned the office in 1845 or '46 in favor 
of, and recommended, the late Major E. A. C. 
Hatch, who was clerking for me, and he was 
appointed; when he left La Crosse, in 1848, 
he resigned in favor of II. J. P. Miller, who 
lield the office until Henry IIul)bel was a]i- 
pointed in 1851 or '52, if I remember cor- 
rectly. In 1841, and for some prior years, 
and for several years after, the mail was car- 
ried to Fort Snelling once in two weeks, — in 
the summer in a canoe, and in the winter by 
dog-train, and occasionally by a one-horse 
train. The man leaving with the mail at 
Prairie du Chieii would take it as far as Lake 
Pepin, and another mail-carrier would meet 
him and exchange mail, and both would re- 
turn to their starting-place. 

In those years the postage on letters was 
G^, 12i, 18^ and 25 cents, according to dis- 
taiu-e, and letters could be sent without pre- 
paying the postage, and postmasters could 
receive and send their mail free as part con- 
sideration for their services. While 1 was 
performing the duties of the office, my free 
postage was worth more to me than my com- 
missions, as the most of my letters were 
25-cent letter postage. The work of the post- 



office was much more laborious and compli- 
cated than it is now; then we had to mark 
the postage on each letter according to dis- 
tance, enter every letter on a way-liill, with 
the amount of postage paid and unpaid footed 
up in columns, and a way-bill on every pack- 
age, and a record of every way-bill had to be 
kept in a book made for that purpose, and to 
make quarterly returns from. From La 
Crosse, packages soing East had to be sent to 
Chicago, to the distributing office, and those 
South to St. Louis. Now a postage stamp 
must be put on every letter before putting it 
in the office, the letters counted and the date 
stamped on them, and can then be put into 
the mail-bag and sent off. 

As I said before, the steamboat Rock River 
was the first steamboat that commenced run- 
ning regularly from Galena in 1842, and was 
the only regular boat for that year, although 
there were three or four transient ones on 
Government business. In 1843 the steam- 
boat Otter was put in the trade from Galena 
to Fort Snelling, commanded by Scribe Har- 
ris. In 1844 the Argo was put in the same 
trade, under Captain Sedgwick, and Captain 
Blakely was clerk, and in later years became 
captain and commanded some of the best 
boats on the Upper Mississippi river. 

In 1845 II. L. Dowsinan had a boat built 
and naiued it the Lynx, and I think was com- 
manded by Captain Hooper, who was once a 
member cf the firm of Hooper, Peck & 
Scales, of Galena, and also clerk of the steam- 
boat Otter. Mr. Hooper afterwards started 
for California, in 1848 or '49, during the gold 
excitement; he got as far as Salt Lake City, 
where he remained and joined the Mormons; 
he became a prominent banker, and was 
afterwards elected delegate to Congress. I 
have met him since several times in Wash- 
ington. 

The boat met with a serious accident on 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STORY. 



561 



tlie return of the first trip. The night was 
very dark, and while passing Wabashaw vil- 
lage, now called Winona, the pilot saw an 
opening up the valley near tlie lower end of 
the prairie, and, taking it for the river, steered 
the boat for the opening and ran with full 
speed on the lower point of the prairie, with 
but little water on it; she ran clear out of 
the water nearly to her 'midships, and they 
had to take everything off the boat; a low- 
river boat came up and tried nearly a wliole 
day to pull her off, but had to give it up. 
They still continued to lighten the boat. 
Finally another boat more powerful than the 
other came along and hitched on to her, and 
succeeded in pulling the boat off; she was 
detained there over a week before she was 
liberated. Afterward the Dr. Franklin, the 
Senator and the Yankee Nominee, occasional 
transient boats, would make trips from Pitts- 
burg or St. Louis. The names of those 
transient steamboats were: Amaranth, Ohio, 
General Brooks, Highland Mary, and some 
others, whose names I do not nowj-emember. 
In the spring of 1844, after selling our 
furs to H. L. Dowsman, he said he would 
like to furnish us goods, as Mr. Labath, 
whom he had supplied with goods and traded 
about four miles below La Crosse, opposite 
the mouth of Root river, and whose conti-act of 
live years had expired, and said Mr. Labath 
told him that he did not want to trade 
there any longer, as that tall trader could 
sell goods cheaper than he could. I replied 
that 1 had made satisfactory arrangements 
for goods in New York. Mr. Dowsman said 
to me that I could look at their invoices, 
and he would furnish imported or sterling 
goods at seventy-two per cent, from original 
cost or invoice price. New York goods at 
thirty per cent., and St. Louis goods at lifteen 
per cent., and could return all goods unsold, 
and would furnish us money whenever we 



wanted it, and would not sell goods to any 
one else near by. After thinking the matter 
all over we concluded it was best to accept 
the proposition, and did so. We got our 
sterling Indian goods mostly imported of Mr. 
Dowsman, so long as he was in charge of the 
American Fur Company, and when he gold 
out in 1846 to H. M. Rice and Gokie Bris- 
bois, purchased goods from them under the 
same arrangements until 1848, when the 
Indians were removed to Long Prairie, Min- 
nesota, and the American Fur Establishment 
was abandoned at Prairie du Chien. 

In the year 1845- '46 H. L. Dowsman and 
a man living out in the country some ten 
miles, whose name I cannot recall to memory, 
and myself were nominated for County Com- 
missioners for Crawford county on one ticket, 
and three others on an opposition ticket; our 
ticket was elected, and i served as one of the 
County Commissioners until I went to Min- 
nesota in 1848. I had to go to Prairie du 
Chien whenever the County Commissioners 
met. Crawford county was then a very large 
county; it commenced at the month of the 
AVisconsin river and ran up North and in- 
cluded all the country through to Lake 
Superior, and, if I remember correctly, sev- 
eral counties have been organized out of it 
since and ai-e well populated. The Govern- 
ment surveyed the lands in 1845 or 1846, 
but they were not put in the market until 
January, 1848. I supposed that we had the 
right to pre-empt the lands, but we had not 
complied with the pre-emption laws, which I 
think were passed in 1841; consequently we 
had to take our chances in bidding in our 
land. When the land was adverti.ed for 
sale on the 17th of January, 1848, at Mineral 
Point, Wisconsin, Peter Cameron, Asa White, 
Dr. Snaugh, J. M. Levy and myself went 
there to secure title to our lands. Not know- 
ing what might happen, I thought it best to 



563 



BIOOHAPnWAL HISTORY. 



go prepared to protect myself, in case there 
were bidders on the land. I took with me 
ahout all the money we had, which amounted 
to $700 or $800; on my way stopped at 
Prairie du Chien to see H. L. Dowsraan, and 
from him received a letter of introduction 
and also of credit to Mr. Parish, the Receiver 
of the Land Othce, in which he requested 
him to accept my hid for any amount that I 
saw fit to bid on the land, and that he would 
be responsible in case there was any compe- 
tition, which Mr. Parish consented to do. 
The sale was adjourned one day to give us 
time to fi.x up some little matters between us. 
The sale came off the next day; we had no 
trouble, as there was no one wlio dared to bid 
againstus; so wegotourlandat$1.25per acre. 
1 secured the original town-site of about 100 
acres, eighty or 100 acres on what was called 
the Miller farm, 160 acres near the lower end 
of the prairie, and seventy acres of the Bun- 
nell claim, what is now Burns' addition to La 
Crosse. In the early winter the late Major 
Hatch, who first talked with me about going 
West and could not come with me on account 
of his mother's sickness, came out in June, 
1843, when I was on my way East, and came 
to Prairie du Chien and remained thereuntil 
December or January, and then came to La 
Crosse and clerked for me until 1848, when 
he left for St. Paul. He was a courageous 
man, and was not afraid of man, Indian or 
the devil. I will here relate a little incident 
that took place. Hatch was down near the 
river, where the public landing now is, when 
an Indian crawled up behind him with a club 
in hand raised to strike him. Lafayette 
Bunnell, who was standing up near the house, 
saw the action of the Indian and "hollered'' to 
Hatch; Hatch turned and dodged the Indian's 
blow; a club happened to be near by, which 
he ] licked up and struck the Indian on the 
head, and the Indian was taken away in a 



canoe by his friends in a seriously w'ounded 
condition. In the afternoon an Indian came 
down from the camp, where North La Crosse 
is now situated, and told Hatch that the 
Indian would die, and advised him to leave, 
as the Indian had many friends and they 
would certainly kill him. I advised Ilatcli 
to take a canoe and go to Prairie du Chien; 
after we all got through talking and advising 
Mr. Hatch, he told the Indian to go hack to 
the camp and tell the Indians that he intended 
to kill him, and that if he lived and he ever 
saw him again, he would certainly kill him. 
Well, we were all frightened, fearing the re- 
sults. The Indian recovered, and was always 
after that a verj- warm friend of Mr. Hatch. 
The Indian was afterwards shot and killed at 
South Rapids, Minnesota, in 1849, by Calvin 
Potter, which caused quite an excitement, 
and the troops and volunteers went up 
from St. Paul to quiet the disturbance. 
There was another instance where Mr. 
Hatch figured with the Indians. Mr. 
Pauley was running a shingle camp for us 
up on Cunningham creek, and he came down 
with a team of horses to get some supplies, 
and while coming down Black River Lake 
the horses broke through the ice; the water 
was not very deep, but they perished from 
the cold. The Indians assisted in getting 
them out of the water on to the ice. The 
harness and sleigh were left there, and Mr. 
Pauley came on down to the house and told 
us of it. The next morning we sent up for 
the harness and sleigh, but there were no 
horses or harness there. The Indians had 
cut the horses to pieces and packed them of? 
with the harness. Their camp was where 
Onalaska now is. I sent Mr. Hatch up with 
blankets and food, and told him not to return 
without the harness. The Indians all denied 
having the harness; Mr. Hatch told them 
that the "tall trader" had told him not to re- 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



563 



turn without the harness, and he prepared to 
camp with them. After being there a day 
or two, or more, the Indians became satis- 
fied that he meant what he said and would 
execute ray orders; they held a council, and 
concluded to bring in the harness. It was 
returned in pieces, it having been distributed 
in several camps. Hatch returned with the 
harness. The Indians all became very much 
attached to Mr. Hatch, as he never manifested 
any tear, and was always truthful with them. 
At another time when Mr. Hatch was 
trading for us at Holm's Landing, now Foun- 
tain City, he again displayed his courage. 
He, in course of trade, had given some credits 
to Indians; he went out to the Indian camp 
one day with a horse loaded with goods, for 
the purpose of trading and collecting his 
credits given the Indians. He unloaded his 
horse when he got to the camp and entered 
it. He soon asked the Indians to pay their 
credits; they had some talk among them- 
selves, concluded thev would not pay them, 
and so informed Mr. Hatch. He very coolly 
tooi< out from one of the sacks containing 
goods, a small keg of powder and put it on 
the fire, and then sat down. The Indians 
with consternation and fright immediately 
vacated the camp and left Hatch in full pos- 
session. As soon as the Indians got out of 
the camp or wigwam, which was in a moment, 
Mr. Hatch kicked the keg out of the fire. In 
about an hour the Indians ventured up and 
peeked into the wigwam, and saw Hatch sit- 
ting there smoking his pipe. They counseled 
among themselves, and came to the conclu- 
sion that there was some great spirit about 
the man, — that they had better go in and pay 
what they owed him. They went in and 
opened their sacks of furs, paid all they owed, 
and sold him all they had left. In this and 
other ways Mr. Hatch gained a reputation 
with the Sioux Indians for bravery and hon- 



esty that continued up to the time of his 
death. 

In the year 1845 J. C. Davis, W. T. Price, 
William Hibbs, Henry O'Neil, O. H. Dibble, 
Wm. Gillirgen, Calvin Potter, Wm. Horati, 
John Perry, Joel Lemon, Mr. Stickney, 
Joseph Clancy and others arrived and went 
on up Black river. John M. Levy came up and 
purchased from Jacob Spaulding the build- 
ing put up by Colonel Mills, on the corner 
of Pearl and Front streets. Mr. Levy and 
Dr. Snaugli formed a co-partnership and 
erected a two-story frame building, which 
was the first frame building erected in La 
Crosse. That year, or the next, we put a two- 
story front with a hall alley running back 
one story, on the lots now occupied by a 
brick building) near the cold-storage provi- 
sion house on Front street. One ball was 
made out of a pine knot, which was used 
in the alley until a full set came from St. 
Louis. In after years the building was 
turned into a broom factory and burned down 
a year or two after. In the winter of 1844 
or '45 Miller went up to Holmes' Landing, 
now Fountain City, and traded with the 
Sioux Indians, and returned in the spring. 
Mr. Hatch took his place and traded the fol- 
lowing winter. In the spring the house was 
torn down, rafted and floated to La Crosse, 
and put np where the cold-storage house 
now stands, and was used in connection with 
another building as a trading house or store, 
which relieved the house we lived in, and 
gave us more room, and we were not annoyed 
with the Indians so much. 

Our first child was born at Prairie dn 
Chien in 1844, and was named Andrew Jack- 
son, and died at La Crosse in 1845. It was 
the first white child which died in La Crosse; 
it was buried on the old burying-ground on 
a knoll on Third street, since graded down, 
where Barclay's plow factory is now located. 



564 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



The remains were removed to the Oak Grove 
Cemetery. The date of the slab or tomb- 
stone is the oldest in the cemetery. In 1846 
Hon. Daniel Cameron, brother of Peter Cam- 
eron, and Henry Atkinson, James Day, John 
Elder, Mr. Brockwas, Amos Elliott, Robert 
Garrett and some others arrived and went up 
Black river. Fetherline and wife came and 
remained in La Crosse, and lived near Jay 
street. When O. H. Dibble returned from 
Black river in 1845, he reported to me that 
he had found a good mill-site on the West 
Fork of I'lack river, about a mile up, and 
persuaded us to go in partnership and put 
up a sawmill. I went down to St. Louis and 
purchased the machinery and iron for it, and 
sent men and supplies up, and Mr. Dibble 
went up in charge of the outfit. A double 
sash sawmill was built, and got to running 
in the summer of 184G. 

In the fail of 1845 myself and wife went 
East, and spent the winter with our friends; 
left La Crosse on steamboat for Galena, and 
from there on stage to Chicago, and through 
Michigan to Detroit, and from there by 
steamer to Buffalo, from Buffalo by canal, 
railroad and steamboat to Westport, New 
New York. After spending a very pleasant 
time in visiting with our friends, we started 
on our return to our Western home in March; 
traveled by stage to Troy, New York, and by 
steamer down the Hudson river to New 
York city, from there by rail and steamer to 
Baltimore, and by rail from there to Cumber- 
land, where we took the stage route over the 
Alleghany Mountains to Pittsburg; from 
there by steamboat to St. Louis, there changed 
on to aiiotlier boat for Galena, and from there 
to La Crosse, arriving some time in April, 
and were nearly three weeks making the trip. 

While absent, the erection of the sawmill 
on Black river, under the supervision of Mr. 
Dibble, progressed very slowly, and soon 



after my return I went up to the mill to see 
how they were getting along, as there was 
some dissatisfaction in the manner in which 
the work was being done. Mr. Dibble drew 
out of the concern, I paid him for his ser- 
vices and he left the country. In two or 
three months the mill was completed and 
commenced to saw lumber. The river being 
low, no lumber was run out that season. A 
stock of logs was cut in the vicinity of the 
mill, hauled and rolled upon the ice in the 
mill-pond, and some on the bank. In the 
spring the mill was started to sawing; about 
i300 M. feet of lumlter was rafted, but there 
was not a sufficient rise of water to I'un it 
out of the then unimproved river, and it lay 
tied up to the bank a little way below the 
mill. Mr. Miller and wife were living there 
at this time, and had charge of the mill and 
a stock of goods. In the latter part of June 
I went up to the mill on horseback to see how 
things were getting along; I found the lum- 
ber rafted as above stated, and between 300 
and 400 M. feet piled up fifteen to twenty 
feet high along the bank of the river, and 
everything was going on satisfactorily. After 
remaining there three or four days, I 
started back to La Crosse. The river was 
very low at that time, and one could, in 
places above the forks, cross the river by 
stepping from one stone to another. The 
first night I staid at Mr. Nicholas' mill, sev- 
eral miles below the falls. I noticed that 
evening a dark cloud up tlie river, and there 
was a liijht rain that night there. The next 
morning was clear and Ijright and I resumed 
my journey home to La Crosse, and arrived 
there that evening. The next afternoon a 
man came down from Black River Falls on 
horseback, and reported to me that there had 
been a very heavy freshet and carried away 
nearly everything on Black river, and that 
he was sent down to have me take men and 



BIOORAPHWAL HI8TUBT. 



565 



go up to the mouth of the river above Black 
River Lake and boom the river, to stop the 
logs aud lumber from running into the lake. 
After hearing his story I told him that I had 
just come down from up the river, and the 
river was very low, and could not credit his 
story, and did not for some time. 1 finally 
concluded to do as requested, got tools, rope, 
etc., and some men; paddled up in a canoe 
above the liead of the lake into the river a 
little way, and found to my satisfaction tliat 
the report was too true, as the river liad 
boomed itself with logs, lumber, shingles 
and mill timber for a distance of nearly 
eigliteen miles. We returned to La Crosse, 
and the next day got full reports of the dis- 
aster. It was reported that there must have 
been a cloud-burst with the storm on the 
upper river, as in a very few hours there was 
an eighteen-foot rise on the swift rapids 
where our mill was located, aud much higher 
in other places. There was not a boom on 
the river that withstood the raging waters, 
not a mill but what was more or less dam- 
aged. It took away our main and wing 
dams, all the logs and lumber rafted, the 
lumber that was piled up and one corner-post 
of the mill. It was said that those high 
piles of lumber went down over the dam and 
falls, and the reaction and force of the water 
then and there tore them to pieces. Jacob 
Spaulding's mill at the falls was taken out, 
but the dam stood the test. In three or four 
days there were about 100 men at work, 
breaking the jam, and each owner of logs 
getting them out and separating them, ac- 
cording to their marks. The men worked 
there about six weeks, myself witli them, and 
all of us slept in our wet clothes niglits. 
Every Saturday night I would go home and 
return Monday morning. When we got 
througii Myrick & Miller had three Missis- 
sippi log-rafts, aud Mr. Spaulding seven. 



Mr. Spaulding went to St. Louis and hired 
about 100 men to come up and man the rafts 
to run them down the river. When he re- 
turned from St. Louis with the men the river 
was very low, and there was no cash market 
for the logs above the rapids and as I did 
not want store pay for the logs, concluded to 
sell our logs, and did sell them to Mr. 
Spaulding aud entered into co-partnership 
with him to rebuild the uiill at Black Kiver 
Falls, and turned in the three rafts of logs, 
cattle and horse teams we had up Black river 
as part payment. Mr. Spaulding started 
down the river with his ten log-raftf. The 
river being very low his rafts were stranded 
on the sand-bars at divers times on the way 
down the river. 

In the latter part of the month of Octo- 
ber Mr. Spaulding returned with his rafting- 
tools and foreman, and about twenty barrels 
ot provisions, on all of which I had to pay 
the freight and passage. I asked Mr. Spanld- 
inof if this was all he had to ero on with to 
rebuild and stock the mill, and he said it 
was: said he had bad luck in getting his rafts 
down the river, and was taken sick himself, 
and had to depend on others to attend to his 
business. I replied it looked as though he was 
" broke," and I knew I was to a certain ex- 
tent, and that I thought two broken concerns 
could not get along well together, and asked 
what he would take and cancel our contract; 
he said $250, and I gave him credit for $250 
on the logs and took his note for the balance. 
Plowever, Mr. Spaulding, with his indomit- 
able pluck and courage, went on and erected 
a mill on the site of the old one, and on a 
more extensive scale got in a stock of logs 
during the winter. I sold the remains of 
our mill and plant to Mr. W. K. Levis and re- 
tired from the lumber business. In conse- 
quence of working in the water so long dur- 
ing the warm weather, rafting out logs and 



566 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



lumber, many of the men were taken sick, 
Bome of whom died. 1 was also taken sick, 
with the typhus fever. A steamboat was up 
the river, and on its return I was carried on 
board of the steamboat by 11. M. Rice, Cap- 
tain Harris and others, and taken to Prairie 
du Chien, and was carried off the boat by the 
same men, up and into Mr. John Falsom's 
house, which stood near the American Fur 
Company's store, and I recollect hearing 
one of the men remark: "When he comes 
out of here, he will come out feet fore- 
most." Mrs. Myrick accompanied me, and 
with the services of a good physician, Dr. 
Day, and my wife's good nursing, I came 
out all right and returned to La Crosse. 

Desiring to know how we stood tiuan- 
cially, it was necessary for us to have a settle- 
ment with the man with whom we had been 
dealing on Black river. In December of 
that year Mr. Miller and myself started up 
Black river on foot, for the purpose of hav- 
ing a general settlement with everyl)0(ly. 
1 packed tlie books with a blanket and Miller 
had the bottle of wiiisky. When we got to 
La Crosse river, out some three or four miles, 
we found it not frozen over. We took off 
our boots and pants and forded the river, 
dressed and took a drink and went on, and 
when we got to the Half-way creek did the 
same thing. Mr. Miller got hi? clothes on 
sooner than I did and started on. and 1 never 
saw him again until we got through to Mr. 
Douglas' sawmill. When the little stimulant 
that 1 had drank became exhausted, 1 became 
weak and faint and could not walk more than 
a mile without stopping to rest. 1 recollect 
that I felt very indignant towards Mr. Miller 
because he went off with the bottle of whisky 
and left me alone, and when I got through 
after dark, some two liours after Mr. Miller, 
I gave him a piece of my mind; he laughed, 
thinking it a very good joke he had played 



on me. We went and made settlements as 
far as O'Xeil's creek, and settled with all par- 
ties and took their notes; on our return we 
dissolved partnership. 

In October, 1847, Mrs. Myrick and myself 
went down to Prairie du Chien, where soon 
after a pair of twins were born. About a 
month after 1 purchased a pair of horses and 
double wagon with spring seats, and got 
ready to start home overland to La Crosse. 
We secured a nurse-girl to go with us, and 
fixed ourselves as comfortable as we could, 
and started. The roads were not in good 
condition, being frozen and very rougii. The 
first or second night a snowstorm came on, 
and when we got up in the morning found 
we could go no farther with the wagon. I 
succeeded in getting a iwo-horse sleigh, and 
started on our journey. The day was bitter 
cold, the wind blowing from the northwest, 
and we had to face it nearly all the time. I 
was afraid we would freeze before we could 
get to a sheltered place where we could stop 
and build a fire to warm ourselves by. There 
was no habitation or settlement the last thirty 
or forty miles, until we reached way down in 
Mormon Cooley. We drove as fast as we 
could until we reached the head of Mormon 
Cooley, and when we got down about two 
miles found a sheltered spot from the wind, 
stopped, made a good, big fire, thawed our- 
selves out, rested a little and then resumed 
our journey. The road being almost no road 
at all, we had to drive very slowly. We made 
out to get to Mr. Coonley's farm some time 
after dark, who lived at the old Mormon set- 
tlement. How glad we all were to get into 
a house again, where we could get warm and 
something to eat! We were about six miles 
from liome, where we arrived the next day 
about eleven o'clock, glad to see our home 
again, even ever so humble. The twins came 
through all right, but they seemed to sufl'er 



BIOGBAPEWAL HISTOBT. 



567 



some from the cold and the rough ride. In 
two or three days I returned with tlie driver 
to take back the sleigh and get the wagon, 
and took the trail down Coon river to the 
Mississippi, a distance of ten or fifteen miles, 
and came up to La Crosse on the ice. 

In May, 1848, Hon. H. M. Rice had the 
contract to remove the Winnebago Indians 
to their new reservation at Long Prairie, 
Minnesota, and requested me to give him my 
assistance and to accompany him up the 
river to look up the new home or agency for 
the Indians. Mr. Rice embarked on board 
steamboat at I 'rairie du Chien witli his 
horse, and on arrival of the boat at La Crosse 
Asa White and myself took passage with our 
horses to accompany Mr. Rice on his trip 
North. On arriving at St. Paul we saddled 
our horses and started. On our way up Mr. 
Rice made me some propositions in regard 
to business enterprises wliich I thought best 
to accept, having suffered severe losses by 
the great freshet the year before, and know- 
ing that if I remained at La Crosse and con- 
tinued in tlie lumber business I would be 
sick more or less, as I liad been before. We 
went up to Sauk Rapids, Mr. Rice going on 
to Long Prairie, and I returned to La Crosse 
to prepare to carry out my engagements with 
Mr. Rice. After my return to La Crosse 
deeds were made out between Mr. White, 
Peter Cameron and myself, according to our 
original claim lines. I also executed deeds 
to Mr. Miller of half interest in the land em- 
braced in the original town site of La Crosse 
and a deed in full to tlie Miller farm at the 
bluffs. Deeds were also executed to those 
who had built on lots under an agreement 
that deeds should be given them after title 
was obtained from the Government. The 
plat made from the survey in 1842 was never 
recorded, I suppose because there was no 
register office at La Crosse, and having no 



title to the lands. In 1851 and '52 a new 
survey was made by William Hood, which 
was recorded, but there was no particular 
change made from the first survey. 

I settled up my affairs in La Crosse and 
up Black river as well as I could, and pre- 
pared to leave La Crosse; 1 think it was the 
first week in June I shipped my family, 
household goods and merchandise on board 
steamboat for St. Paul, left my family 
there, and with men and teams went up the 
Mississippi river to Crewig river to get out 
timber aud lumber for some buildings to 
be put up at Sauk Rapids. While at work 
there I met with the misfortune to cut my 
foot, and was taken down to Mendota and 
St. Paul in a canoe. I was on crutches from 
June until the following January. The lum- 
ber was rafted and run down tlie river; it 
broke all to pieces in running over little 
falls, but enough was caught just above 
Sauk Rapids to put up two big buildings, 
by hauling some sawed lumber from Still- 
water. After one of the buildings was par- 
tially built I moved my family up there and 
remained through the winter. 

Up to 1848, when 1 left La Crosse, we 
kept a hotel on a small scale, and for some 
years it was the only place where the hungry 
and weary could get accommodations, and 
up to the time I got married did most of 
the cooking myself. Soon after Mrs. J. M. 
Levy arrived; Mrs. Myrick called upon her 
and found her at the wash-tub, washing. 
That summer they would occasionally go to 
tlie La Crosse river, about where Medary's 
tannery is now situated, and picnicking all 
alone, by a little spring that ran out of the 
sand-bank into the La Crosse river. Our 
neighbors were not very near; on the north, 
up the river, Wm. Bunnell lived, near 
Mount Trempealeau, about twenty miles from 
La Crosse, where we went with a one-horse 



568 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



train up on the ice on a visit, and remained 
two or three days; on the south, or down 
the river, Prairie du Chien was the nearest 
place. The sawmills on Black river were 
owned and situated as follows: The tirst 
mill, owned by Wm. and Thomas Douglass, 
about twenty-five or thirty miles up Black 
river, on the west side; the next was Jonathan 
Nichols, on the west side, on a creek by the 
same name; the next was Shepard & Valen- 
tine's, some three miles below the falls; and 
just above and on the other side of the river 
was James O'Neil's, and then Jacob Spauld- 
ing's at Black River Falls; the next above 
the falls was John Levy's mill, on Levy's 
creek, and next was Thomas and Peter Hall's 
mill, on Hall's creek; then John Morrison's 
mill, on Morrison's creek; then My rick & 
Miller's mill, on West Fork, about a mile 
from the fork; then Mr. H. McCoUin's and 
James O'Neil's mill, on Cunningham's and 
O'Neil's creeks. Before spring I sold out 
my interest, and returned to St. Paul in the 
spring, where I remained most of the time 
ever since. 

In 1851 Timothy Burns, Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor of Wisconsin, came to St. Paul with a 
letter of introduction from H. L. Dowsman, 
and wanted to buy my interest in La Crosse. 
I sold him my half interest in the original 
town-site, and other property which 1 held 
there. T sold it for part cash, and the bal- 
ance in two years. The first payment was 
made, and for the second payment I took 
back one-fourth interest in the original town- 
site of La Crosse. 1 have been selling lots 
off and on ever since, and still hold a num- 
ber of lots in La Crosse. Although I made 
no improvements in buildings in La Crosse, 
I find from my books that I have paid out 
over $70,000 in taxes, assessments, etc., on 
property there. 

Since arriving in Minnesota I established 



trading posts and stores at Sauk Rapids, 
Itasca, Sauk Center, Trover Dessionox, St. 
Peter, Winnebago Agency, Yellow Medicine, 
Red Wood Agency, Big Stone Lake, Fort 
Ransom, Fort Seward, now Jamestown, Big 
Bend, at Pemliina and other places, and they 
were in charge of clerks or some one inter- 
ested in them. I attended supplying the 
goods and paying for them. 

My ])usines8 with the Sioux Indians was 
closed at the time of the outbreak in August, 
1862, when my brother Andrew, wlio was in 
charge of the different trading posts in the 
Sioux country, M-as killed, together with four 
other clerks. The goods were taken by the 
Indians, and all the buildings burned, sus- 
taining a loss of $100,000, which was par- 
tially paid by the Government, it being in 
some way interested in them. But my trad- 
ing at points in Dakota were continued until 
1876, when I retired from the business. 

In connection with my business in those 
years, I have been interested in mining en- 
terprises in Nevada Mountain and Vermillion 
Lake; in oil and coal mines in Pennsylvania; 
copper on Lake Superior and Black Hills, in 
Dakota and West Virginia, with the usual 
chance of ninety -nine in a hundred of losing 
everything I put in, which amounts to about 
$100,000. 

Since that time 1 have been engaged chiefly 
in attending to my real-estate business. Not- 
withstanding my many losses, I have paid all 
my debts, and if I do not enter into any wild- 
cat speculations and do not live too long, have 
enough left to keep the wolf from the door. 

I have now, dear Mayor, performed as well 
as lies within my power the things requested 
of me by the city of La Crosse, and with the 
deepest gratitude for the kindness exhibited 
toward me, and expressing again the great 
affection for the city and its people, which 1 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOMT. 



569 



assure you will continue with me as long as 
I sball live, 1 have the honor to subscribe 
myself, with great consideration. 

Your most obedient servant, 

JSf. Myeick. 

1]^ D. HITCHCOCK, one of the re- 
nf/f presentative citizens of La Crosse, 
"^#1 * Wisconsin, and manager of the K. G. 
Dun & Co. Mercantile Agency, with office 
in the Batavian building, was born in Litch- 
field, Connecticut, January 21, 1858. He 
was the youngest of a family of eight chil- 
dren born to J. R. and Lois (Cobb) Hitch- 
cock. Jason R. Hitchcock was one of the 
successful and intelligent farmers of the 
county in which he resided, was quite a popu- 
lar man, was thoroughly honest and emi- 
nently practical in all his business relations, 
and had the unbounded confidence of a large 
circle of acquaintances. He held local public 
positions much of his time during life, and 
was a devout and earnest worker in, as well 
as liberal contributor to, the Baptist C'hurch. 
His death occurred in 1867, when fifty-four 
years of age. His wife, who was also a 
worthy member of the Baptist Church, was a 
devoted wife and a noble woman of rare 
ability in her sphere. She died in 1871, at 
the age of fifty-four. 

Mr. N. D. Hitchcock had the advantages 
of a common-school education in his native 
State, and subsequently rounded up his edu- 
cation at the South Berkshire Institute at 
New Marlborough, Massachusetts, after which 
he learned the drug business, and followed it 
for eight years in Massachusetts and Vermont. 
After this he spent one year as commercial 
traveler for a wholesale firm in Chicago, and 
in 1884 he became city reporter for K. G. Dun 
& Co., at Milwaukee, holding that position 



four years. In 1888 was sent to La Crosse to 
assume management of thatdistrict. Two years 
later Winona (Minnesota) district was added 
to his territory, giving him seven counties to 
look after. He has been quite successful in 
his business relations and has an easy and 
pleasant adaptability for his work. 

In January, 1883, he wedded Miss Ida 
Colvin, only child of Edwin and Martha 
(Barry) Colvin. Mr. Colvin was one of the 
early settlers of Chicago and located there 
when it would have required but a few dollars 
to have purchased many acres on the west 
side of the city. For forty years he was an 
esteemed citizen of Racine, Wisconsin, and 
now spending his declining years in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. He is eighty-four years 
of age, but time has dealt leniently with him 
and he is quite active and vigorous for his 
years. Mrs. Colvin died in 1886. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hitchcock's marriage has been blessed 
by the birth of three children: Roy N., Irena 
and Robert E. Politically Mr. Hitchcock 
affiliates with the Republican party. He is a 
man of intelligence and natural business 
acumen, an energetic, liberal minded citizen. 



ffOHN E. THORNBURY, manager of 
the Trade Palace, La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
was born in Canada in 1850, and is the 
fourth son in a family of thirteen children 
born to John and Eliza (Ashman) Thornbury, 
both natives of Ireland. The parents came 
from tiieir native land to Canada in 1829 and 
the father is still living, healthy and hearty, 
at the age of seventy-five. He followed 
farming and was quite successful. He took 
part in the McKenzie rebellion. His wife 
died in 1881, when sixty-five years of age. 

Mr. Thornbury was educated in Ontario, 
Canada; when sixteen years of age, began 



570 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



clerking in a dry-goods establishment, and 
handling dry goods has been his chief busi- 
ness in life. He was for some time at Lind- 
say, Canada, two years in Minneapolis, Min- 
nesota, and was on the road fur John 
Wanamaker of Philadelphia for four years. 
He came to his present responsible position 
in February, 1890, where he has the oversight 
of over thirty clerks. He has a remarkable 
aptness for this business, has few equals in 
his line of work, and is the right person in 
the right place. 

In 1874 he selected for his wife Miss 
Minnie Cook, a lady prominent in musical 
and social circles and an excellent alto singer. 
Mr. Thornbury is equally good in his part, 
the first bass, and they are two of the best 
singers in the city. Mrs. Thornbury's par- 
ents, William and Lucy Cook, werenativesof 
Montreal. Canada. Her father died July 4, 
1886, at the age of seventy. The mother 
lives with her son, Francis Cook, in Min- 
neapolis, Minnesota, and Bhe has reached the 
allotted age of three-score years and ten. 
She is well preserved in both body and mind. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Thornbury have been born 
three children: Edgar Woods; Ada Clark 
and Kathleen May. Mr. Thornbury has 
held the office of trustee in his church and is 
one of the prominent members. Like his 
father, he is a member of the Masonic order 
and in politics a Democrat. 



-^^■LnrJh- 



^^_ 



7/inyi^^ 



i^ENRY OTTEN, a member of the firm 
of Often it Hammer, contractors, paint- 
ers and decorators, was born at Waupun, 
Wisconsin, March 14, 1857, and is a son of 
John H. and Jeanette (Garrison) Otten. 
The father was a native of Germany and a 
painter by occupation. He emigrated to 
America about the year 1854, and after 



spending some time in Milwaukee settled in 
Waupun, where he passed the remainder of 
his days; his death occurred in 1887. He 
was a man of much more than ordinary in- 
telligence and was a superior workman. His 
wife died in 1886; they were both consistent 
members of the Congregational Church. 
Mrs. Otten was a native of Holland, and was 
married in her native country to the father 
of our subject. Henry Otten passed his 
childhood and youth in Waupun, where he 
received his education; he was instructed by 
his father in the business which he is now 
carrying on so successfully. He spent a few 
years as a journeyman, working in various 
places in the West. In 1881 he came to La 
Crosse, and five years later embarked in the 
business of contracting in addition to his 
other occupation. He is a member of the 
Builders' Exchange, and has won a reputa- 
tion as an honorable and reliable business 
man. 

Mr. Otten was married in La Crosse to 
Miss Magdaline Mary Springer, who was 
born in this city, a daughter of John and 
Rena Springer. To Mr. and Mrs. Otten 
have been born one son and one daughter: 
John Springer and Verena Gertrude. 



4^ 



^(H)^ 



Ef 



[LE P. LARSEN, a member of the firm 
of Larsen & Selnnd, contractors, paint- 
ers and decorators. La Crosse, Wiscon- 
sin, was born in Christiania, Norway, 
December 18, 1858, and is a son of Louis 
and Bertha (Christiansen) Larsen. The 
mother died in 1865. Ole P. received his 
education in his native city, being graduated 
from the Polytechnic School of Christiania 
in 1879. He learned his trade in early man- 
hood, and worked as a journeyman in Ger- 
many, Denmark and Sweden until 1882. In 



BIOGRAPBIGAL HISTORY. 



571 



that year he crossed the sea to America, and 
s]ient two years in traveling throuoii the 
Canadian cities and tliose of tlie Eastern 
States. In the summer of 1884 he came 
West and located permanently in the city of 
La Crosse, whei-e he has since carried on the 
business of contracting, painting and deco- 
rating. In March, 1885, he formed a part- 
nersliip with Berndt Selund, and they have 
conducted a successful business. They have 
been engaged on many of the best residences 
of the city, among which may be mentioned 
those of Henry Esperson, Samuel Anderson, 
M. Funk, W. H. Parker and J. C. Easton. 

Mr. Larsen is an active member of the 
Builders' Exchange; he also belongs to the 
I. O. O. F., to the Norwegian Workingraen's 
Society, and to the Normanna Singing So- 
ciety. He is a man of excellent business 
qualitications, and has estalilislied an enviable 
reputation as a contractor and builder. He 
is a skilled painter and decorator, and con- 
ducts this branch of the business with e(]ually 
satisfactory results. 



.S^ 



*^ 



^e=^ 



fRED UING, secretary and treasurer 
for the Madison Elevator Company at 
.^ La Crosse, Wisconsin, was born in Lon- 
don, England, April 2-4, 1835, is a son of 
Fred and Jane (Owen) Ring, both of whom 
were born in England. The father was a 
solicitor and followed this calling all his life, 
following it after his arrival in America, 
which occurred in the year 1857. He settled 
in North Prairie, Waukesha county, Wis- 
consin, where he afterward became Chairman 
of the Town Board of Supervisors, which po- 
sition he filled for one term. He proved 
himself to be a man of sound and practical 
views, and his easy, cordial and sincere man- 
ners were of material benefit to him in social 



and business life. His death occurred in 
1882, at the age of seventy-three years. His 
widow survives him, at the age of eighty- 
three years, an honored and highly esteemed 
resident of Milwaukee. They became the 
parents of two children: Fred and Mrs. Ben- 
jamin Skidmore, the latter a pioneer of Mil- 
waukee, where she has resided for many 
years. 

Fred Ring was educated in the city of 
London, and graduated from a college in 
1854, from which time until 1857 he worked 
on a railroad as booking clerk until he came 
to America. Upon his arrival in this country 
he began working on the Milwaukee & Mis- 
sissippi, now the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul railroad, with which he remained- for 
twenty-nine years in various capacities, clos- 
ing his career as a railroad man in 1887 as a 
ticket agent at La Crosse, Wisconsin. He 
was then elected the first Comptroller of La 
Crosse, and during tlie four years that he 
served in this capacity he rendered an excel- 
lent account of himself and discharged his 
duties in a very satisfactory manner. Since 
then he has filled his present position, the 
headquarters of which company are in La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. J. B. Canterbury is 
President; W. J. Diehl, Yice-President, and 
Mr. Ring, Secretary and Treasurer. While 
a resident of Waukesha, in 1859, he was the 
village Clerk for some time, and in that, as 
well as in every other position in life, his 
record was a very commendable one. He 
has taken si^ne interest in politics and usually 
votes with the Republican party. 

On May 9, 1860, he was married to Miss 
Regnihlda Uunbjornsen, daughter of Reier 
and Christie Gunbjornsen, natives of Nor- 
way, from which country they came to 
America in 1840. To Mr. and Mrs. Ring 
one child was born, but it died in infancy. 
Mrs. Ring is a member of the Baptist Church, 



572 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



and Mr. Rinir belongs to the A. F. & A. M., 
in which he has attained to the coraniandery. 
He is the present Deputy Grand Master of 
the State. lie is one of the highly esteemed 
citizens of La Crosse, for, besides being pub- 
lic-spirited and charitable, he is courteous 
and accommodating and possesses excellent 
business qualifications. 

fAY PETTINGILL is a member of one 
of the pioneer families of La Crosse 
county. He was born in Otsego county, 
New York, March 22, 1837, the son of 
Alonzo Pettingill, Esq., now one of the 
honored old citizens of La Crosse. The 
senior Mr. Pettingill was born in Massachu- 
setts, and his wife, nee Lucj Davis, was a 
native of Rhode Island and a descendant of 
Welsh ancestry. They had a family of five 
sons and two daughters, the subject of tliis 
sketch beinw the fourth-born. The mother 
died in this county, in February, 1886, at the 
age of seventy-seven years. 

Jay Pettingill was reared on a fai'in at 
Butternut, Otsego county, New York, and 
received his education in the common 
schools near his old home, and at the South 
New Berlin high school. In 1856 the 
Pettingill family came West and located in 
La Crosse county, near Mindoro, where they 
lived for a number of years. The father 
owned a fine farm thei'e, a portioti of which 
}iis son Jay purchased and improved with 
good buildings, making it a valual)le prop- 
erty, -lay Pettingill sold his farm in 1889, 
and bought tiie W. L. Matthewson place. 
The latter he sold to Peter GuUickson. His 
present farm, near Stevenstown, Farniington 
township, consists of 140 acres; has good 
improvements, and is under a higli state of 
cultivation. 



Mr. Pettingill has been twice married, 
lie first wedded Adaline Sage, daughter of 
Simeon and Debora (Homes) Sage, natives 
of New York. This union was blessed by . 
the birth of three children: Fred G., who 
died in his sixth year; Gertrude, who died at 
the age of fifteen mouths; and Stella, wife of 
J. T. Attwater. She has one daughter, 
Millie. Mrs. Pettingill died in February, 
1888. She was a woman of many amiable 
traits of character, and was loved by all who 
knew her. She was an earnest Christian and 
a member of the Second Adventist Church. 
October 14, 1891, Mr. Pettingill married 
Jennie Erickson, widow of Evan Erickson, 
late of La Crosse county. Mr. Erickson was 
for many years a prominent and influential 
citizen of Farmington township. He and 
his wife were the parents of four children, 
namely: Willie, who died at the age of five 
months; John N., who died when a year old; 
Robert A., who died wlien si.x years old; and 
Bessie, who is still living. Mrs. Pettingill 
was born in Scotland, the daughter of Robert 
Hogg, who kept a store at Union Mills, Wis- 
consin, for a number of years, and died 
December 15, 1883, at the age of sixty-two 
years. His wife died when Mrs. Pettingill 
was a babe. 

Mr. Pettingill is a man of broad and pro- 
gressive views; is industrious, enterprising 
and successful. In politics he is liepublican. 
He has served the public three years as a 
member of the town board; seven years on 
the side board; and twelve years on the 
school board. For the past twenty years he 
has been associated with the Masonic fra- 
ternity. 



fRANK SACIA, who has been a resident 
i of Holland township, La Crosse coiinty, 
' since 1852, was born in Jefferson conn- 






CO C-£^^iO 



BIOORAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



573 



tj, Wisconsin, July 8, 1846. He is a son of 
Harmon Sacia, a prominent pioneer of this 
State and a veteran of the late war, who is 
now a resident of Galesville, Trempealeau 
county. The senior Mr. Sacia was born in 
Schenectady county, New York, the descend- 
ant of Frencli and German ancestors. He 
wedded Cordelia Packard, who was born in 
Vermont, of an old New England iamily, 
and he and his wife were among the early 
settlers of Milwaukee. They afterward 
wont to Lake View, where Mr. Sacia Still 
owns property. From there they moved to 
Jefferson county, this State, and their next 
move was to Galena, Illinois, where he was 
engaged in lead-mining two years. After 
that they came to La Crosse county and 
settled in the neighborhood of Holmen. 
Here he developed a line farm and reared his 
children. Since 1886 he has been a resident 
of Galesville, Trempealeau county. He and 
his wife had a family of four daughters and 
six sons. One of the sons, Marion, served 
live years in the regular army. 

Frank Sacia grew up on the farm and re- 
ceived a common-school education. He 
spent two winters working in the woods. 
During the civil war he enlisted, September 
4, 1864, in Company I, Eighth Wisconsin 
Infantry, Eagle Regiment, and served until 
the war closed. He was wounded at the bat- 
tle of Nashville, a fragment of shell striking 
his left arm and leaving the bone exposed. 
He was at the siege of Spanish Fort thirteen 
days, and was with his regiment at Union- 
town, Alabama, when General Lee surren- 
dered. After receiving an honorable dis- 
charge he returned to his home in La Crosse 
county. He has lived on his present farm 
for nineteen years. This place consists of 
120 acres of valuable land, and is well im- 
proved with a story-and-a-half cottage, located 
on a natural building site; good barn, stable, 

38 



fences, etc. — everything kept in good order. 
Here he is successfully engaged in general 
farming, stock-raising and dairying. 

Mr. Sacia was united in marriage, October 
2, 1872, to Miss Rosalie Costly, who, before 
her marriage, was a popular and successful 
teacher. She was born in Steuben county, 
New York, and was reared in Pennsylvania 
and Iowa. Her father, Cleveland Costly, 
died in 1886, and her mother, nee Alvira 
Jackson, a native of New York. She has 
six children. Mr. and Mrs. Sacia have three 
sons, viz.: Frederick Laverne, who is engaged 
in teaching; Percy Dore, and Cleveland. 
They have an adopted daughter. Myrtle 
Morrow, a niece of Mr. Sacia. 

Mr. Sacia is a Republican, and a member 
of Nelson Quygle Post, No. 233, G. A. R., 
of Mindoro. He has served as Supervisor 
and as a member of the school l)oard. 

%)INNERD R. LA FLEUR, who resides 
I on his beautiful farm, Fairview, near 
New Amsterdam, La Crosse county, is 
one of the most prominent men and early 
settlers of the township of Holland. Mr. La 
Fleur was born at Firdgum, in the kingdom 
of the Netherlands, June 17, 1820, a son of 
Rinnerd D. and Aaltji J. (Bakker) La Fleur, 
both of whom were natives of that country. 
The name is derived from one of the ances- 
tors, who changed his name at the time of 
the French Revolution, to enable him to hold 
his land. 

R. D. La Fleur was a mechanic, and for 
several years was a strandmaster of the de- 
partment of the five divisions of interior sea 
dykes, and for some years previous to his 
death received a pension from the govern- 
ment. His death occurred in his native land 
in 1860, and his wife's death in 1870. Their 



674 



BIOGHAPIIICAL UI8T0RY. 



remains were interred in the beanti'iul ceme- 
tery in tlie town of Firdgiim, where in Sep- 
tember, 1882, their son, R. R., tiie subject of 
this sketch, had a handsome monument 
erected to their memory. 

R. R. La Fleiir was the seventh-born in a 
family of three sons and five dangliters, and 
is the only one now living. Of this family 
but two others came to America; Daniel, wlio 
came to La Crosse county in 1856, engaged 
in farming in liolland township, and died at 
his home in 1871; and Eanke B., who was a 
widow Van Loon, but after her arrival mar- 
ried William Ilaag, and died about 18G1. 
Our subject was reared on a farm in his na- 
tive land, and there received a liberal educa- 
tion. He learned the trade of baker, at 
which he was employed some time. In 1841 
he was married to Miss Michia Y. Swart, 
who was born, reared and educated in the 
Netherlands. After the death of his wife, 
which occurred in 1845, he returned to his 
father's home, where he lived for about ten 
years. In 1855 he embarked for the United 
States, landing at New York June 29, after 
a voyage of thirty-si.\ days. Since that year 
he has made his home in La Crosse county, 
and since 1874 has lived on the farm he now 
occupies. Ilis home property is one of the 
best farms in the neighborhoo<J. It consists 
of 275 acres, well improved, with good build- 
ings, etc. Ilis cottage is situated on a natural 
building site, and is surrounded with ever- 
greens and other shade-trees. Besides this 
he owns other land in the county, amounting 
in all to 1,100 acres. 

In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and 
has always taken a commendable interest in 
the affairs of the town and county. In 1862 
he served as Supervisor of the town of Hol- 
land, and was Treasurer of the same about 
four years. He has made four visits to his 
jiative laud since he located in this country. 



in 1857, 1869, 1873, and again in 1874. 
On his return in 1873, he brought with him 
several valuable and rare specimens of old 
silverware, that have descended to him from 
his Dutch ancestors. They consist of trays, 
cups, spoons, etc., of various peculiar and 
and unique designs, some of them bearing 
the dates of 1645 and 1688. Such a collec- 
tion would be an acquisition to any museum 
in the land, but as heirlooms they are of 
special value and interest to their possessor. 

Mr. La Fleur is a member of the Presby- 
terian Church, and contributes liberally to 
its support. He has passed his three-score 
years and ten, and is still active and in the 
enjoyment of good health. If he has a large 
share of this world's goods he has earned 
them; if he enjoys the confidence and respect 
of the community he deserves it, for the life 
of this good old man has been useful and 
deservinsjof emulation. 



^OWELL M. GODDARD is the efficient 
Mr'li secretary of the Goddard Lumber Mill 
=?!^ Company of North La Crosse; has oc- 
cupied his present position for the past two 
years, during which time he has been most 
active in promoting the development of the 
business, and is justly entitled to rank among 
the leading business men of the city. Al- 
though his career has been a somewhat varied 
one, he has proven that the old adage, "A 
rolling stone gathers no moss," is not true in 
his case, for he has accumulated a fair com- 
petency, and is rich in the friendship of a 
wide circle of acquaintances to whom he has 
endeared himself by his upright methods of 
conducting business, by bis kindness of heart 
and by his liberality to those who have been 
less fortunate than himself. He was born in 
Massachusetts, December 17, 1833, and in his 



BIOGRAPHICAL HTSTOBr. 



575 



youth was made familiar with the details of 
farming. In September, 1857, he came West 
with liis brother Hiram, and has since fol- 
lowed various occupations. He was in the 
real-estate business for some years, after 
which lie invested his means in a machine 
shop and foundry, which, at the end of a few 
years, caught lire and burTied to the ground. 
He ip thoroughly competent, is faithful in the 
discharge of his duties, and has the interests 
of the establishment at heart. He was mar- 
ried in 1862 to Miss Carrie Bennett, daughter 
of Joel Bennett of Pennsylvania, who moved 
with his family to Wisconsin about the time 
of his daughter's marriage. She has borne 
her husband three children: Stella is the wife 
of George H. Gordon, of La Crosse, who was 
the District Attorney for some three terms, 
and is now a successful attorney of the county 
and the counsel for the Enilding' and Loan 
Association. They have four children: Rob- 
ert; Stanley M; Fred L., who is a clerk in 
Moss & Burr's shoe store on Main street, and 
Ernest Adelbert, who died at the ao-e of 
eleven years. Mr. Goddard is a member of 
the Presbyterian Church and he is a Repub- 
lican politically, and has held the office of 
Justice of the Peace and Notary Public, dis- 
charging the duties of the last mentioned 
position for seven years, with efficiency and 
faithfulness. 



[ILBERT IRWIN, superintendent of 
the Southern Minnesota Division of 
i^-^l^ the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
railroad, is a native Pennsylvanian, born in 
Lycoming county, March 19, 1849. His 
parents are Ira P. and Anna M. (Mears) 
Irwin, both natives of Pennsylvania, now 
living in Northumberland county. The father 
is engaged in merchandising, keeping a gen- 




eral store at Watsontown, Pennsylvania, and 
is one of the reliable and successful citizens. 
He is sixty-seven and his wife sixty-five years 
of age at the present writing (1891). They 
reared live children, all still living and all 
residents of the Keystone State except our 
subject, who is the oldest. 

The latter was educated in the public 
schools of Pennsylvania, and when tiiirteen 
years of age began learning telegraphy. 
Since then he has been connected with rail- 
roads. He lirst engaged with the Pennsyl- 
vania railroad, with which he remained six- 
teen years in the capacity of telegraph operator, 
chief train-dispatcher, superintendent of tel- 
egraph, etc. In 1880 he left the service of 
this railroad company and went to Texas, 
where he was superintendent of the Southerji 
Pacific railroad until 1866, after which he 
went to Philadelphia as superintendent of 
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and in 1887 
to Dubuque, Iowa, as superintendent of the 
Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City railroad. 
There he remained until 1888, when he be- 
gan for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
railroad, and has been with this company ever 
since. In 1888 he went to Minneapolis as 
the superintendent of the Iowa and Minne- 
sota division of said company, and in 1890 
he went to Austin, Minnesota, as superinten- 
dent of the Southern Minnesota division. In 
May of the same year the office was moved to 
La Crosse, where he now resides. He has had 
quite a varied experience but a very success- 
ful one as well. While a resident of Renovo, 
Clinton county, Pennsylvania, he was town 
Auditor f(jr one term. 

Mr. Irwin was married June 9, 1866, to 
Miss Amelia E. Nightwine, they being se\ en- 
teen and sixteen years old respectively, at the 
time of their marriage, and to them have been 
born two children: Wilhert Irwin, Jr., who 
is roadmastjr at Horicon, Wisconsin. He 



57« 



BIOOBAPniGAL HISTORY. 



graduated from the liigh school at Ilonstoii, 
Texas, and afterwards entered the engineering 
department of the Southern Pacific railroad, 
in the Lone Star State, remaining with them 
ijntil 1886. when he accompanied his parents 
to Philadelphia and occupied tlie same posi- 
tion on tlie Paltimore & Ohio railroad. 
When liis father left tlie Baltimore & Ohio, 
Wilbert, Jr., held the same position on the 
Pennsylvania Company, and remained with 
them until a year ago (1891), when he because 
road master as above stated. He is now 
twenty-four years of age and has had an ex- 
tended experience. His services are ever in 
demand, and he never spends time hunting 
for a position, as the position seeks the man. 
The otlier child born to Mr. and Mrs. Irwin, 
Josie Wells, is a ripe scholar, a lover of books 
and music, and very proficient in the latter. 
She has attended school in Houston, Texas; 
Philadelphia, Austin (Minnesota), Dubuque 
and Minneapolis. She is a member of tlie 
Episcopal Church of La Crosse. Mr. Irwin 
is a member of the Masonic fraternity, hold- 
ing the position of Past Master of Renovo 
Lodge, No. 495, and lie is a member of the 
LaCrosse Club. In politics he has ever been 
a Repul)lican, though not officious in public 
affairs. 

^IRAM GODDARD, proprietor of the 
Goddard Lumber Mill of JS'orth La 
Cros^se, Wisconsin. — In the commercial 
centers of the country the manufacture of 
lumber is the most important in volume and 
value, next to the manufacture of iron; and 
as La Crosse is in easy reach by rail of the 
pineries of Wisconsin and Miciiigaif, and as 
large quantities are sent down the Mississippi 
river annually from Northern Wisconsin the 
city of La Crosse is recognized as a leading 



market, by reason of its proximity to the 
most important sources of supply. Among 
the most active and enterprising firms in the 
manufacture of lumber is the Goddard Lum- 
ber Mill Company, of which Hiram Goddard 
is the efficient proprietor and head. 

He was born in Worcester county, Massa- 
chusetts, Marcii 8, 1830, to David and Sallie 
(Goddard) Goddard, also natives of the Bay 
State, the former of whom was a fanner and 
contractor, and lived and died in the State of 
his birth. He was called from life in 1873, 
at the age of seventy-two years, his career 
throughout life having been a useful and 
honorable one. His widow still survives 
him, and resides in the State of her birth. 
She bore her husband six children, of whom 
Lliram was the third in order of birtii. He 
was brought up to the monotonons duties of 
farm life, but, this calling not being congenial 
to his tastes, he decided to tnrn his attention 
to some other business, and in August, 1857, 
came to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and embarked 
in the milling business, whicli with river 
work has engaged his attention ever since. 
He possesses business ability of a high order, 
and that persevering and enterprising spirit 
that overcomes all obstacles, and has met with 
the snccess commensurate with the abilities 
he has displayed and the high principles and 
moral business methods which have formed 
the corner-stone of his business career. In 
addition to his sawmill he owns a farm of 
500 acres; about -100 acres of this is rich 
bottom land, on which lie cut over 700 tons 
of hay in 1891. His mill is located in North 
La Crosse, and lias a capacity of about 12,- 
000,000 feet of lumber annually. He has 
about 1,000,000 feet at his yards at the 
present time. He rafts most of his lumber 
down the river as far as St. Louis, and gets 
his logs from the Black river pineries of 
Wisconsin. He has quite a cattle ranch and 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



577 



farm, supplied with water by a tine artesian 
well; a three-fourtlis-inch pipe supplies his 
entire farm and house — the Goddard House. 

Mr. Goddard is one of a large class of citi- 
zens who came West with little means, but 
with indomitable push and perseverance he 
bent the force of circumstances to his will, 
and his efforts have resulted in the accumu- 
lation of a handsome fortune. He is a reli- 
able and influential citizen, and among his 
fellow-citizens he bears a high reputation for 
uprightness and integrity of character. He 
is a representative man in every sense of the 
word, and has always been ready to aid any 
undertaking tending to redound to the gen- 
eral good of the city and county, and has 
identified himself with many of the leading 
enterprises. He is a director in the State 
Bank of La Crosse, and owns stock in the 
Building Association and in the Black Kiver 
Improvement Company, to each and all of 
which he has added prestige and stability. 

In 1868 Miss Maryett, daughter of Henry 
Harlow, of Vermont, became his wife, and 
eventually the mother of his two children: 
Myrtie Mildred, aged eleven years, and 
Koland H., aged eight. Mr. and Mrs. God- 
dard are members of the Congregational 
Church, in which he is a trustee, and politi- 
cally he supports the men and measures of 
the Republican party. 



'r^%- 



LE NYHUS has been a resident of La 
Crosse since 1866, and has rendered 
that city such service as to entitle him 
to the following space in the history of La 
Crosse county. He is a native of Norway, 
born at Lille-hammer, July 5, 1834, and is a 
son of i'eter Nyhus by his marriage to Carrie 
Alsberg. In 1848 the father emigrated to 
America and settled in Madison, Wisconsin, 



where lie died in 1852; the mother passed 
from this life in her native country. Ole 
Nyhus learned the trade of plasterer and 
brickmason in his native land, and worked as 
a journeyman in different parts of Norway 
until 1866. During this time he also did 
four years of military service for his country. 
Believincf that America would afford him 
better opportunities than the crowded Euro- 
pean continent he bade farewell to the scenes 
of childhood, and sailed away to the United 
States. He located in La Crosse, and was 
soon actively engaged in the building and 
contracting business. He has been connected 
with the erection of many of the largest and 
most expensive buildings in the city, includ- 
ing the county jail, many of the churches 
and some of the handsomest private resi- 
dences in the place. 

Mr. Nyhus was married in Lille-haminer, 
Norway, to Miss Tonetta H. Hostmellingen, 
a daughter of H. Hostmellingen. One son 
has been born of this union, Edward H. Ny- 
hus, who has been well reared and educated; 
he is now a traveling salesman of excep- 
tional ability. He married Miss Louisa Pe- 
tersen, a native of La Crosse, and they have 
had born to them one daughter, Helen. Mrs. 
Nyhus is a daughter of Alexander Petersen. 

The subject of this notice, Ole Nyhus, is 
an honored member of the Norden Society, 
and of the I. O. O. F. He is a man of ex- 
cellent business qualifications, and enjoys the 
respect of the entire community. 

URISTIAN FREDERICK KLEIN, 
merchant and proprietor of The Market, 
of La Crosse, was born in Wiirttemburg, 
Germany, September 14, 1844. His parents, 
Jolian Heinrich and Mary Magdalena (Kelle) 
Klein, were of old Wiirttemburg families, and 



578 



BIOORAPHIVAL BISTORT. 



both the paternal and maternal ancestors of 
line, robust constitutions and were generally 
long-lived; they were for two or three gen- 
erations just precediiig the present one an 
agricultural people, antl the records beyond 
that time show them to be proficient in the 
profession of medicine, and skillful military 
men. In 1856, Jolian 11. Klein emigrated 
with his family to America and settled in 
Buffalo county, "Wisconsin, where he still re- 
sides; the family consitts of three sons: 
Christof Gottlieb, a resident of Cross, Buf- 
falo county; Gottfried, of Belvidere, Buffalo 
county and Christian Frederick, the subject 
of this brief biography. lie passed his boy- 
hoo(^ in Buffalo county, and at the age of 
nineteen years secured a position as clerk in 
a general mercantile establisiiment in Buffalo 
city, Wisconsin; there he spent six months, 
coming at the end of that time to La Crosse, 
as a general salesman for a mercantile house. 

In 18G() he purchased the store of Charles 
Schaettle, of Jiuffalo city, his first employer, 
and conducted a thriving business there until 
1869. lie then returned to La Crosse, and 
joined Jacob Kau in business, the firm name 
being Kan and Klein; this relationship con- 
tinued until 1878, when they dissolved by 
mutual consent, Mr. Klein continuing the 
business. In 188G the firm of Klein and 
Leunning was established and continued un- 
til September 15, 1891, when the partnership 
was dissolved by mutual consent and Mr. 
Klein moved his business into his newly 
erected three-story brick building on the cor- 
ner of Fourth and Jay streets, where he has 
won a large patronage from La Crosse and 
the surrounding country, and is deserving of 
the confidence he has won. 

Mr. Klein was married in Buffalo city, 
Wisconsin, to Miss Carolina Lachenmaier, a 
native of Germany, and a daughter of Gott- 
fried and Frederika (Klein) Lachenmaier, 



who crossed the sea to America and settled 
in Cross, Bufl'alo county, Wisconsin, in 1861. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Klein have been born four 
sons and two daughters: John Frederick, 
Charles Henry, Herman Otto, Bertha, Louisa 
and Arthur Cleveland. 

During Mr. Klein's residence in Buffalo 
city, he served that municipality as Postmas- 
ter, as Police Judge and as School Director; 
since coming to La Crosse he has represented 
his ward in the City Council for two terms, 
in 1876 and in 1885. He is a member of 
the Masonic order, of the 1. O. O. F., of the 
Sons of Hermann, the Deutsche Verein, and 
of the Liederkranz. He has served as presi- 
dent of the Board of Trade from 1888 to 1891, 
and is a most efficient officer; he has been a 
member of the board since 1870. He was 
one of the active pron)oters of the Inter- 
State Fair Association, and aided in its or- 
ganization. He is a stock-holder of the Odd 
Fellows" Hall Association, and holds several 
official positions in the difl'erent societies to 
which he belongs. He is a man of broad, 
public spirit, and has given encouragement 
and lil.)eral financial support to those enter- 
prises which have had for their object the 
elevation of the moral and intellectual stand- 
ard of the community. 



sg>- 



IlVm W. CIIAMBEKLAI.N, cashier 
of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul 
Railroad Company at La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, was born in Foxcroft, Maine, June 9, 
1844. His parents were Timothy Hardin, 
born in Foxcroft, May 17, 1811, and Maria, 
nee Wentworth, born in South Berwick, 
Maine, April 29, 1816. The father was a 
contractor and builder, well and favorably 
known; was a member of the Legislature for 
some years, and held various offices of trust. 



BIOGBAPEIGAL HISTORY. 



579 



He was one of the best known men of his 
day in his portion of the State. Although 
not a member of any church, he was a con- 
stant attendant at public worship. His death 
occurred September 7, 1859, when he was 
aged forty-eight years. His wife died Octo- 
ber 25, 1857, at the age of forty-one years. 
They were married January 6, 1839, at South 
Berwick, Maine, and lived an exemplary life. 
They had eight children, namely: Emma F., 
Ann D., Ervin W., Oscar, Samuel W., Fred 
A., Charles E. and Frank S. Ervin W. is 
the only one now living. The eldest daugh- 
ter, Emma F., came to Chicago in 1860, 
where she was a prominent teacher in the 
Washington School, and in 1862 married the 
principal, Benjamin R. Cutter, who was a 
leading educator of that city and continued 
to be the principal of that school until his 
death in 1875. Mrs. Cutter died in Chicago, 
March 14, 1864, at the age of twenty-four 
years. 

Mr. Chamberlain was educated in the com- 
mon schools of his native State, and after the 
war completed a scientific course at Foxcroft 
(Maine) Academy. After school days he 
taught in Maine, then came West, arriving 
at La Crosse April 5, 1869, and began as 
clerk in the same office where he now is, and 
where he has served in various capacities; he 
has been the cashier since 1885. He has 
been Alderman of the Eighth Ward of the 
city one term — 1881-'83. 

July 15, 1862, is the date of his enlist- 
ment in Company E, Eighteenth Maine Vol- 
unteer Infantry, which regiment was after- 
ward changed to the First Maine Heavy 
Artillery, and he served until January 20, 
1865, when he was discharged on account of 
wounds. This regiment sustained the great- 
est loss of all in the Union army: out of a 
total enrollment of 2,002, 400 enlisted men 
and twenty-three officers were killed or died 



of wounds, and 860 men besides were 
wounded, many of them several times! Out 
of a total enrollment of 184 in Company E, 
forty-two were killed outright and died of 
wounds, seventy-seven were wounded, four 
were missing in battle, fifteen died of disease, 
and one in a rebel prison: total deaths, fifty- 
eight! It is probable that this record is 
without a parallel in the whole United 
States service. Mr. Chamberlain himself was 
wounded twice, one time in the flesh of the 
thigh, and one time in his left wrist, the 
marks of which he will cari-y to his grave. 
These were received at the battle of Spottsyl- 
vania, Virginia, and at the same battle he 
received five other bullet-holes through his 
clothing. The Union army lost about 18,000 
men in this battle! Mr. Chamberlain was 
never taken prisoner, but had some narrow 
escapes. He remained as private all through 
the war. He had a furlough of twenty days 
in March, 1864, the only time he was absent 
from his command. He was never absent 
on account of sickness except when he was 
confined in the hospital on account of his 
wound, — from May 19, 1864, to January 20, 
1865. 

February 9, 1868, Mr. Chamberlain was 
married to Miss Martha R. Hammond, 
daughter of Elias and Jane (Clark) Ham- 
mond, of Garland, Maine, and they have had 
six children, namely: Frank O., now a prac- 
tical bookkeeper, who, June 3, 1891, married 
Alice M. Symons, daughter of Alderman 
Symons, president of the City Council ; and 
he is a graduate of the commercial college 
under the late Professor Wallace. The next 
child is Eugene H., now clerking in the rail- 
road office of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. 
Paul Railway. The remaining children are 
Emma E., Hattie M., Abby M. and Edith M. 
Both parents and the three eldest children 
are members of the l^'irst Bajitist Church. 



5S0 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Mr. Chamberlain is also a member of tiie 
Grand Army of tbe Republic and the Union 
Veteran League. 

Mr. Chamberlain conies from a family of 
New England stock. Nathaniel Chamber- 
lain, born in Dudley, Massachusetts, May 19, 
1786, the grandfather of Ervin W., was a 
noted man for his time among the earliest 
settlers. He built the first house in Dover, 
Maine; was a very prominent mechanic, 
being a master hand in wood and iron. He 
died in 18C6, aged eighty years; and his 
wife, whose maiden name was Martha Street- 
er, died some years before. Their family 
consisted of Timothy H., Chester, Caroline, 
Anna, Martha, Euth and Nathaniel. Mr. 
Chamberlain's mother's father, Samuel Went 
worth, was a farmer of South Berwick, Maine, 
born May 24, 1773; was for many years a 
Justice of the Peace, and January 18, 1796, 
married Sally Yeaton, and their large family 
comprised Thomas, Jacob, Lavina, Phebe, 
Edmund H., Nancy E., l>artholomew, Sam- 
uel, Sarah, Maria and Timothy. 

^OTTIIELF WENZEL, a resident of 
Farmiiigton township. La Crosse coun- 
ty, Wisconsin, a (Terman by birth, has 
proved himself true to the country of his 
adoption, and is regarded as one of the best 
citizens of the community in which he re- 
sides. 

He was born in Germany, December 30, 
1825, son of Henry Nicholas and Madaline 
(Knower) Wenzel, both natives of the same 
town in which the subject of this sketch was 
born. Many years ago they went to Brazil, 
South America, where they died. Gotthelf 
was reared in his native land and attended 
school there until he was fourteen years of 
age. He then learned the trade of weaver 



and worked at it for a number of years in 
Germany. In 1858 he came to America and 
located in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, set- 
tling at Bangor, July 16, 1858. He was en- 
gaged in tanning until the war broke out. 
In 1861 he enlisted in the Second Wisconsin 
Infantry Volunteers, Light Guards, at La 
Crosse, and remained in the service four 
years and seven months. He was in some of 
the hotly contested battles of the war, among 
which were both battles of Bull Run. The 
Hash from a cannon injured his face so that 
he had to be confined in a hospital for some 
time, and was at Fort Schuyler, New York. 
Later he was assigned to the invalid corps, 
and was stationed at Washington, District of 
Columbia, and at Albany, New York. He 
was honorably discliaraed November 18, 
1865, and returned to La Crosse county, Wis- 
consin. While in the army he contracted 
disease, is now considerably broken in health, 
and receives a small pension from the Gov- 
ernment. He came to his present farm (^120 
acres) in 1883, and has since resided here. 

April 5, 1866, Mr. Wenzel married Jane 
Darling, who was born in Madison, Wiscon- 
sin, daughter of Chester and Hester (Cooley) 
Darling. Her father resides near Bangor. 
Mr. and Mrs. Wenzel have twelve children, 
viz.: Grace, Hester, Ada, Maggie, Ida, Will- 
iam, Emil, Albert, Claude, George, Irene and 
Charley. Mr. Wenzel is a stanch Republi- 
can, and a member of Nelson Quygle Post, 
No. 233, G. A. R., of Mindoro. He was 
reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church, 
while his wife was brought up in a Baptist 
family. 



HOMAS JOHJNSON, who has been 

prominently identified with the best 

interests of La Crosse countj' for a 

number of years, has resided here since 1859. 







^ ^udA 



A'T-i^,^^ 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



581 



He dates his birth in JVorway, March 16, 
1854, and was five years old when he came 
with his parents to this country. His father's 
name was John Michelson, and his mother's 
given name was Malinda. She died in the 
town of Onalaska, November 26, 1891. They 
had a family of live sons and five daughters. 
One of the former, Michael, was a soldier in 
the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, the Eagle 
Regiment. He subsequently died in Hamil- 
ton township, this county. One daughter, 
Martha, died in Iowa. Eight of the children 
are still living. John, a resident of Salem, 
is secretary and treasurer of the Scandinavian 
Mutual Insurance Company; J. K. is a 
merchant of Salem, and Alexander is the 
Postmaster of that place. The father died 
in Hamilton township, this county, Decem- 
bei' 30, 1888. He was a shoemaker by trade, 
but for a number of years had been engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. He was a Republi- 
can in politics and a Lutheran in religion. 

Thomas Johnson spent his youth in assist- 
ing his father in the farm work and in attend- 
ing the district schools of the neighborhood. 
His early education has been supplemented 
by study and reading at home and by prac- 
tical business experience. The winter of 
1873-'74: he spent in working in the woods. 
PVora his youth up he has been industrious 
and enterprising, and he is now in good cir- 
cumstances. He owns a farm of 228 acres 
of land, has it well improved with good 
buildings, etc., and divided into fields of con- 
venient size for cultivation and for stock pur- 
poses. At this writing he has thirteen cows 
and eighty-five sheep. His residence is 
16 X 24, two stories, with an L 18 x 20 feet, 
a story and a half, and is beautifully located 
on a natural building site. 

Mr. Johnson was married February 18, 
1882, to Maria P. Hanson, who was born, 
reared and educated in La Crosse county. 



Her parents, Peter and Elizabeth Hanson, 
were among the pioneers of this county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have four children, 
namely: Julius P., Amelia, Marvin and Tilda 
Mabel. 

Mr. Johnson's political views are in har- 
mony with Republican principles. He is al- 
ways found identified with the best elements 
of his party, and is one of its wheel horses in 
this county. He served as Assessor four 
years; has been chairman of the Board of 
Supervisors for nine years; has been Clerk of 
the school board for six years; and has been 
a member of the finance committee of the 
county board for several years. He is presi- 
dent of the Farmers' Alliance organization here. 
Religiously, he is a member of the Lutheran 
church; Mr. Johnson is well posted on all 
matters of public interest, and is broad and 
progressive in his views. He favors all 
movements that have for their object the 
advancement of educational, moral and re- 
ligious interests. Few men of this vicinity 
are more popular or are held in higher es- 
teem than he. 



< 



=^ 



AVID NEEDHAM, of the town of 
Holland, is one of the well-known pio- 
neers and respected citizens of La 
Crosse county. He was born in Erie county, 
New York, June 26, 1828, the fourth in a 
family of five sons, born to Oliver and Lodica 
(Green) Needham, both of whom were natives 
of Wales, Hampden county, Massachusetts. 

The Needhams are descendants of English 
ancestors, who settled in Massachusetts in 
early colonial days, a number of whom took 
part in the Revolutionary war. Oliver Need- 
ham and his wife came to Erie county, New- 
York, in 1819, and resided there the remainder 
of their lives. He was a school teacher for 



582 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



some years, and later became a successful 
farmer. His sons all received a good educa- 
tion, and three of tlieui were popular teachers. 

David Needham was early taught the 
duties of farm life, and also learned the trade 
of shoemaker, at wliich he employed his time 
during the winters. lie first came to Wis- 
consin in September, 1848, stopping at 
White Water, Walworth county, where he 
worked at his trade until the following springs 

He then, in company with his brother, 
A. G. Needham, bought land in Dane county, 
where his brother engaged in improving the 
land. In July of that year, our subject re- 
turned to Erie county New York, and assisted 
his father on the farm in summer and worked 
at his trade during tlie winter months. 

On the 27th of Febuary, 1851, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Mary L. Field, au edu- 
cated and retined woman, who is also a native 
of Erie county. New York. She comes of a 
good old family, and was a popular teacher 
for some years in her native county. She was 
a daughter of William Field, and the grand- 
daughter of Solomon Field, who was a promi- 
nent man, and one of the iirst settlers of 
Concord, Erie county. New York. Mrs. 
Needliam's mother, whose maiden name was 
Elvira Briggs, was tiie daughter of Captain 
Allen Briggs. 

In 1851 Mr. Needham came to Wisconsin, 
locating in Dane county, where lie resided three 
years, and again returned to the Empire State, 
where he remained until 1856. In Septem- 
ber of that year (1856) he and his wife started 
from Concord, Erie county, with a horse and 
buggy, and drove through to Wisconsin, arriv- 
ing in La Crosse county after a journey of si.\ 
weeks; and since that time they have resided 
continuously in this county. For about five 
years after his arrival lie kept a boot and shoe 
shop in New Amsterdam, and Mrs. Needham 
taught the district school during the summer 



months for several years. He pre-empted 
160 acres of his present farm soon after coming 
to the county, and subsequencly bought forty- 
^our acres more. In the fall of 1862 he made 
a permanent settlement on his farm, which 
consists of 204 acres of splendid land, all im- 
proved. In 1863 he was appointed Post- 
master, and kept the New Amsterdam post 
office for three years. 

In politics he was formerly a member of the 
Know-nothing party, but is now a Prohibi- 
tionist. He has never sought nor desired 
public preferment, but has served as chairman 
of the town board for two years and as side 
Supervisor one year, and as a member of the 
school board. He is a man of intelligence, 
broad and liberal in his views, and keeps 
himself well informed on the public questions 
of the day. He and his wife are both zealous 
workers in the cause of temperance, and take 
a lively interest in educational matters. They 
are honest, industrious, frugal people, and 
now live in the enjoyment of a competence. 
To them has been born two children: Ella 
Lodica, wlio died in 1864, when not quite 
four years of age; and Oliver, who was born 
October 15, 1867, and is a school-teacher. 

IMOTIIY JAPtVIS, who for many 
years has followed the life of mate and 
pilot on the Mississippi river, although 
born in America, is a citizen of the United 
States by adoption, the Dominion of Canada 
being his birth-place; the date, October, 
1855. His parents, Charles and Aggie 
Jarvis, were also natives of Canada, of Irish 
extraction; the father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and in early days emigrated to the 
United States, settling near Dubuque, Iowa. 
Twenty-eight years ago he removed to La 
Crosse, where he became identified with the 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



583 



best elements of the bvisiness portion of the 
community; he is now in feeble health, 
having reached the advanced age of eighty- 
nine years; his wife died in 1887. To them 
were born twelve children, nine sons and 
three daughters: Charles, a blacksmith by 
trade, died from the effects of a kick received 
from a fractious horse that he was shoeing; 
Matilda, John, Frank, deceased; George, 
Louis, Joseph, Isaiah, Timothy, Julia, 
Valory and Emma. 

Mr. Jarvis learned the trade of a painter 
in his youth, and became master of this 
vocation in many of its branches; for a long 
period of his life he was engaged in painting 
houses, carriages and signs, each of which 
requires a special skill and training. 

The river offering many inducements, he 
gave up his business, nad now for uiany years 
he has been engaged eithur as pilot or mate 
on the boats ph'ing the Mississippi. In this 
capacity he has labored with the same zeal 
and energy that characterized his efforts in 
younger days, and has rendered a service that 
will always reflect honor upon his name. 

Mr. Jarvis was united in marriage in 
October, 1891, to Miss Anna Moore, a 
daughter of John Moore, who was formerly 
a resident of Minnesota. Our subject and 
all his family belong to the Roman Catholic 
Church. 



fRANK P. ROBERTS, of section 7, 
Bangor township, was born in Bost- 
wick valley, Barry township, this coun- 
ty, April 24, 186G, a son of Evan R. Roberts, 
whose biography appears elsewhere in this 
work. Our subject was reared to farm life, 
and educated in the common schools of 
Bangor Village, and when but fourteen 
years of age ran the engine in his father's 



elevator and transacted all the business con- 
nected with the elevator, stock-buying, etc., 
for three years. When seventeen years of 
age he took charge of the farm for three 
years, after which he bought it for $5,600, 
going in debt for the whole, but he now has 
it over half paid and stock enough to pay 
the remainder. He is now engaged in dairy- 
ing and stock-raising, and his fine farm is 
known as the Hillside Stock Farm. He also 
owns a hay-press, which he runs during the 
winter, and during the winter of 1890-'91 he 
bought over $2,000 worth of hay, which he 
shipped mostly to LaCrosse on contract. He has 
forty-one head of cattle, twenty of which are 
milch cows, graded Durhams, Holstein, and 
also two imported stallions, one a Clyde and 
the other a French coach. He has also two 
fine brood mares, a Norman and a Clyde. In 
March, 1892, he purchased a Percheron of 
Leonard Johnson, of Northfield, Minnesota, 
and also in October, 1891, bought the "Mor- 
ris farm," at $3,160. Henry Anderson is 
now in his fifth j'ear in the employ of Mr. 
Roberts. During the winter of 1891-'92 Mr. 
Roberts baled 250 tons of hay. 

Mr. Roberts was married October 27, 
1886, to Sarah A. Davis, a native of Oneida 
county, New York, who came with her 
widowed mother to this county in Novem- 
ber, 1885. They have one daughter, Edna 
Mary. Mr. Roberts is a member of the 
Welsh Methodist Church, and politically is 
a Republican. 



fELIX MEYER, a retired farmer of 
Bangor, was born in Bulach, Switzer- 
land, September 26, 1827, a son of 
Plenry Meyer, a native of the same country. 
The father brought his family to the United 
States in 1854, settling in Dutch Yalley, 



581 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



where they were among the early settlers. 
They were the parents of four children, two 
of whom survive, namely: tlie subject of this 
sketch and Jacob, who lives in Bangor. A. 
sister, Regula, died in Dutch valley. The 
parents both died in 1866, and were buried 
in the Bangor Cemetery. 

Felix Meyer, our subject, was engaged in 
farming until 1867, when he came to Bangor 
and engaged in raising liops for twelve or 
fourteen years. When he tirst settled in 
Dutch valley the Indians and wild animals 
were numerous, and he has frequently seen 
wolves in packs plajang on the prairie like 
dogs. He was married in 1860, to Margaret 
Lehmertz, a daughter of Nicholas Lehmertz. 
She was a native of Luxembourg, Germany, 
but came with her parents to Sauk county, 
AVisconsin, in 1855. Both her parents are 
now deceased, the mother dying in Sauk 
county, and the father in Winona county, 
Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have had 
live children, three of whom are now living, 
namely: Mary, born February 18, 1861, mar 
ried Christian Wolf, of Bangor, Wisconsin, 
and settled in Beadle county. South Dakota; 
Emilie, born August 29, 1865, married Her- 
mann Bossliard, of Lake Mills, JeSerson 
county, Wisconsin; and Edwin, born Decem- 
ber 7, 1874, is a graduate of the Bangor 
high school, and is now engaged in teaching 
school. 

Mr. Meyer has been Justice of the Peace, 
Supervisor, Town Treasurer and Assessor, and 
in his political views is independent. He is 
a member of the A. O. U. W. and Bangor 
Concordia Society. 

I VAN G. JOINES, of section 7, Bangor 
township, was born in North Wales, 
March 8, 1821, a son of John Jones, 
deceased, a native of the same country. Our 



subject was reared to farm life, and received 
but a limited education, as there was no 
schools in his neighborhood. He came to 
the United States in 1849, settling in Oneida 
county, New York, with his brother Hugh 
G. Jones, who had preceded him ten or 
twelve years. There he farmed until 1865, 
when he came to this county and lived one 
year on Fish creek, and then settled on the 
farm adjoining his present place on the west, 
just across the line in Hamilton township. 
He settled on his present farm in 1873, where 
he makes the raising of sheep and hogs his 
principal business, and where he owns 355 
acres. 

Mr. Jones was married in Oneida county, 
New York, March 9, 1853, to Catharine, 
daughter of Evan Thomas, deceased. She 
was born in North Wales, also, and came to 
the United States in 1851. They have six 
children: John J., Elizabeth, William O., 
Richard M., Henry G. and Jennie C. Eliza- 
beth married Thomas Jones, of Leon, Monroe 
county, Wisconsin, and has two children: 
Archie M. and Walter O.; William married 
Cora Carlyle, lives in Aberdeen, Brown county, 
South Dakota, and has one child, Lloyd C. 
The three youngest are single and at home. 
John was married but lost his wife by death, 
and now lives in Aberdeen, South Dakota. 
The family are members of the Welsh Pres- 
byterian Church. 



,rygEV. HUGH M. PUGH, D. D., pastor of 
the Bangor Welsh Presbyterian Church, 
and also of the churches at Fish Creek 
and Mound Prairie, was born in Dolgelly, 
Merionethshire, North Wales, March 1,1839. 
He attended school in London, Oswestry and 
Bala, England, and his first pastorate was at 
Wolverhampton and Bilston, Staffordshire, 



BIOORAPBIVAL HISTORY. 



585 



England, where he was ordained into the work 
of the gospel ministry in June, 1860. He 
passed a critical examination in biblical 
criticisms and interpretations, systematic and 
histoi'ical, and in ecclesiastical history. His 
examiners were the eminent Welsh divines 
Rev. Owen Thomas, D. D., and Hugh Jones, 
D. D., of Liverpool, and he now holds the cer- 
tificate they gave him. Mr. Pngh emigrated 
to America in 1872, and first preached in 
Pennsylvania and New York, and also in 
Chicago three months. He was called to his 
present pastorate in 1873, where his influence 
and ability are recognized in the Welsh Pres- 
byterian Synod of this State. He has been 
Moderator of the State Synod, is vice-presi- 
dent of the Board of Education, and a member 
of the Board of Examiners. At the session 
of the Synod in June, 1891, held at Colum- 
bus, Wisconsin, he delivered an able address 
with great power at the ordination services of 
one of their young ministers. The title of 
D. D. was conferred upon him at Galesville 
University, at Galesville, Wisconsin, June 
24, 1891, and is the third Welshman upon 
whom this university has conferred the honor. 
The Doctor was married October 28, 1874, 
to Jennie E. Davis, a daughter of Thomas 
Davis, now deceased. She was born in Wales, 
but was brought to the United States when an 
infant and reared in Oneida county, New 
York. Siie is an educated and cultured lady. 

P. McMillan, superintendent of the 
Brush Electric Licfht & Power Com- 
'* pany, of La Ci'osse, was born in Can 
ada, February 1, 1846, a son of Daniel and 
Isabella (Sutherland) McMillan, natives of 
the Dominion, of Scotch descent. The father 
was a millwright by trade and also followed 
agricultural pursuits; he came to La Crosse 



county in 1867 and opened a farm in Camp- 
bell township. Scarcely a year had passed 
when he met with death by drowning; alight- 
ing from a train of cars he was knocked 
senseless, and fell into a pool, suffocating be- 
fore consciousness returned. This sad accident 
occurred April 8, 1868. 

A. P. McMillan is one of a family of efght 
sons and four daughters. He received a 
common-school education, in Canada, and 
came West with his parents in January, 1867; 
worked in the pinery twelve winters, the 
first two summers of that time on the farm, 
and four summers spent in Clark county. 
He also worked four or five summers for the 
La Crosse Gas Light Company; afterward 
engaged by Mae, Ritchie & Nichol, of Chi- 
cago, as calker on the first contract of water 
pipe laid in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1876, 
also the following year; the spring of 1879, 
went to Mankato, Minnesota, to work on the 
fir>t water pipe laid there; November 1, 1879, 
he went to Kenosha, Wisconsin, having 
charge of the pipe work thei-e until it was 
finished; December 1, 1879, he went to New 
Orleans, to work on tlie main line, until 
March 1, 1880; then took charge of the stand- 
pipe connection, also the setting of the hy- 
drants; got through with the work May 10, 
1880, came to La Crosse for a week's vaca- 
tion, then went to St. Joseph, Missouri, to 
pump for puddling purposes, in the construc- 
tion of the reservoirs; remained in St. Joseph 
until the latter part of September, when he 
was obliged to quit on account of fever and 
ague, coming back to La Crosse. The latter 
part of October, 1880, he went to work for 
Mr. James Manchester, to lay the suction 
pipe and make connections with the pumps. 
Then he went to his native home, during the 
winters of 1880-'81, and returned to La Crosse 
in April, 1881, and worked on the draw- 
bridge for several months; he then went to 



58C 



BIOGRAPHICAL HIS TOR T. 



the round-house at Tracy, Minnesota, and 
after two niontlis journeyed to New Mexico, 
lie returned to La Crosse in 1884, and in 
partnership with John D. Grailiford, con- 
tracted for and laid two miles of gas-pipe in 
La Crosse; 1885 was spent in work on the 
water- works. He began his present business 
in 1885, a position which he is well fitted to 
fill. He has made seven return trips to La 
Crosse, since first leaving, and since 1885 
has been a settled resident of the city. 

Mr. McMillan was married in 1885, to 
Miss Katie Hoffman, a daughter of John J. 
and Margaret Hofi'uian, natives of Germany. 
Mrs. McMilla7i is one of a family of eight 
children, four of whom are living: Anna, 
wife of Alt'. Hart; Henry, and Lizzie; the 
oldest son, Joseph, was .drowned in the Mis- 
sissippi, at the age of sixteen years. Mr. and 
Mrs. McMillan are the parents of two prom- 
ising children: Isabella Margaret and Marion 
Elizabeth. 

The family are members of the Presbyter- 
ian Church. Mr. McMillan is an honored 
member of the I. O. O. F., and in his poli- 
tics adheres to the principles of the Republi- 
can party. 

^ENRY H, 8LYE, a well-known early 
settler of the Lewis valley and a highly 
respected citizen of Mindoro, Wiscon- 
sin, is emitiently deserving of appropriate 
mention in the pages of this work. Indeed, 
a history of La Crosse county would be in 
complete did it not contain a biography of 
him . 

Henry H. Slye was born in Livingston 
county, New York, July 16, 1821. His 
father, Benjamin Slye, was born in Jefferson 
county, New York; was a soldier in the war 
of 1812, and for services rendered received a 



pension during the latter years of his life. 
Benjamin Slye was a son of Joshua Slye, a 
native of Canada. The mother of our sub- 
ject was before her marriage Miss Mary 
Reed. She was a native of Maine and a 
daughter of John Reed, who was a son of 
English parents. Henry H. was sixteen 
years of age when his parents moved to Oak- 
land county, Michigan, and settled near 
Pontiac, where they lived for a number of 
years. In 1848 they moved to Scott county, 
Iowa, locating near Le Claire, and lived there 
six years. At the end of that time they 
moved to Lewis valley, La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, and here the parents spent the 
residue of their lives and died, the mother 
passing away May 6, 1863, and the father 
April 23, 1885, the latter at the age of eighty- 
nine years. He had been a farmer all his 
life, and in politics was a Democrat. He and 
his wife were the parents of seven sons and 
five daughters. 

Henry H. learned the carpenter's trade in 
Scott county, Iowa, and worked at it for 
sotne time. Of later years, however, he has 
been engaged in milling. In this business 
he has had an extensive experience. He 
owns a good mill on Fleming creek in Lewis 
valley, and during the many years of his resi- 
dence here he has done a flourishing business 
and has won a large circle of friends. His 
modern and artistic cottage home was built 
by himself. It is 26x26 feet, with an L 
13 X 22 feet; is one story with cupola, and is 
located half a mile from Mindoro. He owns 
twenty acres of rich bottom land near the 
mill. 

Mr. Slye has been married twice. At the 
age of twenty-four he was united in marriage 
with Lucinda C. Butler, who was born in 
Wayne county, New York, daughter of Or- 
man and Lydia Butler.' To them were given 
three children, namely: Earnest H., who was 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



587 



born August 7, 1851, is now a resident of 
Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and is a carpen- 
ter by trade; Frank M., born January 31, 
1859, married Nora Robinson and now lives 
at Bridgeport, Alabama; and Nettie E., born 
February 6, 18G0, is the wiie of C. N. Ber- 
ried, of McPherson county, South Dakota, 
and has two children: Grace May and Roscoe 
C. Mrs. Slye died in May, 1861. June 
29, 1867, Mr. Slye was married to his present 
companion. Her maiden name was Sarah 
A. Albright and the date of her birth was 
July 15, 1844, Ohio being her native State. 
She was reared and educated in Iowa and 
Minnesota, and is a lady of culture and re- 
finement. At the time of her marriage to 
Mr. Slye she was the widow of Wei moth 
Folsom, by whom she had one child, Almond. 
By her present husband she has three cliil- 
dren, viz.: Ida F., born October 7, 1870, is 
the wife of J. M. Jones, of Mindoro, and has 
two children: Cecil May and Rose Maria; 
Leroy H., born January 6, 1873; and Arthur 
D., born December 14, 1877. Mrs. Slye 
wasa member of the Christian Advent Church 
for a number of years. In his religions be- 
lief Mr. Slye is broad and liberal. Politically 
he afliliated with the Republican ]iarty for a 
number of years, but is now a third-party 
man. Time lias dealt gently with him, and 
although past seventy he is still hale and 
hearty. 



jAVID FRANK POWELL, M. I).-^ 

The life of White Beaver, as Dr. Pow- 
ell is popularly known, bears all the 
lights and shades of a frontier romance, and 
his personal characteristics are as varied as 
the traits of his ancestors. In his veins he 
has tiie blood of three races, each of wiiom 
has imparted to him a distinct peculiarity; 



his mother was possessed of rich mental en- 
dowment, and was the daughter of a full- 
blooded Indian, Medicine Chief, of the Seneca 
tribe; her mother was a member of the Tomp- 
kins family, and was born in Tompkins 
county, New York, the county being named 
after her people; she was married to Dr. 
C. H. Powell, of Kentucky, who was of 
Highland Scotch descent; they became ac- 
quainted while Miss Tompkins was with her 
father on a hunting excursion in New York 
near Seneca Lake. After their marriage they 
went to Kentucky and settled on the Ken- 
tucky river. Dr. Powell was a highly edu- 
cated gentleman, speaking several different 
languages, and a physician of high reputa- 
tion. Mrs. Powell is reputed to have been a 
woman of extraordinary beauty; she inherited 
a liking for botany, and acquired an excep- 
tional knowledge of the medical properties of 
all plant life; she became a great assistance 
to her husband, and was herself often called 
as a physician She was a woman of strong 
magnetism, courageous, firm and self-reliant, 
yet sympathetic, generous and gentle. These 
traits are impressed upon her children, as 
well as upon her grand-children who show 
the same distinguishing peculiarities. There 
were four branches of the tribe of Indians to 
which Mrs. Powell belonged: The Beaver, 
Wolf, Bear and Turtle; she was a member of 
the Beaver clan. Her grandfather, a firm 
friend of the white man, was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, receiving his death wound 
in 1779. 

Dr. David F. Powell was l)orn at the Ken- 
tucky home. May 25, 1847. He had no 
early educational advantages except those 
given him by his parents in their own log 
cabin; they were both excellent teachers, 
however, and imparted to him a thorough 
knowledge of fundamental principles. In 
1855 the father died, and soon after this 



588 



B lOGR A PHI OA L HISTOR T. 



event Mrs. Powell disposed of her property, 
and went with her tiiree children to New 
York, wluM-e her parents were living, at an 
advanced age. She settled about thirty noiles 
from Ithaca, and eniraged in farming, hut 
met with indifferent success. After a few 
years she started with her family, for the 
great West; they stopped in Chicago, where 
Frank Powell secured a position in a drug 
store, remaining there two years. The 
mother tlien decided to make another change, 
and this time pushed on to Omaha, where 
Frank again secured a situation as clerk in a 
large drug store belonging to Dr. James K. 
Ish; in this position his efKciency and skill 
were soon recognized Ity Dr. Ish, who 
gave him a full partnership interest 
in the establishment. The lirm of Ish & 
Powell developed a large business in the 
preparation of family medicines, which they 
supplied to nearly all the Territories. Al- 
though our subject was fortunately situated, 
the other members of the family were unset- 
tled; the mother and two sons, George and 
William, purchased a large tract of land on 
the Platte river in Nebraska, near Lone Tree. 
Here Mrs. l^owell remained the latter part of 
her life, giving counsel to her children and 
every possible assistance until she was called 
to the great beyond, her death occurring in 
187y. The sons with their own iiands made 
her a grave under the cottonwood trees, and 
gently and lovingly consigned her mortal re- 
mains to the elements. 

Wiiiie conducting a prosperous business in 
Omaha, Dr. Powell usually spent two montlis 
of the year on the ranch with his family. Of 
a wild and adventurous nature, he attracted 
to liin)seif such kindred spirits as Buffalo 
Bill, California Joe, Wild Bill, Peon Paller- 
day, old man Platte, the Keshan family, 
Texas Jack, and a hundred otiier heroes. 
These braves soon discovered in the young 



doctor a daring heart, a generosity and kind- 
ness, and a skill in medicine tiiat was unsur- 
passed upon the frontier. Tliese admirable 
traits won innumerable friends, and their 
constancy has always held them. 

To describe in detail all the adventures in 
which Dr. Powell was a prominent figure, 
would take us entirely beyond the limits of 
this sketch, in fact would fill a volume. One 
thrilling experience, briefly related, is as fol- 
lows: In 1863, while Dr. Powell was out hunt- 
ing with the elder Keshan and a party, their 
attention was attracted to a band of Arap- 
ahoesin command of Chief Friday, on Sweet- 
water river; the Indians came upon them 
suddenly, but not nntil hasty action permit- 
ted Powell's party to corral their horses and 
make a sudden stand in a buffalo wallow; the 
Indians numbered fully 100 warriors and 
were well armed with rifles and pistols, 
which fortunately they were not expert 
in using. Tiie fight was very spirited in 
the beginning, atid for a time the result 
appeared doubtful for the iiutiters. Their 
horses were shot down, and of their dead 
bodies they made a barricade, keeping up the 
defense one day, at the end of wliich time 
the Indians drew out of range, intending to 
starve the beleaguered party; provisions, how- 
ever, were abundant, but their snj)j)ly of wa- 
ter iiad been exhausted in dressing wounds 
on the first day of the battle. Tiiirst now be- 
came an enemy more to be dreaded than the 
Indians. No one was determined what to 
do until Dr. Powell spoke, who said: "I will 
decide the battle; better die at once than 
linger in parching thir.-t and the terrible 
stench of these dead horses." '-Well, what 
shall you do?" was asked him. "Do? Why, 
charcre the red devils and trust to luck; fol- 
low me, who will." These words had scarcely 
left his lips when he leaped the breast- works 
and dashed off to tlie river. With terrible 






^Aytr 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



589 



yells the Indians pursued him, and the scene 
that followed may be better imagined than 
described. A fierce conflict occurred between 
the two bands, in which so many Indians 
were killed that the remainder withdrew, and 
let the brave hunters pass on to the river. 
The wounded were attended to by Dr. Pow 
ell, with such skill that only one died from 
injuries received; four of the party were 
killed outi-ight. The first Indian killed by 
the Doctor was Walking Crane, a most re- 
nowned savage among the Arapahoes. It 
was not long after this encounter that the 
Doctor was attacked by twenty or more 
Sioux, and came out of the tight victorious, 
seven of the Indians being killed and as many 
more wounded. 

Being a thirty-second degree Mason, even 
at this early age. Dr. Powell was appointed 
District Deputy Grand Master, for Nebraska, 
Colorado and Wyoming, and in 1869 con- 
ferred the Master's degree upon Buffalo Bill, 
at Platte Valley Lodge, Cottonwood Springs. 

In the latter part of 1869, although he 
had never attended a school for one day, he 
submitted to a competitive examination with 
thirteen other candidates for a beneficiary 
scholarship in the University of Louisville. 
With all the chances against him, he carried 
off the honors, and was admitted to the col- 
lege upon the scholarship. He spent two 
years in the medical department, doing jan- 
itor service to pay his expenses. Before 
graduating he was made assistant demonstra- 
tor of anatomy, and upon finishing his course 
he was pressed to take a professorship. This 
he declined to do, and accepteil the proffer of 
a position as Post Surgeon in the department 
of the Platte river. In recognition of his 
superior ability, he was chosen valedictorian 
of his class in college, and acquitted hiinself 
with such merit that his address was printed 
in many of the leading newspapers of that 

39 



day. Although the Doctor recognizes the 
advantages of a medical training, he attrib- 
utes the most of his success to the teachings 
of his mother. 

While a student in Louisville, Dr. Powell 
passed through the unpleasant experience of 
fighting a duel with Dr. Lewis Oppenheimer, 
a member of the college faculty; many ac- 
counts of the affair were published at the 
time which were not correct. A bitter 
feeling arose between the two gentlemen, on 
account of a supposed insult which had been 
offered a lady of their acquaintance, and 
therefore, according to the ethics of Ken- 
tucky aristocracy, Dr. Powell sent a challenge 
to Dr. Oppenheimer, which was accepted. 
The latter is still living, and is practicing his 
profession in Indiana. 



^^►^o.— _ 



Ig^ENKY S. ROBERTS is one of that 
sturdy band of pioneers who converted 
the wild lands of La Crosse county into 
the fertile farms which extend from border 
to border. Aiding in this work, he is justly 
entitled to the space which has been cheer- 
fully accorded him in this record of the 
prominent citizens of La Crosse county. He 
was born in the county of York, Maine, May 
2B, 1836, and is a son of Moses and Catherine 
(truilford) Roberts, natives of the same 
county; the father, of Welsh ancestry, was a 
soldier in the war of 1812; and the maternal 
grandfather, William Guilford, served in the 
Revolution; he lived to be ninety-eight years 
of age, and his wife ninety-six. Moses Rob- 
erts was a farmer, and in politics a Whig. 

When H. S. Roberts was eleven years old 
his father died, and he was thus thrown at an 
early age upon his own resources. He ob- 
tained his education in the common schools 
ami was trained in agricultural pursuits. At 
the age of nineteen years he came West with 



090 



BIOGRAPHICAL niSTORT. 



his mother and a brother and sister; the 
mother died at the home of her son II. S., 
March 20, 1892, at the age of ninety-four 
years. The brother, Josiah, died in Califor- 
nia; and the sister, Louisa, is the wife of J. 
C. Endicott, of Farmington. 

Our subject settled in Farmington town- 
ship. La Crosse county, in 1854, and for many 
years lived on a farm in section 3, township 
18, range 6. 

When the civil war broke out he was one 
of the first men to volunteer his services, 
enlisting in October, 1861, in Company G, 
United States Sharpshooters. He partici- 
pated in many of the most important engage- 
ments of tlie war, among which may be 
mentioned the battles of the Peninsula, of 
Gettysburg and the Wilderness. At Charles 
City Cross Roads, in the seven days' fight, he 
was wounded in the small of the back, and 
also had a severe attack of lung fever; he 
was promoted Commissary Sergeant, and 
held that office while he remained in the 
service. lie was honorably discharged in 
■ October, 1864, after which he returned to 
tills County. In 1866 he obtained the con- 
tract of carrying tlie mail from La Crosse to 
Black River Falls, for a period of four years, 
and during this time he resided in La Crosse, 
on the corner of Badger and North Sixth 
streets, owning the property, which he after- 
wards sold. 

At the end of this period he returned to 
his old farm, which he afterwards sold. Ilis 
present farm contains 262 acres of well im- 
proved land; he has erected neat and sub- 
stantial buildings, and the whole place has an 
air of thrift and prosperity. The house, on a 
fine building site, is 16 x 26 feet, one and 
one-half stories high, with a wing 16x24 feet 
and one story high, and an addition 14 x 20 
feet and one story high. 

Mr. Roberts was united in marriage Sep- 



tember 20, 1868, to Miss Eliza Babcock, who 
was born May 11, 1845, in Onondaga county, 
New York, a daughter of Godfrey S. and 
Amelia (Diffin) Babcock: iier father, a native 
of New York State, died in La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, at the age of seventy-six years; 
and her mother, a native of county Donegal, 
Ireland, died in Dodge county, this State, 
aged forty-one yeais. When a child, Mrs. 
Roberts was brought to Wisconsin, and she 
was educated at Galesville, this State, and was 
a very popular teacher before her marriage. 
Her brother, Azariah Babcock, was a soldier 
in the late war, in the Eleventh Wisconsin 
Infantry, and was killed by a shot at Vicks- 
burg. By his death lie left a widow and 
three children. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have 
six children: Herbert H., Homer, Hattie, 
attending commercial college at La Crosse; 
Ray L., Olive and Floyd Wayne. 

Our worthy subject affiliates with the Re- 
publican party and takes an active part in the 
deliberations of that body in this county. 
He is chairman of the Board of Supervisors; 
he has served as Treasurer of the township, 
as District Clerk for many years and as Jus- 
tice of the Peace. He is a charter member 
of Nelson Quygle Post, No. 233, G. A. R., 
and is an enthusiastic supporter of that or- 
ganization. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts are not 
members of any religious denomination, but 
attend and contribute liberally to the support 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for 
some time Mr. Roberts was Superintendent 
of the Methodist Episcopal Sabbath-school at 
Burr Oak. 

NTON J. BRUIIA, general merchant, 
La Crosse, was born in this cit}', March 
28, 1856, a son of Frank and Cathrina 
(Peshek) Bruha, natives of Bohemia, near 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



591 



Leipsic. The father, a fanner, came to 
America in 1860, settling in Washington 
township, La Crosse county. He had a son 
and a daiigliter born in Bohemia and two 
sons and a daughter in this country. Frank, 
tlie eldest, is a resident of Winona, Minne- 
sota; Mary is the wife of Joseph Kasimonr; 
Joseph, a carpenter by trade; and August 
and Minnie, at home. 

Mr. A. J. Bruha is a young man of bright 
prospects, stands liighly in the estimation of 
all who know him, is a Supervisor of the 
Eighteenth Ward of La Crosse, and is highly 
respected as a member of the State Legis- 
lature. 



kROFESSOR JOSEPHUS L. WAL- 
LACE. — Among the prominent and 
honored institutions of the city of La 
Crosse, whose history has run parallel 
with the progress of the place for the past 
sixteen years, is that of the La Crosse Busi- 
ness College. The range of studies is Jiroad 
and comprehensive and everything is done 
by the able corps of teachers, not only to aid 
pupils in their special studies, but also to 
stimulate in them a love of learning. Being 
generously equipped the institution has be- 
come one of the most attractive and benefi- 
cent institutions of the city, and those who 
finish a course there are well equipped to 
tight the battle of life for themselves. 

Prof. Wallace was born in Westchester 
county. New York October 18, 1844, to 
William F. and Mary (Gale) Wallace, the 
former a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and the 
latter a native of New York and of Dutch 



e.\traction. After 



to the United 



States the father learned the callintf of a 
paper-maker in Pennsylvania, and this call- 
ing continued to receive his attention after 



moving to Racine, Wisconsin, in 1850, and 
also after taking up his abode in Milwaukee. 
He died in this city in 1858, at the age of 
fifty-eight years, a member of the Pres- 
byterian church, and his widow died 
July 14, 1889, a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, and was buried 
on het seventy-eighth birthday. They had 
four children: Charles E., who died in early 
childhood; Josephus L. and two that died in 
infancy. Professor Wallace was educated in 
New York city, where he successfully passed 
through a very severe course of study, after 
which he began teaching in the public schools 
of Wisconsin, his first term being taught in 
1860. He continued a teacher of the public 
schools nntil 1875, when he bought the La 
Crosse Business College, which he has since 
conducted with the best results. In him are 
strikingly exemplified those characteristics 
and principles which conduce to the occupa- 
tion of positions demanding the display of 
much mental ability; and the superior manner 
in which he has performed his duties as head 
of the La Crosse Business College, has made 
his school a very popular one. He has a 
branch college at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 
which has been in progress for the past five 
years and compares favorably in size and 
patronage with the La Crosse college. A 
good, sound business education can be acquir- 
ed in an incredibly short time and the rates 
of tuition are within the reach of all. 
Thousands of young men and women have 
been his pupils and many are filling places of 
lionor and responsibility. During the thirty- 
one years of iiis career as a pedagogue he 
has taught in Milwaukee, Eagle, Ocononowoc 
and La Crosse only, and takes high rank as 
one of the educators of the State. The 
curriculum of his college embraces book- 
keeping, commercial law, penmanship, busi- 
ness arithmetic, grammar, history of the 



593 



BIOGRAPHiaAL HI STORY. 



United States, geography, spelling, business 
correspondence, making and handling of all 
kinds of business papers, stenography, type- 
writing, besides other minor branches. Ilis 
work is eminently practical and the students 
often try law cases: have their judges, juries, 
lawyers etc. In 1869 Professor Wallace was 
married to Miss Emma J. Pittman, daughter 
of Tiiomas W. Pittman of Eagle, Wisconsin. 
They have two children: William P. and 
Binnie P., the latter being a teacher of 
stenography and typewriting in the college. 
Mrs. Wallace died in July, 1876, at the age 
of thirty-five years. Professor Wallace takes 
but little interest in politics, but usually votes 
the Republican ticket. 



-v-'WZ/Z/ 



_^^. 



Oj-'yir^ 




[ILLIAM GAVIN, one of the promi- 
nent agriculturists of Farmington 
1=0,1^ township, has been a resident of La 
Crosse county .since 1850. He is a native of 
county Mayo, Ireland, born May 2, 1833, 
and is a son of Patrick and Ann (Burke) 
Gavin, who were also natives of county Mayo. 
The paternal grandfather, Andrew Gavin, be- 
longed to the Gavin family of county Mayo, 
who ware highly respected citizens of that 
section of country. When William Gavin 
was an infant of eighteen months, his parents 
emigrated to America, first settling in Penn- 
sylvania; thence they removed to Wheeling, 
West Virginia, where the father died at the 
age of forty-seven years. Our subject was 
reared in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, 
receiving his education in the common 
schools, and a thorough training in agricul- 
ture. 

In 1856 he joined the caravan of emicrrants 
moving to the frontier, and settled in La 
Crosse county; the journey was made by rail- 
road to Galena, Illinois, and thence to La 



Crosse by river. He purchased land in Lewis 
valley, which he improved and finally devel- 
oped into a good farm ; he lived on this place, 
which he still owns until 1881, when he 
bought his farm in Farmington township. 
He and his sons own 320 acres, well improved 
with substantial buildings and in an advanced 
state of cultivation. The residence, a two- 
story structure, was built by Michael Moloy, 
and is a very comfortable dwelling; the barns 
and sheds are convenient, and the entire place 
wears an air of thrift that reflects credit upon 
the owner. Mr. Gavin has given especial 
attention to the dairy business, and keeps 
about twenty cows for this purpose. 

He was united in marriage, November 8, 
1855, in the State of Pennsylvania, to Miss 
Sarah McQuigen, a native of county Tyrone, 
Ireland, and a daughter of William and Mary 
(Donely) McQuigen, natives of the Emerald 
Isle. Mr. and Mrs. McQuigen never left 
their own country; both are now deceased. 
To Mr. and Mrs. Gavin have been born eight 
children: Perry, William, Jr., Anna Sarah, 
Joht\, a resident of Washington State; 
Mary and Elizabeth, twins; George, also in 
Washington, and Edward; the two older sons 
live on portions of the home farm; they are 
both married. The entire family are mem- 
bers of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Mr. Gavin affiliates with the Democratic 
party, and gives a cordial support to those 
enterprises which are originated for the bene- 
fit of the general public. 



fOHN CAPPER was born on the farm on 
whicli he now lives, near Stevenstown, 
Holland township. La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, June 21, 1856, and is one of the 
representative farmers of the neighborhood. 
A sketch of his life will be found of interest 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



593 



to many, and, briefly given, it is as follows: 
Mr. Capper comes of Scotch- Irish parents. 
His father, William Capper, was boru in 
1817, at Warrenstown, near Belfast, county 
Down, Ireland, son of James Capper. He 
was reared and educated at his native place 
and there learned the trade of weaver. In 
September, 1837, he married Mary Jane 
Russell, a native of the same place and a 
daughter of liobert and Isabella (Graham) 
Russell. In 1847 he and his wife came to 
America and settled in Rhode Island, where 
they remained until 1853, when they came to 
Wisconsin and took a Government claim, 
the same land on which John Capper now 
lives. William Capper was among the first 
settlers in this neighborhood, and here he 
passed the rest of his life and died. He and 
his wife had a family of ten children, six of 
whom are deceased. Those living are: James, 
who lives in Burns township, this county; 
Mrs. Elizabeth Kane, of Farmington town- 
ship; Robert Henry, of Holland township; 
and John, whose name appears above. The 
father was a man highly respected by all who 
knew him. He spent his life engaged in 
agricultural pursuits; was in politics a Repub- 
lican; in religion a member of the Church of 
England. His widow still resides on the old 
homestead with her son John, where she 
enjoys all the comforts of life in her declining 
years. 

John Capper was reared here, received his 
education in the district schools, and, like 
many of the early residents here, had some 
experience in working in the woods. He 
was married, April 18, 1886, to Miss Kate 
Harmon, a native of Maine. She is a daugh- 
ter of Joseph Harmon, also a native of Maine, 
and now a resident of La Crosse county, and 
in Lewis valley, this county, she was reared. 
Her mother, whose maiden name was Sylven- 
dia Guilford, was born in that State, and died 



here in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Harmon had a 
family of nine children, five of whom are 
living. Mr. Capper and his wife have four 
children, viz.: Maud Elizabeth, Minnie Syl- 
vendia, Edith Myra and John Edwin, twins. 

Mr. Capper has a farm of 245 acres. His 
modern residence was erected in 1890, and is 
located on the Galesville and Stevenstown 
road. This home, beautifully situated on a 
natural building site, is shaded by pine trees 
that were set out by the owuer's father. A 
wind pump, substantial farm buildings, good 
fences, etc., are among the other improve- 
ments on this place, and everything is kept 
in first-class order. Aside from his general 
farming Mr. Capper is also engaged in 
operating a thresher. He owns a good 
machine and for ten years has run it success- 
fully during the autumn season. 

In politics he affiliates with the Republican 
party. 

;LE EVESON, one of the popular, in- 
telligent and successful citizens of 
Mindoro township. La Crosse county, 
Wisconsin, dates his arrival here in 1868. 
He is well known throughout this part of the 
county, and merits appropriate mention in its 
history. Briefly given, a review of his life 
is as follows: 

Ole Eveson was born in Norway, October 
18, 1850, son of Evan Larson and Carrie 
(Emensen) Larson. His parents, natives of 
Norway, were reared and married in that 
country. His mother died when he was a 
babe, and left three other children: Gester, 
Andrew and Louis. Andrew is now deceased. 
Ole Evensonwas reared on a farm in Norway, 
and attended school until he was fifteen years 
of age. When he was eighteen he came to 
America and took up his abode in Wisconsin. 



594 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTOltT. 



Here he was variously employed, first on a 
farm, then for eleven years in the pine woods, 
and for two springs was on the drive. A 
strong and active young man, he made a suc- 
cess at whatever he undertook. He now owns 
a farm of 160 acres, which was Government 
land at the time he came here and which he 
obtained through the small colony. It is 
rich soil and very productive, and in develop- 
ing this line farm he has expended much time 
aTid hard work. He has now a comfortable 
home and good farm buildings, and keeps 
everything about his premises in first-class 
order, devoting his time to general farming 
and dairying. 

Mr. Eveson was united in marriage, 
March 31, 1879, with Uousene Gullickson, a 
native of Norway. At the age of ten years 
she came to this country with her mother, 
Ingbaar Gullickson, who is now a resident of 
Minc'oro. Her father, Isaac Gullickson, came 
to America in 1866. He died from the ef- 
fects of poison, which he accidentally re- 
ceived. Mrs. Eveson was the sixth-born of 
their children, and in Farmington township 
she grew up and was educated. Mr. and 
Mrs. Eveson have six children, namely: Emma 
Caroline, Leonard, Mabel Gulbury, Laura, 
William and Torwald Gunder. 

A man in the prime of life, intelligent and 
well informed, broad and progressive in his 
views, Mr. Eveson is regarded as one of the 
representative citizens of his neighborhood. 
He was reared a Lutlieran; is a member of 
the Farmers' Alliance, and in politics is a 
Democrat. 



'°"" | ' 3 " S ' | "'-^ 

iNDREAY A. WARSAW, one of the 
reliable and progressive citizens of La 
Crosse county, is the subject of the fol- 
lowing brief biographical sketch. Crossing 



the sea to the European Continent, we lind 
his birthplace in Poland, in the city of War- 
saw, where he first saw the light of <lay Jan- 
uary 10, 1822. His parents were Jacob and 
Rosanna (Schwartz) Warsaw, natives of the 
same country and city; the father was a 
wagonmaker by trade and emigrated to 
America when a young man; he settled in 
the State of Pennsylvania, but afterward re 
moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died 
about the year 1832. He left two sons and 
four daughters. Andrew A. passed a portion 
of his youth in Cincinnati, and there learned 
his trade, that of a plasterer. In 1857 he 
came to La Crosse, where he has carried on a 
thriving business. lie is a charter member 
of the Builders' Exchange, and takes an active 
interest in the movements and deliberations 
of that body. 

Mr. Warsaw was married in Covington, 
Kentucky, to Miss Josephine Patton, a daugh- 
ter of John Patton, a native of South Caro- 
lina. Of this union three sons and four 
daughters have been born: Annie, wife of 
Samuel Jewel, resides iu Milwaukee; John 
ia a brick mason; Henry is associated with 
his father in business; William is a tanner 
by occupation; May Pelle married Oliver 
French ot La Crosse county; Rose, wife of 
Marion Newton; Delia is the wife of Joseph 
Gray of Minneapolis, and Ida is at home. 

Our subject is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity and of the I. O. O. F. He is a 
man of sterling traits of character and has 
the respect of the entire community. 

WipiLLIAM L. MATHEWSON emi- 

\/\T,' grated to Wisconsin in 1853, and 

l-^^'s^^ settled in Lewis valley. La Crosse 

county, on the 9th day of April in that year. 

He was born at New Berlin, Chenango 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



595 



county, New York, June 10, 1826, a son of 
William Matlievvson, also a native of New 
York. The Matliewson family were pioneers 
of tlie Empire State, and were descendants of 
Scotch ancestors. William Mathewson was 
a soldier in the war of 1812, doing valiant 
service in the cause he had espoused. His 
death occurred in 1829. His wife, whose 
maiden name was Maria Briggs, was born in 
the Mohawk valley, and her parents were of 
Dutch ancestry; she died August 7, 1886, in 
her ninetieth year. They reared a family of 
live sons and one daughter. 

William L. was trained to the occupation 
of a farmer, and during the winter season at- 
tended the common schools near his home. 
In early life he formed habits of industry and 
economy, which, with the principles of honor 
and uprightness instilled into him, laid the 
foundation of a character not easily turned 
from the path of rectitude. Mr. Mathewson 
was first married at the age of twenty-two 
years, to Miss Jane Sage, a native of Che- 
nango county, New York, and a daughter of 
Simeon and Deborah (Holmes) Sage, who 
were also New Yorkers by birth. In 1853 
he came with his wife and children to Lewis 
valley, where Mrs. Mathewson died, leaving 
four children: Julius, Henrietta, wife of 
Henry Kendrick; Mrs. Mary Mcintosh, who 
died leaving one child. Earl, and Marcellus, 
who died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. 
Mathewson was married in June, 1860, to 
Miss Ellen Hodge, a member of one of the 
prominent pioneer families, and a native of 
Jefferson county. New York. Her parents, 
[Robert and Jessie (Halberton) Hodge, were 
natives of England and Scotland respectively; 
the father died in 1887, at the age of eighty- 
four years, and the mother passed away, aged 
seventy-seven years. By the second marriage 
there were six ciiildren: Jessie, wife of George 
Moulton; Lizzie, who was a popular teacher. 



is the wife of Charles Jenks; William is a 
merchant; Arthur is engaged in business 
with his brother William ; Lee is a student at 
home; one child, a son named Lynn, met 
with a painful death at the age of eleven 
years; he was kicked by a horse and the in- 
juries proved fatal; he was the fourth-born. 

Mr. Mathewson lived in Lewis valley, near 
Mindoro, for many years; he opened up a 
valuable farm on which he made great im- 
provements; he finally sold this place and 
removed to Onalaska, as he desired to give 
his children better educational advantages, 
and to retire from active agricultural pursuits. 
He owns a good dwelling pleasantly sur- 
rounded, and furnished with many modern 
conveniences. He keeps a large number of 
bees, and has proven a very successful apiar- 
ist. Politically he affiliates with the Repub- 
lican party. 



4^-^( 



^ 



jATHAN CLARK, a prominent citizen 
r" of Onalaska, was born near Lowell, 
Dodge county, Wisconsin, June 28, 
1843, a son of Daniel Clark, a farmer who 
was an early settler in the Territory of Wis- 
consin near Racine, Watertown and Dundee; 
in 1854 he moved to the vicinity of New 
Amsterdam, La Crosse county, where he lived 
until his death, at the age of sixty-eight 
years. For his wife he married Rosanna 
Allen, a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio, 
and they had nine sons and five daughters, 
four sons and two daughters are yet living. 
Mr. Nathan Clark was a lad of twelve 
years when the famil}' located in this county. 
At he age of fifteen he entered the employ 
of G. C. Hixon. Being strong, sturdy, quick 
and reliable, he was in a short time promoted 
to a position of trust, in which he had charge 
of work on the river, and of a lumber camp 



596 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



in the woods. After following the business 
of lumbering for some years lie began to 
operate a sawmill in connection therewith, 
and also engaged in merchandising in Clark 
county, doing a large and profitable business. 
At length he engaged in farming for one 
year, 1886-'87; then he entered the hardware 
trade at Onalaska, which he afterward sold 
to Gunderson et Co. In 1891 he purchased 
the Onalaska House, the best hotel in the 
town, which he is now conducting in a tirst- 
class manner. Some \'ears ago he went to 
Codington county, South Dakota, where he 
was one of the first settlers, and helped to 
organize the county. He has also visited 
California, Oregon, Washington and otiier 
sections of the wonderful West. He is a 
member of the Odd Fellows' order, being a 
charter member of the lodge at Onalaska. 
In 1889 he was Alderman in this city, and 
in 1890 Mayor. His residence is a fine brick 
house, and he has otiier valuable property, 
including a good farm of 410 acres near New 
Amsterdam, well improved, and also a large 
tract of land in Clark and Taylor counties. 

For his wife he married Abbie Cummings, 
who was born in Waupaca county, this State, 
a daughter of George Cummings, and they 
have three children: Franklin, Fannie and 
Mary. 



RICHARD K. EVANS, a druggist and 
pharmacist of Bangor, was born in 
South Wales, A.ugust 27, 1849, a son 
of Morgan Evans, a native of the same 
country. The latter brought his family to 
the United States in 1851, settling on a farm 
in Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in 1866 
removed to liangor, settling one and a half 
miles southeast of the village. The mother 
died Ausust 17, 1889, at the age of eighty- 



nine years, and the father May 13, 1886, also 
at the age of eighty-nine years. 

Richard R., our subject, left home at the 
age of fourteen years and traveled through 
the Southern and Western States and Terri- 
tories. He was in Idaho during the war, and 
there became a member of Company A, 
Eleventh Ohio Cavalry, and assisted in guard- 
ing the emigrant trains and ranches from the 
ravages of the Indians. After serviny; one 
year he returned and engaged in the drug 
business in Chicago seven years, after which, 
in 1871, he came to Bangor to visit his parents, 
who persuaded him to locate here. He at 
once established a drug store, where he keeps 
a full line of drugs, paints, oils, wall paper, 
window and plate glass, carrying a capital 
stock of $2,500, his annual sales amounting 
to $5,000 or $6,000. 

Mr. Evans was married in May, 1872, to 
Jennie Thomas, a daughter of William W. 
Thomas, deceased, formerly a pioneer of this 
county. They have but one child, who is 
now deceased. Mrs. Evans died in 1878, 
and in 1881 Mr. Evans married Mary A. 
Jones, a daughter of David Jones, deceased. 
15y this marriage there was also one child, 
who died at the age of fourteen months. Mr. 
Evans has declined all official honors, and is 
now a member of Modern Woodmen of 
America and of the Baptist Church. 



^ 



^m 



^ 




YATT H. GltAVES, attorney at law 
and cashier of the West Salem Bank- 
ing Company, was born at Decatur, 
Green county, Wisconsin, June 9, 1856, and 
is a son of William G and Sarah A. Graves, 
residents of Cooksville, Rock county, Wis- 
consin. For the past thirty years his father 
has been a carriage and wagon manufacturer, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



597 



but has now retired from active business. 
lie was a soldier in the late civil war, volun- 
teering with twelve others in Company C, 
Second Wisconsin Cavalry. He was regi- 
mental blacksmith for three years, and, at the 
close of the war, was honorably discliarged. 
Mrs. Graves, mother of our f ubject, is a lady 
of rare refinement and literary ability, being 
a poetess of considerable merit. They had 
seven children, of whom the eldest, Carrie, 
died when four years of age, and of the six 
still surviving, four have been teachers of 
decided ability, one still following that pro- 
fession. 

Our subject was educated in the public 
schools of Cooksville, Evansville and Madison. 
He tiien taught one year at Appleton, Min- 
nesota, and at Morris, Minnesota. After tiiis, 
he turned his attention to the profession of 
law, beginning his study under the direc- 
tion of the Hon. John Wynans and the late 
Judge Conger, of Janesville, Wisconsin, 
being admitted to the bar when barely 
twenty-one years of age. From Janesville 
he went to Evansville, remaining there from 
the spring until autumn, after which he went 
to Arcadia, where he practiced for one year. 
In 1882 he came to West Salem, where he 
has been very successful in legal work. He 
organized the first bank ever established in 
West Salem, and in 1889 sold the business 
and building, preserving all books and dis- 
counts, and reserving the right to organize 
and open another bank if he desired. On 
the 24th of May, of the same year, he had a 
new building completed and a banking es- 
tablishment in operation. He virtually 
started the first newspaper of West Salem, 
the West Salem Jotirnal, and supported the 
enterprise by his influence and money until 
it reached a self-supporting basis. He has 
expended a larger sum of money than any 
other one citizen in the erection of residences 



and business buildings in the place, and has 
generously contributed to philanthropic 
movements. 

Mr. Graves was married in Galesville, 
Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, to Miss 
Emma A. Eoynton, a daughter of William 
and Sarah Ijoyntou. Her father was a promi- 
nent man in the county, having held various 
official positions, and was respected by all. 
Mr. and Mrs. Graves have one child. 

Mr. Graves is a man of a cordial dis- 
position, is energetic and progressive, and 
calculated to give character to any community. 



EORGE HOWARD, deceased, was a 
prominent citizen of La Crosse. He 
was born in England, April 29, 1832, 
served an apprenticeship of five years there 
in the druggists' trade, and came to America 
in the spring of 1850, settling in Racine, 
Wisconsin. After residing at several points 
he located in La Crosse, April 27, 1852, 
opening what he believed to be the first drug 
store between Dubuque and St. Paul, in 
partnership with S. D. Hastings. In 1884 
he was president of tlie Pharmaceutical So- 
ciety. Was a County Supervisor several 
years, member of the School Board, and Al- 
derman for the Fourth Ward. He died in 
the spring of 1892, leaving a widow and two 
children: Herbert and Mrs. C. Van Auken. 
He was a Mason, Odd Fellow, and a member 
of A. O. U. W. He took great interest in 
educational matters, and was therefore an 
efficient member of the School Board, and 
in all his official relations he left a favorable 
impression upon the community. 

He enjoyed the respect of the people of La 
Crosse, to whom he was very generally known, 
having been in active business so long 
and a social, genial companion among men. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



fOHN F. BUTLER, merchant, Nelson, 
Wisconsin. — Among the varied and ex- 
tensive business operations carried on 
in the progressive village of Fairview, 
Wisconsin, there is none that meets more 
general recognition than that of merchandis- 
ing. A prominent citizen engaged in this 
line of business is John F. Butler, a native of 
Eddyville, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, 
his birth occurring March 2, 1843. His 
parents, Isaac and Christina (Guld) Butler, 
came to Wisconsin and located on a farm near 
what is now Fairview, in the fall of 1864. 
The father's death occurred August 26, 
1881. The mother is still living. They 
owned a large tract of land in Nelson town- 
ship. Isaac Butler's grandfathers, both pa- 
ternal and maternal, were soldiers in the 
Revolutionary war. Mrs. Butler's father was 
a soldier in the Mexican war, and her paternal 
grandfather in the Revolution. John F. But- 
ler acquired a good common-school education 
ill his native country, and when nineteen years 
of age he enlisted in Company U, Sixty- 
second Pennsylvania Infantry, August 13, 
1862, serving in the Potomac Army, Fifth 
Corps. He participated in the South Moun- 
tain and Antietam campaign, but was subse- 
quently taken sick, while the army was in 
tiie vicinity of Frederick City, Maryland, and 
was absent in hospital until July, 1863. He 
then rejoined his regiment at Warrenton, 
Virginia, took part in the battle at Rappa- 
hannock Station, and was on the Mine Run 
expedition. He passed the winter of 1863 
and '64 at Licking Run, Virginia, and May 
5, 1864, he was with his command in the 
battle of the Wilderness. Three days later 
he was in General Grant's famous " left 
flank" movement, and oii the 12th of tliat 
month he was in tiie Spottslvania engage- 
ment, where he received a very severe wound 
through the left hip. A minie ball pene- 



trated hie groin, passed entirely through 
the pelvic bones, and coming out through the 
sacrum injured the spinal column. The 
wound was regarded as fatal by both com- 
rades and surgeons, but a strong constitution 
and indomitable will power, together with 
good nursing, brought him through. He 
rejoined the regiment near the yellow house 
in front of Petersburg, September 21, 1864, 
his wound being still unhealed. He was in 
the battle at Peebles' Farm, September 29, 
1864, and late in the fall went with his regi- 
ment on a raid into the interior of the enemy's 
country, and assisted in tearing up and de- 
stroying twenty-one miles of the Danville 
& Weldon railroad, thus intercepting and 
crippling the enemy's line of communication. 
He participated in two engagements at 
Hatcher's Run, first February 6, and tlie 
second March 25, 1865. On the 29th of 
March occurred the battle at Gravelly Run, 
and following this a series of severe skir- 
mishes along Deep Run. Early in April 
occurred the battle of Five Forks, which re- 
sulted in a complete rout of the enemy and 
the evacuation of Richmond. Following this 
was the final chase after General Lee's re- 
treating army and the culmination at Appo- 
mattox. Mr. Fitch, the writer of this sketch, 
had the pleasure of standing beside Mr. But- 
ler in the line of battle at Appomatox wlien 
Lee's army was surrendered, and the occasion 
of this write-up is the first time the two " old 
comrades" have met since their discharge in 
June, 1865. Modifying the language of the 
poet a little they might say: 

"Backward, turn backward 
O, time in your Hight; 
Make us ' boys' again 
Just for to-night." 

Returning to tho parental home in Western 
Pennsylvania, still suffering from the effects 
of ills wound and diarrhcea incurred in the 



BIOOBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



599 



army, Mr. Butler spent the first year after 
his discliarcre in recruiting liis seriously im- 
paired healtli. In the fall of 1865 he came 
to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and, feeling 
that his education was rather deiicient, at- 
tended school the remainder of that year and 
the first of the next. After this he taught 
school for five terms. On the 25th of March, 
1867, he returned to Pennsylvania, and on 
the last day of that month he was united in 
marriage with Miss Annie C. E. Beck, 
daughter of Daniel and Susanna Beck, then 
of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. She 
was born December 22, 1843, and was ac- 
quainted with her husband from childhood, 
they being playmates and schoolmates. She 
corresponded with Mr. Butler during his 
three years' service in the army, and has since 
been a faithful and devoted helpmate. 

In 1873 Mr. and Mrs. Butler joined the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and still hold 
religious connection, though not at present 
communicants in the church. Mr. Butler 
served as class-leader and steward , and spent six 
years in the local ministry, and still preaches 
occasionally. In the fall of 1885 he sold his 
farm and engaged in the mercantile business 
in the village of Fairview, Nelson township, 
Buffalo county, Wisconsin, where he is now 
located. He carries a full line of general 
merchandise, including, dry goods, groceries, 
provisions, notions, boots and shoes, clothing, 
patent medicines, etc., and enjoys a good 
trade. He is an ardent Republican, and 
though not an office-seeker, has nevertheless 
held various official positions. He has been 
Justice of the Peace since 1871, with the ex- 
ception of two years, and is regarded in the 
community as a useful and intelligent citizen 
whose exemplary life and upright dealing is 
a worthy example of which none need be 
ashamed. He is a member of the Masonic 
order, ^rid an active and energetic worker in 



the G. A. R., his influence and purse being 
ever ready to aid a worthy comrade. Ten 
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Butler, eight of whom are living: Kingsley 
C, the eldest, married Miss Pauline Scliarr 
and resides on the old homestead. He has 
one child, Minnie; Albert Boyd married Miss 
Isabella Comeau, and is the father of one 
child, Erma C; Daniel J. died in early in- 
fancy; Lillie M. is the wife of David C. Har- 
per, and resides in Anchorage, in Buffalo 
county. She is the mother of one child, 
Lillian Pearl; Charles Gay, Rose B., Henry 
J., Bessie E. and Annie C. ; the last five are 
under the parental roof. One nameless little 
boy died in infancy. The children have had 
the advantages of the public schools, and all 
who have attained sufficient years have a 
good common-school education. Mr. Butler's 
parents came to Wisconsin and located on a 
farm near what is now Fairview in 1864, as 
stated above. The family consisted of six 
sons and four daughters: of the former but 
three, including our subject, are now living. 
George A. married Miss Nancy Marsh, of 
Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, in 1863, and 
now resides in Thorp, Clark county, Wis- 
consin, where he follows agricultural pursuits; 
Nancy J. became the wife of David Hetrick, 
and resides in Fairview; James A. married 
Miss Harriet Paine, and resides in Nelson, 
an employe of the Chicago, Burlington & 
Northern Railroad; Daniel married Miss 
Alice Hoskins. He met his death in a very 
mysterious manner, being shot, no one knew 
how. Mary C. became the wife of Wesley 
Butler, who is a farmer in Nelson township; 
Nathaniel H. died when nineteen years of 
age; William C. died of diphtheria when five 
years of age; Rebecca E. became the wife of 
Charles B. Hutchinson, and lives near the old 
homestead; Rosa married Edmund Giebel, 
Jr., and resides in Boone, Iowa, where he is 



000 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



engaged in merchandising. Mrs. Butler's 
brothers and sisters were: Henrietta M., now 
Mrs. Rumbaugh, resides at Eddyville, Penn- 
sylvania; Jacob W. married and resides in 
Pennsylvania; and Plenry R. married Chris- 
tina J. Hetrick and resides in this township. 
Mrs. Butler's mother died in April, 1877, 
and the father, who is now quite an aged man, 
makes his home with Mrs. Butler. Mr. Butler 
was appointed Postmaster at Nelson, June 
28, 1889, and still holds that position. He 
also filled that position at the same place 
under Cleveland's administration. 



►^+^1 




5ATHIAS GASS, of Waumanda, Wis- 
consin, and one of the prominent 
farmers of Buffalo county, was born 
in Alsace, Germany, February 2, 1831. His 
parents, Anthony and Anna Katherine 
(Parkier) Gass, were also natives of Alsace, 
the former born in 1800 and the latter in 
1799. Both died in their native land. Of 
their fourteen children, only five are now 
living, viz.: the subject of our sketch, Mary, 
Joseph, Anthony and Magdaline. 

Mathias spent his early life at home and 
received his education in the parochial Catho- 
lic schools. December 27, 1852, he set sail 
for New York, and arrived in that city Febru- 
ary 19 of the following year. He at once 
went to Chicago, and there and at other 
places was variously enijtloyed for a number 
of years, a portion of the time being in rail- 
road employ. Coming to Wisconsin, he 
located at La Crosse and made his home in 
that city for ten years. In 1876 he moved to 
Buffalo county and purchased a farm of 160 
acres, to which, in 1886, he added eighty 
acres adjoining it. With the e.xception of 
about fifteen acres, he has it all improved and 
under a good state of cultivation, and in 1890 



erected his barn. He gives his attention to 
general farming and stock-raising. 

Mr. Gass was married, in Chicago, June 
9, 1855, to Katherine, daughter of Martin, 
and Barbara (Baat) Bierly. To them 
eight children have been born: Anthony 
Mary, Michael, Mary (2), Theresa, Martin 
Joseph and Anna, all living at this writing 
except the two Marys and Joseph. "Mike" 
the second son, is conducting a very 
large farm in the town of Montana, 
where he has a large quantity of live stock. 
Theresa is the wife of Joseph Renter, a 
prosperous saloon and hotel keeper in the 
town of Lincoln. Anna is the wife of Galius 
Zinsle, who is conducting his father's large 
farm in the town of Montana. Martin is 
running his father's farm in Wanmaridee, one 
of the largest farms in the county, where he 
raises many horses, cows and hogs, besides a 
large quantity of grain. Anthony is married 
and living in La Crosse, engaged in the manu- 
facture of cornice, roofing, etc. Michael is 
married and settled on a farm in Montana 
township; and Martin lives at home with his 
parents. 

In 1878 Mr. Gass served as Supervisor. For 
five years in succession, from 1879 to 1884, 
he was chairman of the Board of Supervisors, 
and since 1886 has declined office. He is a 
Democrat, and he and his family are mem- 
bers of the Catholic Church. 

Mr. Gass has one of the best and most 
Ijeautiful farms in the valley. He is a man 
of superior intelligence, is genial and charit- 
able, and tiiids his chief pleasure in home life. 

ICHAEL J. CASHEL, who died at 

his home in the town of Glencoe, 

Buffalo county, on (October 1, 1891, 

was a representative of one of the pioneer 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



fiOl 



families of Buffalo county. The year of his 
coming was 1857. He was a son of Andrew 
Cashel, who was born in county Tipperary, 
Ireland, about 1809. Andrew Cashel mar- 
ried Mary Lyons, and emigrated to the United 
States in 1847, locating in the city of New 
York. A year later the family removed to 
Dutchess county, in the same State, and in 
the fall of 1851 removed to Springtield, Ohio. 
In 1855 they started Westward and passed 
the following winter in Chicago, at which 
time that now famous city was in its earliest 
infancy. In the spring of 1857 the family 
emigrated to Buffalo county, and settled on 
section 22, in the town of Glencoe, in what 
is known as Fanlds' valley. There the father 
lived until 1872, after which time he resided 
with his son, Michael J. The family con- 
sisted of two sons and two daughters, of 
whom Michael J. was the eldest; John L,, 
the second son, is the youngest of the family. 
He is a well-educated gentleman; was for 
some time a student at the State University 
at Madison, and also of the Wayland Univer- 
sity, at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Pie gi'ad- 
uated at the commercial college at La Crosse; 
was for some time a teacher in the schools of 
Buffalo county, aiid later purchased a half 
interest in the commercial college at La 
Crosse, where he continued for a time and 
then went to Rochester, Minnesota, and still 
later engaged in the abstract business at 
Faribault, in the same State. In 1881 he 
removed to Grafton, North Dakota, where he 
is engaged in banking and real estate. The 
elder sister, Mary, is the wife of Michael 
Gleason, of the town of Glencoe. Kathei'ine 
T. was a teacher for many years, and resides 
in Glencoe. Mr. Michael J. Cashel was born 
in Ireland, in 1843. He was educated in the 
public schools. The first land he owned was 
in section 22, in the town of Glencoe, wbich 
he bought in 1866. No improvements had 



been made on the place when he purchased 
it. He increased his first purchase to 400 
acres, part of which lies in Buffalo and Trem- 
peal^au counties. Mr. Cashel was married 
in 1870 to Miss Mary E. Connole, who was 
born in Ireland. Six children were born to 
Mr. and Mrs. Cashel, five daughters and one 
son, viz.: Katherine, Margaret, Andrew, 
Mary, and Clare and Laura, twins. Mr. 
Cashel was called upon by his fellow-citizens 
to serve in various official positions. He 
was Chairman of his town for fourteen terms, 
was Justice of the Peace for four years, and 
held other local positions. The death of Mr. 
Cashel, which occurred while he was yet in 
the prime of life, removed from the com- 
munity in which he had lived so long a most 
valued citizen, who ever took a deep interest 
in wl atever tended to promote the best in- 
terests of the community in which he lived, 
and whose honesty and integrity were never 
questioned. To his family and friends, as 
well as to the community in general in which 
he lived, his loss is sincerely felt. 

Mr. Cashel bad a half-brother, Thomas 
Downing. He was a son by the first mar- 
riage of the mother. He served in the Thir- 
teenth Regiment, United States Infantry, in 
the war of the Rebellion, from 1863 to 1865, 
in the army of General Sherman. He re- 
sides at the home of his brother, Michael J. 



fHARLES W. LUBS, a general mer- 
chant at Arcadia, was born in Prussia, 
in 1863, the son of John Lubs, who 
died before the birth of his son. The mother 
came to the United States with her family in 
1872, settling on a farm in Buffalo county, 
AVisconsin. In 1875 they removed to Arcadia, 
where the mother married George Ripple, 
and still resides in this village. Charles W. 



603 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



is the only son of hie parents, but he has two 
sisters. He was educated in tlie schools of 
Arcadia, and for one year clerked in the 
general store of Fngina Bros. &. Fertig, in 
Arcadia, and was for four years engaged with 
Bohiri Bros. & Maurer, having had five 
years' experience previous to embarking in 
business for himself. 

He was married to Miss Amelia Feterson, 
of Arcadia, and they have three children, 
two sons, Kurwin and Frank, and an infant 
daughter. Mr. Lubs is a young man of good 
business capacity and energy, and by upright 
dealing and close attention to business he 
has established a good trade. He has the 
confidence of his fellow-citizens, by whom he 
has ])een entrusted with the office of City 
Treasurer, and is now serving his third term 
in that capacity. 

j|ETER EKERN, of Pigeon township, is 
one of the prominent business men of 
Trempealeau county. He is located at 
Pigeon Falls, and owns and operates the 
flouring mill at tliis place, which is supplied 
with the roller system, and does a large 
custom business and considerable merchant 
work. He has a large general store, and in 
fact is the chief business man of this portion 
of Trempealeau county. In addition to his 
other enterprises be has a fine creamery, which 
he owns and operates, and which he erected 
in 1885. Mr. Ekern located at this place in 
1875, at which time he purchased the mill 
property and engaged in merchandising. 
He has been a resident of Trempealeau county 
since 1868. 

Our subject was born in Norway, January 
25, 1837, and was one of a family of six chil- 
dren, four sons and two daughters. The first 
of the family to come to America was a sister. 



who resides in Chicago. She was at that 
time but eighteen years of age, and is now 
the wife of Edward Klebo. The subject of 
this sketch is the eldest of the family; the 
next in order of birth is Even Ekern, a mer- 
chant of Whitehall, Wisconsin; Mrs. Klebo 
is the next in order of age; Anton is a farmer 
of Pigeon township; Mark is a resident of 
Moody county, South Dakota, and Mrs. Maria 
Shultz, of Des Moines, Iowa, is the youngest 
o£ the family. Peter Ekern, our subject, 
was reared to the occupation of farming, and 
when but eighteen years of age he purchased 
a far.n in his native country and engaged in 
business for himself, under a guardian. In 
Norway a man cannot legally do business for 
himself until twenty-five years of age with- 
out guardianship. In 1866 Mr. Ekern sold 
his farming interests in Norway, and in 1867, 
accompanied by his wife and children, came 
to America. Two brothers and a sister had 
preceded him to this country, and were then 
residents of La Crosse, to which place he came 
directly. He next went to Vernon county, 
remaining until March, 1868, when he located 
on a farm in section 36, township 23, range 
7 west, Trempealeau county. He continued 
there unitil he located at Pigeon Falls, where, 
besides his farming interests, he also dealt in 
horses, cattle, machinery, etc. At l*igeon 
Falls he succeeed Johnson, Olsen & Co., he 
representing the company for a year and a 
half previous to 1875, at which time he pur- 
chased the entire business. Mr. Ekern is also 
quite a large landholder, owning 280 acres, 
which includes the site of the mill property, 
and also 120 acres two miles west, eighty 
acres three miles south of the mill, and also 
a farm of 260 acres, a part of which lies in 
Jackson county. 

Mr. Ekern was married before coming to 
this country, and he and his wife have six 
children, namely: Ludvvig, the eldest, is in 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



cm 



West Superior; Dr. Andrew Ekern, of Alma, 
Buffalo county, Wisconsin; Minnie, the wife 
of B. M. Slettelaud, of Pigeon Falls; Joseph- 
ine, Etntna and Huldah. Mr. Ekern is one 
of the representative citizens of Trempealeau 
county, and has long been identitied with its 
growth and prosperity. He has been called 
upon by his fellow-citizens to serve in various 
official positions, and was a member of the 
Wisconsin Legislature in 1881, has been 
chairman of the Town Board for many years, 
and has held various other local offices. In 
politics iie is a Republican. 



(HAKLES riCKERlNG, the present 
Chairman of Caledonia, Trempealeau 
county, is one of the pioneers and re- 
presentative citizens of this county. His 
residence is on section 9, and his farm on 
sections 4, 8 and 9. He came to this county 
in the spring of 1855, and was born in 
Staffordshire, England, December 17, 1830, 
the son of Enoch Pickering, who was a 
mechanic by trade. In 1847 the parents and 
six children emigrated to the United States, 
coming at once to the then Territory of Wis 
consin, where they settled on a new farm in 
Columbia county, about midway between 
Fox Lake and Portage city. There the fam- 
ily lived about two years, when they removed 
to a location about five miles from Portage 
city. In 1852 Enoch Pickering removed 
with his family to Dodge county, where he 
died in the spring of 1855. He was well- 
known in that part of AYisconsin, where he 
settled in the early days. He was a local 
preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
an upright Christian man, and an esteemed 
and respected citizen. His first wife, the 
mother of Charles Pickering, died in England 
when our sou was a child. The father remar- 



ried in that country, his second wife surviv- 
iiicr until 1889. Enoch Pickering was the 
father of several children, both by his first 
and second marriage. 

Charles Pickering, our subject, first visited 
Trempealeau county in 1851. Continuing 
north he went into the pineries of Wisconsin, 
where he remained until 1853, and in that 
year he returned to his father's home in Dodge 
county. In the spring of 1855 he was united 
in marriage with Miss Lucy Bright, a daugh- 
ter of William Bright, who emigrated with 
his family from England to Canada and thence 
to Wisconsin. Soon after marriage Mr. 
Pickering and wife settled in Trempealeau 
county, and here they have lived for the long 
period of thirty-six years. Their union has 
been blessed with seven children, four of 
whom are now living: Ann, the eldest, is the 
wife of Carlos A. Bugbee, a resident of Trem- 
pealeau; George W. is a resident of Onalaska; 
Jane, at home; Mary, the youngest, is the 
wife of Arthur Gilbert, of Galesville. Their 
deceased children were: Warren, Arthur and 
Josephine. Many changes have taken place 
since Mr. Pickering became a resident of 
Trempealeau county, and the growth and 
development of the country has indeed been 
marvelous. When he traveled from Portage 
city to La Crosse in 1851, he saw but very 
few houses, and about seventy miles of that 
distance did not contain a residence, and in 
the last thirty miles which he traveled before 
reaching the present city of La Crosse not a 
home was to be seen. Mr. Pickering has 
been prominently connected with the develop- 
ment and growth of Trempealeau county, 
and enjoys an extended acquaintance, and is 
widely and favorably known. 

He has not been a seeker for public posi- 
tions, but has held many local offices, having 
been Justice of the Peace, Assessor and School 
Treasurer: the last named position he held for 



604 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



seven years. He was one of tlie iirst inspec- 
tors of the first town election li^ld in (Cale- 
donia after it was organized into a township; 
was chairman of the County Board for three 
enccessive terms, and of the Town Board for 
nine years. In hi-5 political affiliations he is 
a Republican, and was a Whig prior to the 
organization of the Republican party, casting 
his first presidential vote for General Win- 
field Scott in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Pickering 
have a pleasant home, which is the abode of 
refinement and hospitality. Mr. Pickering's 
cordial and genial disposition, fair and honor- 
able dealings, have won for him the respect 
and esteem of his fellow-citizens. 



|RIK ALME, of the town of Nelson, 
Buffalo county, resides on section 11 
township 23, range 13 west, where he 
settled in July, 1856. Mr. Aline was born in 
Norway, January 29, 1837. His father, 
Guttorm Alme, never came to America but 
died many years ago in his native land. 
The subject of this sketch is one of four 
children, but the only son of his parents. 
The sisters are Mrs. Hansen, of the town of 
Nelson; Mrs. Maria Otteson, of the same 
town; and Sarah, the second daughter, who 
still lives in Norway. Mr. Alme's boyhood 
was spent in his native land, and there he 
received his education. At the age of seven- 
teen he resolved to try his fortune in America 
and accordingly in 1854 he left his native 
Norway; arriving in New York he immedi- 
ately went to Dane County, Wisconsin, where 
he engaged at work iiy the month as a farm 
hand for two years. In the spring of 1856 
he came to Buifalo connty with his brother- 
in-law, Mr. Hansen. He entered from the 
Government part of his present farm and 
took the remainder as a homestead. Besides 



his home farm of 200 acres Mr. Alme owns 
200 acres elsewhere in the town of Nelson. 
He was married in this town, in the fall of 
1860, to Miss Ellen Ericson, a native of Nor- 
way, and seven children, three boys and four 
girls have been born to them, viz.: Anna, 
Christie, Erik, Carrie, Thomas, Emma S. 
and John, all of whom were born on the 
homestead. Mr. Alme has always taken a 
deep interest in the welfare of the county 
with which he has been for so long identified, 
and has held many offices of trust and honor. 
He was elected Treasurer of Buffalo county 
in 1879, the duties of which office he dis- 
charged so efficiently that he was chosen to 
serve another term of three years. In his 
political views Mr. Alme is a Republican, and 
has ever been a warm advocate of the princi- 
ples of the great political organization, and 
lias exercised much influence in the local 
councils of his party. Mr. Alme is recog- 
nized as an intelligent and progressive citizen 
and his relations with his fellow men have 
ever been characterized by honesty and 
integrity. 

— -^ "f * S"S - "'!" '->°' — 



f^OHN L. UTERMOEHL, Principal of 
, the Fountain City schools, was born in 
Sarkwitz, Holstein, Germany, May 8, 
1861, and is the son of Detlef H. atid Louise 
M. (Teckenburg) Uterinoehl. l)oth natives of 
Holstein. His father is a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and l)oth parents are still living. They 
emigated to the United States in July, 
1868, lauded in New York and from there 
came direct to Fountain City. Mr. Uter- 
moehl was first engaged in fanning after he 
lociited here and subsequently became sales- 
man ill his brother-in-law's (H.Teckenburg's) 
lumber yard. For five years he acted as 
Street Commissioner. To him and his wife 




"»>/^6\;&rn„-.vr 




BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



605 



seven children were born, viz. : John L., Gus- 
tave, Mary, Henry, Paul, Emil, William, — all 
now living except Gustave, Mary and Henry. 

John L. was seven years old when he came 
with his parents to this country, and his edu- 
cation was received in the pul)lic schools of 
Fountain City. In 1877, at the age of six- 
teen, he began teaching in the town of Mil- 
ton, and was thus employed there for two 
years. He then taught two years in the 
intermediate and one year in the grammar 
department, at Fountain City. At the end 
of this time he turned his attention to the 
newspaper business. In company with Fred 
Hepp, he purchased the Buffalo County 
Repuhlikaner, and for five years had charge 
of the editorial department. Selling out his 
interest in the paper, he again engaged in 
teaching, and for two years and a half was 
employed in the grammar department. He 
then, in 1890, received the appointment of 
principal, which position he now holds. 

Mr. Utermoehl was united in marriage, at 
Fountain City, in September, 1881, to Mary, 
daughter of Fred and Sophia (Multhaup) 
Hepp. One child, Mamie, was born to them, 
and in 1882 the young wife and mother was 
called to her last home. His second mar- 
riage occurred in July, 1887, also in this city, 
to Edith, daughter of Judge A. and Mai-y 
(Buesch) Finkelnburg, and their union has 
been blessed with two children: Esther 
Myra and Viola Wanda. 

Not only professionally, but socially and 
politically, is Mr. Utermoehl popular in this 
city. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., 
Steuben Lodge, No. 280, of Fountain City, of 
which he is now Noble Grand. He is leader 
of the male choir, and also of the choir of 
the Lutheran congregation. In politics he is 
a Democrat. He was chairman of the 
Democratic County Committee from 1885 
to 1890, and chairman of the Democratic 



40 



Senatorial Committee, Twenty-ninth Dis- 
trict, during the same period; is at present 
a member of the Democratic County Com- 
mittee. He has held the office of City Clerk 
for four years, and is now occupying that 
position. He has also held the office of First 
Foreman of the Fire Department, for three 
terms, and occupies the position at present, 
and is secretary and bookkeeper of the 
Fountain City Brewing Company, agent of 
several trans-Atlantic steamship lines, etc. 
He is a member of Livers' Orchestra. At 
the last annual meeting of the Buffalo 
County Saengerbund he was chosen musical 
director for the coining year. Is also a mem- 
ber of the Germania Sharpshooters' Club. 
Aside from his other duties, Mr. Utermoehl 
is still interested in journalistic work, being 
a contributor to the Milwakee Sentinel, the 
Winona Republican and the Alma Journal. 

,0N. ALFRED WILLIAM NEWMAN, 

Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of 
Wisconsin, was born in Durham, 
Greene county. New York, April 5, 1834. 
His paternal grandfather, William Newman, 
was a native of New England ; he married 
Sarah Hulburt, a member of an early Con- 
necticut family. She was born in 1769, was 
the mother of eight children, and lived to be 
eighty-three years old. Soon after bis mar- 
riage William Newman, Sr., removed with 
his wife to Greene county, New York, where 
they passed the remainder of their lives. 
Their son William, the father of Judge 
Newman, was born in 1801; he married 
Patty Rogers, who was born in Broome, New 
York, in 1804, a daughter of Daniel and 
Rachel (Loomis) Rogers, natives of Cou- 
necticut and pioneers of Eastern New Y''ork. 
The Rogers family is of English origin, and 



co<; 



BIOOJiAPniCAL niSTORr. 



among their ancestors was John Rogers, the 
martyr, who suffered death for his religious 
principles. William Newman and wife lived 
in New York until death; the latter died 
February 7, 1845, and the former, October 8, 
1873. They were the parents of seven chil- 
dren, two sons and five daughters; all grew 
to maturity, but the two sons are the only 
survivors of the family; William Newman 
was a farmer, and the suliject of this sketch, 
remained upon the farm until eighteen years 
old. 

Judge Newman received an academic edu- 
cation at Ithaca, New York, and at tlie Dela- 
ware Literary Institute, Franklin, New York; 
he also took a collegiate course at Hamilton 
College, New York, which he entered in 1854, 
graduating in 1857. During the last two 
years he spent in this institution he received 
instruction in the law department, his pre- 
ceptor being the lion. Theodore W. Dwight, 
who later became the head of the Columbia 
Law School, a position he occupied for many 
years. 

After his graduation Judge Newman en- 
tered the law office of John ()lney,at Windham 
Center, and was admitted to the bar Decem- 
ber 8, 1857, at the general term at Albany, 
New York. Immediately after this event he 
started West, going directly to Ahnapee, 
Kewaunee county, Wisconsin; liere lie re- 
mained until TNIarch, 1858, when he came to 
Trempealeau county. In April, 18G0, he 
was appointed County Judge, and held that 
office until January, 1867; and he was Dis- 
trict Attorney from that time until June, 
1876, excepting the years 1871 and 1872. 
He was a member of the Assembly of Wis- 
consin in 1863, was State Senator in 1868 
and 1869; was elected Judge of the Sixth 
Judicial Circuit in April, 1876, and ha8 been 
twice re-elected to the same office without 
opposition. He cast his first presidential 



vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has 
ever since been identified with the Republican 
party, a warm advocate of the principles of 
that great national organization. 

Coming to Wisconsin Avhen Trempealeau 
county was OTie of the newest portions of the 
State, he has ever been prominently connected 
with its growth and prosperity. A leading 
lawyer says of him: " Judge Newman's career 
has been honorable and progressive. Many 
important trusts have been committed to his 
care and keeping, in all of which he has proved 
faithful, discharging the duties pertaining to 
them with a high degree of ability and integ- 
rity. As a lawyer, legislator and judge, he 
has won and retained the confidence of men 
of all parties and conditions. Political life 
has never been congenial to Judge Newman's 
tastes or temperament. lie is best known in 
his judicial career. As a Judge he is never 
swayed by any other consideration than a 
sense of duty. He possesses all the qualifi- 
cations of judicial character, extensive legal 
learning, sound morality, urbane and agree- 
able manners. To hiui truth and right are 
more desirable and more lasting than popu- 
larity." 

Judge Newman was married August 15, 
1860, to Miss Celia E. Humphrey, who was 
born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, New 
York, December 25, 1837, the daughter of 
Mason C. and Nabby (Thurber) Humphrey. 
Of this union seven children have been born, 
four of whom, all boys, died in early infancy; 
the surviving children are: Mary Johnson, 
Mark Humphrey and Celia. 

~^.. g . ; .. ; . ?. ^ 



fUGINA BROTHERS FERTIG CO., 
the leading mercantile firm of Trempea- 
leau county, established business in 
1875, having erected their present fine store 



BIOGRAPUWAL HI STORY. 



607 



buiklino- in 1878. This is a large double 
store, the east part being used for dry goods, 
groceries and crockery, its dimensions being 
28x80 feet, and the west part is 32x60 
feet. This is not only one of the principal 
retail mercantile firms of Trempealeau county, 
but is numbered among the most important 
in West Wisconsin. Their sales range from 
$50,000 to $60,000 per annum, and their 
trade is constantly increasing, and the sales 
of 1891 promise to exceed that of any former 
year. The entire business of this house is 
under the immediate charge of Mr. Fertig, 
he being the only resident member of the 
firm. The Fugina Brothers, of whom there 
are two, are residents of Fountain City, where 
they have a general store and are engaged in 
gi'ain-buying, etc. 

Mr. Fertig was born in Bavaria, Germany, 
in 1853. He served an apprenticeship of 
three years in the mercantile trade in his 
native country. In 1868, accompanied by 
an elder brother, John S., became to America 
and located at Baltimore, Maryland, where he 
remained for a period of three years, engaged 
in clerking. He then came to Trempealeau 
county, but the brother, John S., remained 
in Baltimore until his death, which occurred 
in the spring of 1879. After coming to this 
country Mr. Fertig engaged as clerk for Mr. 
Storm, at what is known as the old town of 
Arcadia, and afterward went to Fountain 
City and engaged as clerk for his present 
partners at that place, and became a member 
of the firm when the business was established 
at Arcadia. In fact the business here was 
practically established by him, and to his 
superior management is due the success of 
the business and the importance and extent 
to which it has attained. 

Mr. Fertig is one of a family of eleven 
children, consisting of eight sons and three 
daughters. Six members of the family came 



to America, four of vehom are now living, 
viz.: Valentine, the only surviving brother 
in this country, is now a resident of Winona, 
Minnesota, and one sister, Mrs. Mary Ruth, 
of Washington, District of Columbia, and 
Kate, who married Mr. F, Buhler of Prairie 
du Sauk, Wisconsin. Five members of the 
family are still residents of Germany, where 
the father died in 1888, and where the mother 
is still living. In 1882 Mr. Fertig returned 
to Germany and visited the home of his child- 
hood, returning in September of the same 
year. He was married in 1884, to Miss 
Mary Gasel, a daughter of Otto Gasei. They 
have three children: Mildred, Maud and 
Leonora. They lost a son, Roscoe, their 
eldest child, at the age of four years. 



■-^^uxruv- 



^^Ifinn^^ 



^ON. KNUT K. HAGESTAD, who re- 
sides on section 19, Ettrick township, 
is a well-known and prominent citizen 
of this county. His father, K. K. Hagestad, 
emigrated with his family from Norway to 
the United States in 1854, and settled in 
Columbia county, Wisconsin. Six years later 
they came to Ettrick township, Trempealeau 
county, where the father resided until his 
death, August 22, 1872, at the age of fifty- 
two years. His wife survived him about 
three years. Mr. Haaestad, having been 
somewhat advanced in life when he came to 
the United States, never took a very active 
part in public aflfairs, but was ever esteemed 
as a worthy citizen and a Christian gentle- 
man. He and wife were the parents of four 
children who grew to mature years: Richard, 
who died at the homestead in Ettrick town- 
ship in 1882; Daniel K., who resides at Eau 
Claire, Wisconsin; Katherine, the only daugh- 
ter, lives in Jackson county, this State. 

K. K. Hagestad, the eldest of the family, 



no8 



BWGHAPniCAL niSTORT. 



was horn in Norway in 1846, and was 
about eight years of age when the family 
emicrrated to America. The father's family 
having been somewhat numerous, and, like 
all the early settlers, not in very affluent cir- 
cumstances, it became necessary that our 
subject should exert himself in his own be- 
half from early life. He learned the carpen- 
ter's trade, at which he worked for a number 
of years, but after the death of the father he 
assumed charge of the homestead farm. He 
has since been engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits, and such other occupations as pertain 
thereto. He has been frequently called upon 
by his fellow-citizens to fill public positions; 
has been chairman of the Town Board a 
number of years, and in 1888 was elected to 
serve in the Legislature of the State. He 
has always been prominent in whatever 
tends to promote the interests of the com- 
munity in which he lives, and in addition to 
his other duties he is president and manager 
of the Ettrick Creamery Association. 

Mr. Hagestad's wife was formerly Miss 
Esther Knutson, a daughter of Andrew 
Knutson. who emigrated from Norway to 
America with his family, settling in Dane 
county, Wisconsin. He- afterward removed 
to Ettrick township, wliere he died June 7, 
1891, and bis wife and five children survive 
the husband and father, Mrs. Hagcstad being 
the eldest of the children. Mr. Knutson 
was an upright and honorable citizen, and 
especially active in promoting the interests 
of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Hagestad have 
had eleven children, eight of whom are still 
living, viz.: Knut M., Andrew C, Katherine 
A., Estlier, Almina, Clara, William A. and 
Anna C. The deceased are Albert, Cora and 
Albert. In his political afliliations Mr. Hage- 
stad is a Republican, having cast his first 
Presidential vote for General Grant. He 
may properly be said to be a self-made man. 



and with but a limited opportunity for ac- 
quiring an education he is now well-informed 
on the general issues of the day. He is a 
leading member of the Lutheran Church, and 
taTces a deep interest in promoting the re- 
ligious and educational growth of the com- 
munity. 



^S<^ 



l^ON. GEORGE COWIE settled on his 

t present farm on the 25th of April, 
1855, having been the second perma- 
nent settler of the town of Glencoe, the first 
being Patrick Mulcare, who passed away a 
number of years ago. Mr. Cowie was born 
near Edinburg, Scotland. August 25, 1828, 
son of George Cowie, Sr., and Janet (Mc- 
Donald) Cowie, both of whom were natives 
of Scotland. George Cowie was the eldest 
of ten children, six sons and four daughters, 
of whom one daughter and three sons still 
survive. John Cowie, the next in order of 
birth, resides at Kanopolis, Kansas, as does 
also James Cowie, who is manager of the 
salt works at that place. The surviving 
daughter and sister of the family, Mary, is 
the wife of Alex. Eastman, of Columbus, 
Ohio. George Cowie was reared to the occu- 
pation of iron and coal mining in his native 
laud, and in 1848, at the age of ninett^en 
years, came to America. Landing in Nova 
Scotia, he engaged in mining there for a 
time, and then went to Pottsville, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he engaged in the same occupa- 
tion. Going thence to the city of New York, 
he left that port on the 5th of January, 1850, 
for California. Going via the Isthmus, he 
landed at Aspinwall, and thence went across 
the Isthmus on foot to Panama on the Pa- 
cific side. At that place he took the steamer 
Winfield Scott for San Francisco. This proved 
a most eventful voyage. The vessel was an 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI8T0BT. 



609 



old one, and both yellow fever and cholera 
broke out on board. The vessel was crowded 
with 1,000 passengers, 300 of whom were 
sick, and seventy-five died before the vessel 
reached the port of San Francisco, and were 
buried in the sea. On reaching California 
Mr. Cowie went to Nevada county, where he 
engaged in gold-mining, and remained on 
the Pacific coast for about one year, when he 
returned to his home in Pottsville via the 
Nicaragua route. Soon after his return home 
he removed to Lonaconing, Allegany county, 
Maryland, where he engaged in mining. In 
the spring of 1855 he started for Wisconsin, 
going by rail to West Virgitiia, thence by 
the Ohio river to Cairo, and thence by steamer 
to Fountain City (then known as Holmes' 
Landing), an Indian trading post. That, it 
will be remembered, was thirty-six years ago. 
La Crosse at that time was but a village, and 
the existence of Winona had scarcely begun. 
Mr. Cowie made his present settlement at 
once, purchasing Government land at $1.25 
per acre. 

He was married in Pennsylvania, at Potts- 
ville, to Miss Margaret Faulds, also a native 
of Scotland. Her father, James Faulds (now 
deceased), accompanied Mr. Cowie to Wis- 
consin, as did his son and daughter, John and 
Elizabeth Faulds. Here for the long period 
of thirty-six years has Mr. Cowie lived and 
ever been prominently identified with the 
growth and development of the country; he 
has been called on by his fellow-citizens to 
serve in various official positions. He was 
the first Postmaster of Grlencoe, filling that 
office very efficiently for twenty-seven suc- 
cessive years, and gave the name to theoflice, 
which was established in 1862. He ijave the 
name Glencoe to his town in honor of a val- 
ley in the highlands of Scotland called Glen- 
coe, which was the home of the ^IcDonalds, 
from which family he is descended. He 



also served as chairman of the town for six 
years, and held nearly all other local oflices, 
and was largely instrumental in the organi- 
zation of the town of Glencoe. He served 
in the Legislature in the sessions of 1871- 
'72, and has the honor of being the first 
Democrat elected to the Legislature from 
Buffalo county. Mr. Cowie and wife have 
had twelve children, six of whom are still 
living, viz.: James F., George M., Allan J., 
Albert E., Robert S. and Margaret M. Of 
the children deceased, four had grown to 
mature years, viz.: David and Frank, both 
dying at the age of twenty-one years; Nettie 
and Anna had attained to womanhood, the 
former having married Michael Shonesy. 
George and Louis died at the age of two 
years. Mr. Cowie, as has been seen, is not 
only the oldest settler of the town of Glencoe, 
but one of the earliest pioneers of Buffalo 
county, and his name is prominently identi- 
fied with the history of its growth and de- 
velopment. In all the official positions in 
which he has been called upon to serve he 
has ever discharged his duty with ability and 
fidelity. 

fOHN GILLIES, a farmer of Trempea- 
leau county, was born in Boxborough, 
Scotland, July 23, 1809, a son of James 
Gillies, who died when the son was ten years 
of age. The mother died in Scotland some 
years afterward. 

Mr. Gillies married Euphemia Thompson, 
learned the miller's trade, and in 1832 came 
to America, landing at Quebec. After visit- 
ing his maternal uncle, George Hope, above 
Montreal, he went to a large Scotch settle- 
ment in Delaware county. New York, and 
lived there until 1850, when he came to 
Trempealeau county with his family, settling 



CIO 



BLOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



where he now lives. He is therefore one of 
the oldest settlers of the town of Trempealeau. 
lie is a gentleman of high ciiaracter, liberal, 
and a faithful supporter of good institutions. 
At one time he served as president of the 
Trempealeau County Agricultural Society, 
and he has held other local offices. 

His four living children are: James, at 
Trempealeau; Jane, now the wife of Andrew 
R. Carhart; Mary, now Mrs. Thomas Wilcox, 
of Trempealeau; and Richard. He lost one 
daughter and four sons. Mrs. Gillies died 
January 25, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine 
years. 

-— «-+!^-^^^-~— 

I^HIILP WEISENBERGER, of Wau- 
maiidee, was born November 9, 1828, 
at Baden, Germany, the sou of Philip 
and Susan (Hoarn) Weisenberger, natives 
also of Baden, who with seven children came 
to the United States by sail vessel, landing at 
New Orleans in 1848. The children were: 
Joseph, Joiui, Raciimir, Philip, Susan, Jacob 
and Frank, the last three only now living* 
The parents were advanced in life when they 
came to the United States. The father hud 
served under the first Napoleon, and was with 
him in the Riis.-<ian campaign and afterward. 
On coming to this country they located in 
Harrison county, Indiana, where Mr. Weis- 
enberger, whose name heads this sketcli, 
worked out for a time and then bought twenty 
acres of land whereon to earn a livelihood for 
himself and parents. His fatherdied in 1866, 
aged eighty-tiiree years, and his mother died 
in 1863. Mr. Weisenl)erger added to bis first 
purchase of land and lived in Indiana until 
1868. 

August 15, 1864, he enlisted in Company 
B, Fifty-eighth Indiana Infantry, which went 
into camp at Indianapolis, and soon after 



joined the regiment, moved towards Augusta, 
and then joined Sherman's army, marching 
through Georgia. He was in several skir- 
mishes on the way, especially at the crossing 
of rivers, where they were almost invariably 
intercepted. The command arrived in front 
of Savannah. Ciiristmas evening, and remained 
there until January 20, 1865, when they en- 
tered South Carolina, and proceeded ot) to Co- 
lumbus, the hurning of which they witnessed. 
Mr. Weisenberger assisted in constructing 
the bridge across the river, when the enemy 
were spending in their shot thick and fast. 
Soon they had a fight at Bentonville. After 
remaining two months at Goldsboro and two 
weeks at Smithfieid, keeping open communi- 
cation with Raleigh, they at length arrived at 
the latter place. Thence they proceeded to 
Richmond, Alexandria, and finally partici- 
pated in the grand review at Washington, 
May 24. He was mustered out there June 
15, 1865, and returned to Indianapolis and 
to his farm. 

In 1868 he sold the farm and came to Buf- 
falo county, this State, locating in Montana 
township, where he purchased a farm of 120 
acres on section 14, partially improved. In 
1872 he built a new house, and in tiie spring 
of 1891 a nice frame barn, in the place of two 
lo£ structures. In 1870 he added to his first 
purchase of 160 acres, on sections 12 and 13, 
unimproved. In 1874 he bought eighty acres 
on section 11. His land now therefore lies 
on four sections, is all good, and 200 acres 
are in cultivation. During the same spring 
he moved to Waumandee, leaving Jiis son 
Frank in charge of the farm. At first he 
raised grain principally, but at length drifted 
into stock-raising. 

For twelve years he was chairman of the 
Town Board, and was School Treasurer for 
sixteen years. He was married in 1850, 
May 14, in Franklin townshij), Harrison 



BIOGUAPHWAL HISTORY. 



«a 



county, Indiana, to Miss Margaret, daughter 
of Nicholas Balmier, and has had seven chil- 
dren, namely: Appaloua, John i*., Frank, 
.loseph, Margaret, Lisie and Nicholas. 

In his political views Mr. Weisenberger is 
a Democrat. He and his wife are members 
of the Catholic Church. 



-x^-Lfirt/b- 



■l/inn^^ 




&?a<)KS. LEVETTA PFAFF, a resident 
of Farmiugton township, is the widow 
*^^¥^?^ of John Pfaff, an old settler in La 
Crosse county. Mrs. Pfaff was born in Sax- 
ony, Germany, February 14, 1826, and is the 
daughter of George and Austenie (Shamerg) 
Rumble, who were also natives of Germany; 
the father died in his native country, and the 
mother passed away in this county, at the age 
of eighty-four years. At the age of twenty 
years, Mrs. Pfaff came with friends to Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin, and in 1851 was 
married to John Pfaff. He was born in 
Sa.xony, November 17, 1825, and was a son 
of Michael and Lizzie Pfaff. In 1854 he 
came with his wife to La Crosse county, and 
here he passed the remainder of his days. 
His farm has been brought to a high state of 
cultivation, and is well improved with good 
buildings. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pfaff had born to them eleven 
children, six of whom are living: Pendle, a 
farmer of the county, is married and has five 
children, — Myrtie, OUie, Bertie, Willie and 
Mabel; Louisa is married and has three chil- 
dren, — Ella, Etta and Lila; Lydia is married 
to Mr. Harmon and they have one child, — 
Cordelia; Ella is now Mrs. Coman, and has 
two children, — Angeline and Wendell; Delia 
is Mrs. Hayne, and resides in Jackson county, 
Wisconsin; she has no children; Frederick is 
at home; Albert was killed by a threshing- 
machine; he left a wife and two children, but 



the mother and one child are now deceased, 
Frank being the only surviving member of the 
family; William was also killed by a thresh- 
ing-machine, at the age of twenty-four years; 
he left a widow and two children, — Albert and 
Stella; Francelia died at the age of two years 
and eleven months; Frank died at the age of 
three years, and Henry was of the same age 
when he passed from this life. 

Mr. Pfaff enlisted during the late war in 
the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- 
try, Company F, and was in the service ten 
months; he was with Sherman on his famous 
March to the Sea, and did faithful duty to the 
cause he had espoused. After his return to 
his home he resumed agricultural pursuits, 
and followed this occupation until his death, 
December 6, .1880. Politically he was iden- 
tified with the Republican party, in his 
religious views he was liberal, but was of the 
Methodist faith. He was a man of many 
excellent traits of character, and had a wide 
circle of friends. He was a fond father and 
a true and loyal husband. 

Mrs. Pfaff is a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, to which she has contribu- 
ted very liberally, not only of her means but 
also of her time and energy. She is a woman 
of unusual executive ability, and is highly 
regarded by all who know her. 



fOHN EARNER is one of the pioneers 
of Buffalo county. His fine farm is 
beautifully located and well cultivated. 
As a prominent citizen, substantial and 
thrifty farmer, he is eminently deserving of 
l^iographical mention in this work. Briefly 
given, a review of his life is as follows: 

John Farner was born in Zurich, Switzer- 
land, June 17, 1838. His parents, Jacob 
and Barbara (Maurer) Farner, were also 



613 



BIOGRAPniGAL HISTORY. 



natives of Switzerland, the former born in 
1801 and the latter in 1803; and both lived 
and died there. They had a family of nine 
children: Barbara, Anna, John, Jacob, Mag- 
daline, Conrad, Elsbeth, and two who died 
young. Until he was twelve years old John 
remained at home, attending the common 
schools. He then worked out until he was 
nineteen, when he hade adieu to his native 
land and sailed for America, landing in New 
York in the spring of 1857. From there he 
came West to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and 
soon afterwai'd to Buffalo county, and set- 
tled in Waumandee, where he ensacfed in 
farm work. In 1860 he returned to Swit- 
zerland, and after a visit of six months came 
back to Waumandee and resumed his former 
employment. 

January 7, 1802, Mr. Farner enlisted, at 
La Crosse, in Company H, Second Wisconsin 
Cavalry, and was mustered in at Camp Wash- 
burn, Milwaukee. His regiment went to the 
field about the Ist of April, with Colonel 
Washburn in command. They moved to St. 
Louis, where they remained till May, when 
they were ordered to Jefferson City, Missouri, 
only being there a short time, however. 
They were engaged in following up the rebel 
guerrillas until July, when they went to 
Helena, Arkansas, which place continued to 
be their headquarters until May, 1863. They 
were first under General Curtiss and later 
under General Washburn, who had been pro- 
moted. Mr. Farner participated in a num- 
ber of raids and fights, and M'ent as far South 
as Mississippi; was at the siege of Vicks- 
burg, and after the surrender was in the cap- 
tured city until September 16, ISe"^, when 
he was discharged from service on account 
of disability. 

He returned home, and, as soon as his 
health would permit, again gave his attention 
to agricultui'al pursuits. On his return 



from Europe, in 1861, he bad purchased 120 
acres of land in section 15, Waumandee town- 
ship, and in 1865 began cultivating it. In 
1866 he erected a dwelling and other build- 
ings, but his present home was not built 
until 1886. To his original purchase he has 
since added forty acres, adjoining the south 
end of his farm, and he also bought five 
acres near his home. He has 120 acres under 
cultivation, raising all the cereals. His farm 
is well stocked with shorthorn and Holstein 
cattle and Clydesdale horses. 

Mr. Farner was married, in Waumandee, 
December 25, 1867, to Paulina, daughter of 
Casper Ganz, also natives of Switzerland. 
Following are the issue from this marriage: 
Emma, John, Rosina, Emil, Eliza, Alwena, 
Williaui, Henry, Amelia, John, Louise and 
Albert. John and an infant are deceased. 

Mr. Farner has done much to advance the 
best interests of his community; has held a 
number of local offices, always discharging 
his duty faithfully and conscientiously. He 
has served as Town Treasurer, as Assessor 
three years, at different times, and three 
years as Supervisor, holding the latter posi- 
tion at the present time. He has also served 
as Road-master. He is a member of the A. 
O. U. W., Fountain City Lodge, No. 13, and 
of the Harmonic Society. In politics he is a 
Republican. For services rendered the 
country of his adoption he now receives a 
pension from the Government. Mr. Farner 
has been financially successful. He has 
reared a large and interesting family, to 
whom he is affectionately attached, and in 
the home circle he finds his chief pleasure. 

fAMES IMRIE is another pioneer of 
Buffalo county. He resides on the 
northeast quarter of section 4, in the 
township of Nelson, where he settled in 1864, 



BIOOBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



613 



at which time no improvements whatever liad 
been made upon the place. He was born in 
the city of Perth, Scotland, February 23, 
1833, son of Uavid Imrie, a native of the 
same city. David Imrie was married in 
Scotland, to Miss Elizabeth Hay, and they 
continued to make that country their home, 
there rearing their family of fourteen chil- 
dren, six sons and eiojht daughters. Of this 
once large family only four are now living, 
three sisters, who live in Scotland, and the 
subject of this sketch. James Imrie and his 
sister Margaret are the only members of the 
family who emigrated to America. The lat- 
ter was married in Scotland to Mr. James 
Kodgers, with whom she came to America 
in 1841, settling in the town of Lisbon, 
Waukesha county, where she has since died. 
James Imrie received a good common-school 
education in his native land, but after coming 
to the United States in 1853, wishing to be- 
come still better fitted by education for the 
business of life, he entered Carroll College^ 
Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he re- 
mained a student for a considerable length of 
time. He then engaged in teaching, which was 
his principal occupation for a number of years, 
chiefly in tlie villages of Sussex and Merton, 
Waukesha county. He was married in that 
county to Mrs. Agnes Turner, a native of 
Scotland, and soon after decided to locate in 
a newer country, where land was cheaper, 
and consequently improved an opportunity 
to change his land in Waukesha county for 
200 acres of land in Buffalo county, on which 
he located in 1864. His place was then 
wholly unimproved, but he has since brought 
it to a high state of cultivation, having one 
of the finest farms in the county. During 
the winter of 1864-'65 Mr. Imrie taught 
school in Moudovi, Buffalo county. The fol- 
lowing autumn he was elected County Super- 
intendent of Schools, and two years later re- 



elected, discharging the duties of that office 
in a most efficient and satisfactory manner 
lor a term of four years. Since that time he 
has devoted his attention exclusively to the 
improvement of his farm, with the exception 
of four years, when he was engaged in mer- 
chandising. He is a gentleman of culture 
and refinement, and has ever taken a promin- 
ent part in promoting the moral and educa- 
tional growth of the community in which he 
lives. In the earlier times he affiliated with 
the Republican party, but is now independent 
of any party in his political news. In his 
religious opinions he is liberal and progres- 
sive. Mrs. Imrie's parents were John and 
Marion Gowans. Her father died in Scot- 
land. Her mother re-married, her second 
husband being James Davidson, with whom 
she came to America in 1852, settling in 
Waukesha county, where they made their 
home until death. Mrs. Imrie has been 
twice married; she came to America with her 
husband in 1850, settling in Waukesha 
county, and later moving to Dodge county, 
where her husband died. She is the mother 
of six children by her first marriage, and of 
two by her marriage to Mr. Imrie, both sons, 
named David and John, who are classed 
amongst the enterprising young farmers of 
Buffalo countv. 



-i^^^- 



I^HOMAS A. SIMPSON, of Arcadia, 
settled in Trempealeau county Sep- 
tember 12, 1856. He located on sec- 
tions 10 and 15, township 20, range 10 west, 
where he broke the first land, fenced the first 
field, dug the first well and set out the first 
shade trees on those two sections, also built 
the first bridge in the vicinity, and the first 
one across the Trempealeau river on the 
Fountain City & Winona Road. Mr. Simp- 



614 



BlOORAPniCAL HT STORY. 



son was born in Leicestershire, England, in 
1833, a son of James Simpson. In 1845 the 
family emigrated to America, settling on 
Cross Plains, Dane county, Wisconsin, where 
the father purchased a farm of Government 
land, on which he lived until his death, in 
1867; his wife survived him many years. 
James Simpson was a farmer and stock-raiser 
before he came to this country, having been 
es])ecially engaged in sheep-raising in Eng- 
land, In Dane county he also engaged in 
stock farming, in which he was very success- 
ful. He was an active member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, a Republican in 
politics, and an esteemed citizen. He and 
wife were the parents of ten children, two 
sons and eight daughters, and the only brother 
of our sul)ject, James W., is tlie youngest 
son of his parents. He occupied the old 
homestead in Dane county for many years 
after the parents' death, but is now living in 
the village of Black Earth. Six of the eight 
daughters are now living, three of whom are 
residents of Wisconsin, one of California one 
of Kansas and one of Alabama. 

The subject of this sketch lived on the old 
home farm for a number of years after the 
family .settled in Dane county, and worked out 
by the month at farm labor, in Madison 
township, and also for a time near White- 
water, Walworth comity. The first land he 
owned was located in this county, a portion 
of which he obtained from the Government, 
and a part from the State. He cleared and 
improved two fine farms and continued act- 
ively engaged in farming and stock-raising, 
until 1884, when he practically retired from 
business and removed to the village of Arca- 
dia. 

Mr. Simpson was married in Trempealeau 
county, in 1858, to Miss Helen Gardner, a 
native of l^nffiilo, New York, and daughter 
of Henry Gardner. Tiie latter removed from 



the State of New York to Indiana in 1848, 
thence to Trempealeau county in 1857, later 
to Kansas, where the father died in 1872, 
and the mother afterward returned to this 
county, where she died in December, 1888. 
Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have four children: 
Herman E., the eldest son, resides on the old 
homestead farm; Charles G. is a printer by 
trade; Delphine M. is the wife of Arthur 
Gordon, of Owatonna, Minnesota; Mabel G. 
at home. They lost four children, viz.: 
Edith H., who died at the age of sixteen 
years; Myron A., at the age of nine years; 
Clara, at the age of eighteen months; and 
Albert E., in early infancy. When Mr. 
Simpson retired from farming he purchased 
three lots on the table land in East Arcadia, 
where he erected a dwelling, and here he and 
his wife now reside in their pleasant home. 
During the summer Mr. Simpson indulges 
liis taste for gardening, and his three lots 
afford him ample space for that pastime, and 
the fine vegetables and small fruits that he 
produces each year proves him to be an adept 
at horticulture. Mr. Simpson has long been 
a representative man of his township, has 
served as a member of the town board many 
years, and as chairman of that body for three 
years. Politically he is a Republican, and 
has voted with that party ever since its organi- 
zation. He and his wife are consistent mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



UNCAN JAMES McKENZIE. Mayor 
and Postmaster of Alma, Wisconsin, 
was born in Glengarry county, Ontario, 
July 4, 1848, son of James and Anna Bella 
(McLaren) McKenzie. 

James McKenzie was born near Glasgow, 
Scotland, and emigrated to Canada in 1828, 
where he was subsequently married, his wife 



BIOGBAPEIGAL HISTORY. 



615 



being a native of the Province of Ontario, 
born in 1819. He was reared a lumberman 
and afterward gave his attention to farming 
and stock-raising. To him and his wife were 
given eight children, namely: William J., 
Duncan J., Mary, now Mrs. Norman McRae, 
of Ontario; Anna Bella, now Mrs. Daniel 
Ross, of Ontario; Elizabeth, who wedded 
Neil McCrimmon, of Ontario; James li., of 
Alma; Jessie, now Mrs. Alexander Robert- 
son, of Hamilton, Montana; Donald J., living 
at Buckingham, Province of Quebec. The 
parents reside at Alexandria, Ontario. 

The subject of our sketch spent his eai'ly 
life at home, assisting his father in his busi- 
ness and attending the public schools. At 
the age of twenty he left home and started 
out in the world to make his own fortune. 
His first place of location was at Au Sauble, 
Michigan, where he engaged in the lumber 
business. After remaining there two years 
he moved to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 
where he lived till the spring of 1875. At 
that time lie came to Buffalo county, located 
at Alma, and engaged as a log scaler for the 
Mississippi River Logging Company, in 
which position ho served until he was ap- 
pointed Lumber Inspector by the State. The 
latter position he held from the spring of 
1878 till 1889. Since then he has carried 
on a logging business and has also been en- 
gaged in steamboating on the river, towing 
logs and lumber. 

Since coming to Buffalo county Mr. Mc- 
Kenzie has held many important local posi- 
tions. He served as a trustee of Alma when 
it was a village, and was one of the first 
Aldermen after it became a city. He was 
chairman of the Republican County Commit- 
tee in 1888-'89, and was the only chairman 
in the history of Buffalo county that carried 
the entire Republican ticket through in an 
election. This was in the fall of 1888. He 



was notninated by the Republican party in 
the spring of 1891 for Mayor, was elected, 
and is now filling that important position. 

He was married in 1875, at Eau Claire, 
Wisconsin, to Catherine Elizabeth, daughter 
of David and Cornelia (Babcock) Horton. 
Her parents, descendants of New England 
ancestry, came from Binghamton, New 
i^ork, to Wisconsin, some time in the 60s. 
They are residents of Chippewa county, where 
the father is engaged in farming. To Mr. 
and Mrs. McKenzie five children have been 
born, viz.: Anna Bella, who died in October, 
1879, at the age of eighteen months; Lnverne, 
Jessie, Mabel and Maud Jean. 

Mr. McKenzie is a man of great business 
activity, shrewd and foresighted in his finan- 
cial operations. He is a man of warm and 
generous impulses and is noted for his benevo- 
lent acts. He is a member of the Alma blue 
Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & A. M.; Eau Claire 
Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M. ; Chippewa Com- 
mandery. K. T., No. 8; and Wisconsin 
Consistory; is also a member of the Knights 
ot Pythias, No. 48, of Alma; was Chancellor 
C nimander in 1891. He was a candidate 
for member of Assembly before the Republi- 
can Convention in 1886, and after a hot con- 
test was defeated by one vote. 

fOSHlTA D. SOUTHWORTH, of Coral 
City, was born in the town of Locke, 
Cayuga county, New York, but when a 
child removed with his parents to Cattaraugus 
county, in the same State. His father was 
Edward Southworth. His mother, Huldah 
(Stearns) Southworth, died in Cattaraugus 
county. Later the father removed to Mc- 
Henry county, Illinois, where he lived till 
death. The subject of this sketch was one of 
sixteen children, many of whom are now 



616 



BlOGRAPniCAL BISTORT. 



deceased. He was married, in Cattaraugus 
county, to Catherine Wheeler, daugiiter of 
Ashbel and Mary Webster Wheeler. Mrs. 
Southworth was one of twelve children. In 
1858 Mr. Joshua D. Southworth removed 
with his family to Waukesha county, Wis- 
consin, and in 1860 to Trempealeau county. 
He owns about 230 acres of land. His farm 
includes the greater part of the plat of the 
former village known as Coral City. Mr. and 
Mrs. Southworth have two sons and a daugh- 
ter. The latter, Frances, is the wife of P. A. 
Williams, an attorney and counselor at law, 
residing at Whitehall, Trempealeau county; 
Edward is now proprietor of the hotel at 
Whitehall; Charles, the youngest of the 
family, is at the homestead. They lost a 
daughter in infancy. The children were all 
born in Cattaraugus county. New York. 



— " " * v» * 3 ** l * 



^ON. RICHARD R. KEMPTER, a 

prominent citizen of Alma, Wisconsin, 
was born in Rottweil, Wiirttemburg, 
Germany, February 7, 1837, and is the son 
of Francis Joseph and Anna (Uhl) Kerapter. 
They emigrated to the United States in 1850, 
and located at Cincinnati, Ohio. The elder 
Kenipter was a jeweler by trade. He and 
his wife were the parents of four children, 
viz.: Julia, now Mrs. Charles Schaettle, of 
Alma, Wisconsin; Cordula, now Mrs. C. W. 
Ackermann, of Streator, Illinois; Richard R., 
Elconana, widow of Charles A. Boehme. In 
1851 the family moved to Davenport, Iowa, 
where the father died in the spring of 1852. 
The mother is now livine with her daughter, 
Mrs. Schaettle. 

Richard R. received his jirimary education 
in Germany, and also attended the Rottweil 
high school three years. In 1852 he went 
to Rock Island, Illinois, as an apprentice to a 



watchmaker and jeweler; remained there four 
years and completed his trade. Then he 
worked at his trade two years in Ottawa, 
Illinois, at the end of which time he moved 
to Buffalo city, Wisconsin, and entered the 
store of Charles Schaettle. He remained 
there until the opening of the war, when he 
volunteered his services for the protection of 
his adopted country, enlisting in Company 
F, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry, October 16, 
1861, at Camp Siegel. He left Milwaukee 
in January, 1862, for Leavenworth, Kansas, 
where he, with his command, remained about 
three months; thence to Fort Scott. This 
command was guarding the frontier, moving 
about that section of the country. Mr. 
Kempter participated in the engagement at 
Pea Ridge. November 1, 1862, he was 
appointed Second Lieutenant of Company E, 
Ninth Wisconsin Infantry. His next engage- 
ment was at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Decem- 
ber 7, 1862. This was a hot fight and Com- 
pany E was in the midst of it with the Ninth 
Regitnent. They returned to Fort Scott, and 
from there were ordered to RoUa, Missouri. 
On this march he was accidentally injured, 
which unfitted him for the service. He was 
discharged on account of disability. May 21, 
1863, and returned home to Buffalo city, 
arriving June 20. He then termed a part- 
nership with Charles A. Boehme in the mer- 
cantile business. This partnership continued 
until 1874, when it was dissolved and Mr. 
Kempter entered into a partnership with 
Charles Schaettle in the same business, and 
continued thus engaged until 1878. That 
year Mr. Kempter turned his attention to the 
sale of agricultural machinery and to dealing 
in grain, which business he still continues. 
He erected for his use a grain elevator on 
Main street. Alma, near the Chicago, Burling- 
ton & Northern railroad, and on the bank of 
the Mississippi river. lie has built up an 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



617 



extensive business, and has been prosperous 
to a large degree. 

Mr. Kempter has taken a prominent and 
active part in public affairs here. He was 
Clerk of the Circuit Court from 1865 to 1867, 
after which he was deputy for about eight or 
ten years. He was Town Clerk of Alma two 
years, 1866 and '67; was President of the vil- 
lage of Alma for three terms; was a member 
of the County Board of Buffalo county seven 
or eight years; and was Clerk and Treasurer 
of the school district for about fifteen years. 
He was nominated for the Assembly by the 
Republican convention in 1880; was elected 
and served one term, with credit to himself 
and to the entire satisfaction of his constitu- 
ents. 

September 14, 1863, he was married, at 
Buffalo city, to Julianna Huebsch, by whom 
he had eight children, namely: Richard Anton, 
Frank Joseph, George Washington, Julia, 
Anna, Amelia, Robert, Anton Raymond, all 
now living except Anna and Robert. His 
wife died June 30, 1880. For his second 
companion he wedded Caroline Gaab, and this 
union has been blessed by the birth of five 
children: Elenora, Norman, Estella, Else and 
Cora. Elenora and Norman are dead. 

Mr. Kempter is a member of the A. O. U. 
W., and is Past Master of his lodge. He is 
the present commander of the Firaian Post, 
No. 196, G. A. R. 



fAMES HARDIE, of Gale township, was 
born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 15, 
1828, the son of Andrew and Mary 
(Jarvie) Hardie, both of whom died when 
James was a boy. They left a family of six 
children, viz.: Andrew, Alexander, Janet, 
James, Robert and William. Two others 
died about the time the parents passed away, 



the family having been victims of a prevail- 
ing fever. After the death of his parents 
James went into the country and was em- 
ployed as a herd boy and farmer until he 
attained to manhood, when he was married to 
Miss Margaret Bibby, a sister of Richard and 
James Bibby, of Gale township. In 1852 
Mr. Hardie and family, accompanied by his 
brother-in-law, Richard Bibby and family, 
came to America, and after landing at Balti- 
more they engaged in mining in Maryland. 
In 1854 Mr. Hardie came to Trempealeau 
county and settled on a new farm on section 
27, Gale township. The land was then cov- 
ered with timber, but he has since cleared up 
a line farm, and there his wife died Decem- 
ber 6, 1888. She left nine children, five sons 
and four daughters. 

In July, 1890, Mr. Hardie was married to 
Mrs. Harriet Gilbert, her maiden name being 
Harriet Greenwood. She was born in Wind- 
ham county, Vermont, the daughter of Harvey 
and Beulah (French) Greenwood. Mrs. 
Hardie lost her mother when she was twelve 
years of age, and after the death of the wife 
and mother the father moved to the State of 
Massachusetts, and later Mrs. Hardie followed 
him to that State. There she attended school 
for a year, and was married at the age of 
eighteen years to Nathaniel Gilbert. In 
1855, a few months after their marriage, 
they came West and settled on a new farm in 
Winona county, Minnesota. In 1858 they 
removed to Galesville and bought a farm near 
that place, but continued to live in the vil- 
lage. In 1879 they removed to Moody 
county, in the present State of South Dakota, 
and settled on a farm, where Mr. Gilbert died, 
May 5, 1882. In the autumn of 1884 Mrs. 
Gilbert returned to Galesville. She had nine 
children by her first husband, seven sons and 
two daughters. 

After their marriage in July, 1890, Mr. 



618 



BIOORAPHIGAL HI STORY. 



and Mrs. Plardie settled where they now 
live, their home being about a mile south of 
Galesville, whore theyai-e enjoying the fruits 
of their industry. Mr. Hardie still owns his 
original farm. He is one of the well-known 
and substantial citizens of Trempealeau 
county. Left an orphan in early life and 
thrown upon his own resources he has by in- 
dustry and economy secured a competency. 

"•-»^S*^*-»f*^-~ 



p[IMON OLSON, Register of Deeds of 
Trempealeau county, is now serving the 
first year of his third term, having been 
first elected at the fall election of 1886, and 
was re-elected in the fall of 1888. He suc- 
ceeded John O. Melby, the present banker of 
Whitehall. Mr. Olson has been a resident 
of Trempealeau county since July, 1869. 
He is a native of Norway, l)orn June 20, 1844, 
where he was reared and educated. His 
father, Ole Swenson, was a miller by occupa- 
tion, and in 1866 emigrated with his fiimily 
to the United States, settling at Coon Prairie, 
Wisconsin. In 1869 the family removed to 
Trempealeau county and settled in what is 
now Unity township, section 10. There the 
father lived until his death, which occurred 
in May, 1887, and the mother is still living. 
The subject of this sketch is one of ten chil- 
dren, three sons and seven daughters, and 
one of the former and two of the latter are 
now deceased. The only brother of Simon 
Olson, Ole C, resides at Fhinney, in the 
State of Washington. 

The subject of this sketch resided on the 
home farm in Unity township until elected 
to his present office. He was also Assessor 
four years and Town Olerk seven years. He 
was married in this county April 10, 1882, 
to Miss Johanne Engebretson, and they have 
one daughter, Clara Mathilde, born January 



16, 1883. Mr. Olson is a representative citi- 
zen and possesses the confidence and esteem 
of his fellow citizens. In politics he affili- 
ates with the Kepublican party. 

l^ENRY C. SHEPHAKD.— As a promi- 

tnent resident of his county and one 
who has always taken a deep interest in 
its welfare, he whose name heads this sketch 
deserves a place in this work. Mr. Shephard 
was born in Canada. His father, H. C. 
Shephard, Sr., was born in England, where 
he grew to manhood and married Miss Jane 
Collins, and soon after the event emigrated 
to Canada. Not long after the birth of 
Henry C. his parents removed from Canada 
to the town of Mansville, Jefferson county. 
New York, atid later to Jefferson county, 
Wisconsin, where they lived until death. 
Of their ten children, seven sons and three 
daughters, who grew to mature years, all have 
now passed away but three sons and one 
daughter, viz.: Francis J., who lives on the 
old homestead in Jefferson county, Wiscon- 
sin; George A., a resident of Oconoraowoc, 
Wisconsin; and Eliza, the only surviving 
sister, who lives in Jefferson county, Wis- 
consin. 

Henry C. Shephard, the subject of this 
sketch, was about ten years of age when he 
came to Wisconsin with his father's family. 
He continued in Jefferson county during his 
early youth and at the age of twenty years 
went to Black River Falls, Jackson county, 
and during every winter since that time has 
been engaged in logging, and for ten seasons 
was engaofed in running the river on rafts, 
which occupation he still follows in the 
winter season. Mr. Shephard l)ecame one of 
the best known men in the lumber regions 
of the Black River. In 1856 he b2gan 



BIOORAFHIGAL HISTORY. 



619 



breaking on his present farm. He has a fine 
farm of 360 acres and is quite largely en- 
gaged in stock-raising, for which his farm is 
well adapted, it being well watered and in all 
other respects a superior stock-farm. Ho 
has excellent buildings, and, without doubt, 
his is one of the most desirable places for 
general farming, or as an extensive stock 
farm, to be found anywhere. 

Mr. Shephard was married to Miss Philena 
Sterling, a daughter of C. I. Sterling, an early 
settler of Jackson county, and eight children 
have been born to them, three sons and five 
daughters: Lettie, Nellie, Guy, Ray, Frank, 
Maggie, Mabel, and Sadie. The parents of 
Mrs. Shephard make their home with their 
daughter. 



►>tf^ 



5ILLIAM CLEASBY, of Eleva, is 
T|pm/|| one of the pioneers of West Wis- 
I'^'^^l consin. His father, David Cleasby, 
was born in Yorkshire, England, where he 
grew to manhood, and married Miss Sarah 
JBainbridge, and in 18J:6 the family emigrated 
to America. They went to Hatnilton county, 
Ohio, and thence to Wisconsin in 1848, 
locating in La Fayette county, and in 1858 
settled in Pleasant valley, Eau Claire county. 
There David Cleasby cleared up a larm and 
lived until his deatli, which occured many 
years ago. The wife and mother passed away 
before her husband. They were the parents 
of three sons and six daughters, and all 
but one son and a daughter are still living. 

William Cleasby, our subject, assisted his 
father in clearing up his farm in Eau Claire 
county, and later purchased a farm of his 
own in the same county, which he afterwards 
sold and purchased a new farm of 240 acres 
in the town of Naples, iJnffalo county, on 
which he located. This farm he improved 



and resided on until the spring of 1890, 
when he removed to the village of Eleva, 
where he now lives, although he still owns 
his Naples farm, which is occupied by his 
son. Mr. Cleasby as a pioneer of West Wis- 
consin underwent all the privations incident 
to pioneer life. Deer and elk in those days 
were abundant, but neighbors were few and 
far between. As an incident of his early 
life in Eau Claire county, the following is 
related: Soon after the family settled in that 
county, the cattle which they had brought 
with them started back for their old home in 
La Fayette county, and William, then a boy, 
followed them to induce them to return. He 
followed the tracks of the cattle for about 
three miles when he suddenly came in full 
sight of a herd of fine elk. They presented 
a magnificent sight, of which Mr. Cleasby 
has never lost the impression. The five he 
desci-ibed appeared as large as horses, and 
with them was a young one beside its mother. 
He now concluded that he had followed the 
tracks of tlie elk instead of those of the 
cattle and was consequently upon the wrong 
track. Therefore he returned home without 
having accomplished the object of his search. 
The next day the search for the cattle was 
resumed and it was found that he had really 
been on the right track the previous day, but 
had been deceived by the appearance of the 
elk. But this species of game has long since 
disappeared. 

William Cleasby's first wife was Mary 
Jane Kobbins, whom he married November 
1, 1860, and who died October 1, 1883. For 
his second wife he married Adella Ball, 
daughter of Frank and Eunice (Harmon) 
Ball, the former of Welsh and the latter of 
English ancestry. They w.ere earlj^ settlers 
of Mondovi, from which place Mr. Ball en- 
tered the army in the late war. Several 
years after his return tVom the army he was 



620 



BIOGRAPniCAL HISTORY. 



accidentally killed while engaged in the erec- 
tion of a mill at Faircliild. The mother 
afterward died in Buffalo county, and is 
buried by the side of her husband in the 
town of Mondovi. There were four daugh- 
ters in the family of Mr. Ball, but no sons. 
Mr. Cleasl)y has one child living, Elroy Ro- 
selle, and lost one child in infancy. 



fOHN DETTINGER, who resides on sec- 
tion 8, Gale township, has been a resid- 
ent of Trempealeau county since the fall 
of 1855. He was born in Wlirttemberg, Ger- 
many, May 13, 1826, the son of Jacob Det- 
tinger, who remained in Germany until his 
death. The subject of this sketch was the 
youngest of twelve children, only six of 
whom grew to maturity, five sons and one 
daughter. 

John Dcttinger came to America in 1852, 
being the first of his father's family who ever 
came to this country. He first lived for a 
time in Erie county, New York, after which 
he went to Evansville, Rock county, Wiscon- 
sin, and worked one summer for a Mr. Phil- 
lips, and in 1855 came to Trempealeau coun- 
ty. He was married, January 27, 1857, to 
Miss Margaret Mathern, who was born in 
Rhine, Prussia, in 1838. Her father died in 
that country, after which, in the spring of 
1855, she came with her mother to America. 
She is the only child of her parents, and her 
mother now resides with her. In August, 
1862, Mr. Dettinger enlisted in Company 
C, Tliirtieth Regiment "Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and served witb that regiment until 
the close of the war. His health was much 
broken while in the army, and he has never 
fully recovered. He and his wife are the 
parents of eight children, six sons and two 
daughters, namely: Jacob, John, Elizabeth, 



wife of Frank McClary; Christiana, William, 
George, Christian and Carl. Mr. and Mrs. 
Dettinger are among the well-known citizens 
of Gale township, where they have lived so 
many years. Their farm contains 160 acres 
of land, which is under a good state of cul- 
tivation, and where they are surrounded witli 
the comforts oF life. Mr. Dettinger was a 
faithful soldier in the cause of tlie Union, and 
is now a worthy and respected citizen. He 
is a Republican in liis political views, and 
both he and his family are members of the 
Lutheran Church. 



tEYI L. ODELL, who was appointed 
Postmaster at Galesville in September, 
1889, has been aresident of Trempealeau 
county since 1864. He was born in Essex 
county. New York, in 1834, a son of Robert 
Ferris Odell. Our subject is a brother of 
Judge Robert Odell, of Trempealeau county, 
and in a sketch of whom, found elsewhere in 
this work, is an interesting genealogy of the 
Odell family. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in his 
native county, and came to Wisconsin in the 
spring of 1855, locating in what is now 
Marinette county. There he was engaged in 
lumbering until 1861, when he enlisted in 
the war of the Rebellion, in Company F, 
Twelfth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer In- 
fantry, and served until February, 1865. He 
was elected First Lieutenant on the organiza- 
tion of his company, which position he held 
during nearly the whole of his term of ser- 
vice. He passed the winter of 1861-'62 in 
Missouri and Kansas, and in May, 1862, they 
went to Kentucky and remained there during 
the summer, accompanying General Grant's 
army to Vicksburg. He was in fact with the 
army of General Grant most of the time until 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



631 



that General was transferred to the army of 
the Potomac. After the siege of Vicksburg 
and the surrender of that rebel stronghold, 
he remained with his command at that place 
for a time, spending the winter of 1863-'64 
at Natchez. With his command he rejoined 
Sherman's army at Dal ton, marching all the 
way from Cairo, and took an important part 
in the siege and capture of Atlanta. Mr. 
Odell's health was very much broken in the 
army, and he has never regained his former 
strength. 

Soon after his return from the army he 
came to Galesville and purchased a farm near 
this place, on which he resided for the long 
period of twenty-six years. He still owns 
this place of 160 acres, which is under a good 
state of cultivation. Mr. Odell was married, 
in 1863, while at home on a furlough, to 
Miss Elmina M. Fisher, a native of Ver- 
mont, but at the time of their marriage re- 
siding in Minnesota. They have one son, 
Harlan B., born in 1865, and now a resident 
of New York city. Mr. Odell is a member 
of Wilson Colwell Post, at La Crosse, and 
also of Decorah Lodge* Knights of Pythias. 
He was a faithful soldier in the cause of 
the Union, and is a worthy and respected 
citizen. 



k|LIVER a. HEGG, the present Clerk of 
of the Circuit Court of Trempealeau 
county, who also makes loans and con- 
veyances, was appointed to serve the un- 
expired term of E. Bratberg, April 4, 1888, 
and in the fall of the same year was elected 
for a full term, and re-elected in 1890. He 
was born iu Norway, March 1, 18-12. His 
father died when he was a child, after which 
the mother remarried, and when he was but 
ten years of age the family emigrated to 

41 



America, settling in Dane county, Wisconsin. 
In 1872 the mother and stepfather removed 
to Osage county, Iowa, where the mother 
subsequently died, and where the father still 
lives. 

May 17, 1861, the subject of this sketch 
enlisted in Company K, Third Regiment 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was 
cotnmanded by Colonel, afterward General, 
C. S. Hamilton. Mr. Hegg served in the 
army of the Union until July 18, 1865. He 
left Wisconsin with his regiment July 12, 
1861, arriving at Harper's Ferry July 22, and 
the regiment did picket duty on the Potomac 
during the summer of 1861. He was present 
and assisted in the capture of the bogus 
Legislature in the fall of 1861, and also took 
part in the battle of Bolivar's Height,Virginia, 
which was his first engagement. With his 
regiment he went up the Shenandoah valley, 
in February, 1862, under Banks, and pene- 
trated that valley to Harrisburg, Virginia. 
Butler's forces were defeated and driven back 
by the Confederates, under Stonewall Jackson, 
and on the retreat the battle of Winchester 
was fought. The Union forces subsequently 
rested on the Potomac River, at Williams- 
burg, and the main forces were ordered back 
to Winchester, crossing over to Luray valley, 
Virginia, and engaging Stonewall Jackson's 
forces in battle at Cedar Mountain. Then, 
under General Pope, they retreated to Wasli- 
ington, fighting the second battle of Manassas 
on the way, and joining McClellan's forces 
in Washington. They were in the battles of 
South Mountain and Antieta(n, and then took 
part under Hooker in the battle of the 
Wilderness, in May, 1863, and under Meade 
at Gettysburg July 1, 2 and 3 of the same 
year. Soon after the last named battle the 
Third Wisconsin was united with the Eleventh 
Army Coi'ps, and went West as the Twentieth 
Corps. 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



December 23, 1863, Mr. Hegg re-en- 
listed and went borne on a fnrlougb of 
twenty-tbree days. He rejoined bis regi- 
ment at Tullabotna, Tennessee, in February, 
1864, and took part in Sberman's Atlanta 
campaign, being actively engaged in all tbe 
battles incident to tbat noted campaign and 
marcbed witb Sberman to tbe sea. He 
fought in tbe battles of Bentonville and 
Averyshorougb, tbence to Goldsborougb and 
Raleigh, and was present at tbe surrender of 
Johnston's army. Mr. Hegg entered the army 
as a private, and was promoted Corporal Oc- 
tober 10, 1861, as Sergeant in April, 1862, 
as Quartermaster Sergeant April 15, 1863, 
and as First Lieutenant September 30, 
1864. After participating in tbe Grand Re- 
view at Washington his regiment was ordered 
to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mus- 
tered out July 18, 1865. Lieutenant Hegg 
was with his regiment during its whole term 
of service, and on bis return from the army 
he settled in Dane county. He was married 
in 1863, when at home on his furlough, to 
Miss Jane M. Anderson, a native of Norway, 
September 18, 1869, Mr. Hegg removed with 
bis family to Trempealeau county, and settled 
in Arcadia township, where he was engaged 
in farming until 1883, and in tbat year en- 
gaged at merchandising at Independence, 
and later at White Hall. He retired from that 
business to assume his present official duties 
in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Hegg have three 
children: Maud, Amanda and Lula. 

Mr. Hegg was one of tbe prominent citi- 
zens of bis town before coming to White Hall, 
and while living in Arcadia he was a member 
of tbe County Board for tliree years, and 
chairman of tbat board one year. He has 
been a student all his life, and is now a well 
educated gentleman. He began teaching in 
early life, his first school being* in Dane 
county, in 1860-'61, and has taught altogether 



about twenty terms, much of this time in 
Trempealeau county, and nine terms in one 
district. He is enterprising and progressive, 
and takes a commendable interest in all good 
enterprises. He was a gallant soldier in the 
war for tbe Union, being one of the first to 
respond to the call of his country, nor did be 
retire from bis service until the last armed 
Rebel bad surrendered, and tbe Union flag 
waved triutnpbantly over the entire country. 

ANIEL OILMAN, of the town of Gil- 
mantown, is one of tbe pioneeers of 
Buffalo county. He was born in the 
town of Woodbury, Washington county, Ver- 
mont, in 1833, son of Samuel Oilman, a 
native of Maine. Tbe Oilman family were 
among tbe early settlers of the New England 
colonies. Several brothers emigrated from 
England, one of whom settled in Maine and 
another in New Hampshire, Daniel Oilman 
being: descended from tbe Maine branch. In 
1816, Samuel Oilman, the father of Daniel, 
went to Lebanon, New Hampshire, where 
he was married to Miss Nancy Clark, a 
native of that State. In 1829 he removed to 
Woodbury, Vermont, tbence to Hyde Park, 
same State, and still later to Burlington, 
Vermont, where they lived until 1851, when 
they came to Wisconsin, settling in Lafayette 
county. They continued here but a short 
time and tiien removed to La Crosse county, 
where they remained but one season and then 
located in Buffalo county in 1855. Tbe male 
members of tbe family consisted of Samuel 
Oilman and his four sons, all of whom took 
up Ooverninent land, and they all became 
prominently identified with tbe development 
of this portion of the county, the town of 
Oilmantown being named in bonor of this 
family of pioneers. Here the father died in 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



623 



1873, at the age of seventy-six years, the 
mother having died in 18G2, at the age of 
sixty-six years. Edson died in 1862, leaving 
a family; Franklin died December 1, 1880. 
He was one of the representative men of 
Buffalo county, and a member of the Legisla- 
ture of Wisconsin, to which position ho was 
elected in 1879. He also held at various 
times the principal township office, and was 
chairman of the first town board of Gilman- 
town in 1857, which position he held for not 
less than fifteen terms. He was president of 
Buffalo County Agricultural Society for three 
years, and wa'? in all respects a representative 
man. Daniel was the third of the sons in 
order of birth, and Andrew was the youngest. 
Andrew is now a resident of Brown county, 
Minnesota, so that of the four brothers only 
two are living, and Daniel is the only one 
who continues to reside in Buffalo county. 
Daniel and Andi-ew Gil man came West in 
1850. They went directly to Lafayette 
county, coming to Buffalo county in 1855, 
when the remainder of the family came. 
Daniel Gilman was married to Miss Olive 
Hatch, a native of Roxbury, Vermont, who 
died in 1878, leaving three children, viz.: 
Ida, wife of Matthew Tracy, of Ironwood, 
Michigan ; Elsworth and Hale, both of whom 
are residents of the town of Gilmantown. Mrs. 
Gilman was the first teacher of Gilmantown, 
and was in all respects a worthy and estim- 
able woman and an affectionate wife and 
mother. Franklin and Mary Hatch, the 
parents of Mrs. Gilman, came to Buffalo 
county from Roxbury, Vermont, in 1856, 
and resided here for a number of years, but 
in 1864- they removed to Leavenworth, Brown 
county, Minnesota, where they made their 
home until their death. Daniel Gilman is 
one of the few remaining pioneers of this part 
of Buffalo county. He came here when the 
country was new and wild, and has witnessed 



the growth and development of thirty-five 
years. He is in all respects a worthy and 
esteemed citizen, and is justly entitled to 
prominent mention in this biographical work. 



fOSEPH DENS MO RE has been a resi- 
dent of Trempealeau county since 1863, 
and of the town of Preston since 1866, 
he having settled on section 21, in May, 1866, 
and is still living there. He was born in 
Pittsfield, Rutland county, Vermont, in 1818. 
His parents removed with their family from 
the Green Mountain State to Spring Prairie, 
Walworth county, Wisconsin, where they 
lived the remainder of their lives. Tiiey had 
a family of four children, who grew to mature 
years. Josiah M., the eldest, who died at 
St. Charles, Minnesota, in the spring of 1891; 
Kebecca, the only daughter, died in Walworth 
county, in 1883. The subject of this sketch 
was the next in age. The youngest of the 
family is John Duane Densmore, a resident 
of Augusta, Eau Claire county, Wisconsin. 
Joseph W. Densmore was married at Elkhorn, 
Walworth county, Wisconsin, August 18, 
1846, to Maria Louise Wilson, daughter of 
Alexander and Abegail (Bishop) Wilson. 
The parents of Mrs. Densmore removed from 
the East to Wayne county, Ohio, when she 
was a child, and a few years later emigrated 
farther West and settled in the town of La 
Fayette, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where 
they lived till death. 

The father died many years ago; the mother 
survived her husband till February, 1883, 
passing away at the old homestead in Wal- 
worth county, at eighty-seven years of 
age. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, of whom Mrs. Densmore is the old- 
est. Five of _ the family are now living, 
four daughters and one son, a brother of 



631 



lilOORAPniCAL HISTORY. 



Mrs. Densinore dying in the army during 
the war of the Rebellion. lie was a 
member of Company K, Tenth liegiment 
Wisconsin Yohinteer Infantry. The surviving 
members of the family after Mrs. Densmore 
are Catherine, Lydia, Hiram and Kosanna. 
The only brother lives in Sac county, Iowa, 
and llosanna lives at the old home in Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin. The deceased are: 
James, Caroline and William Henry. Mr. 
and Mrs. Densmore continued to live in 
Walworth county until they came to Tremp- 
ealeau county, in 1863. In March, 1865, Mr. 
Densinore entered the army as a member of 
Company A, Fifty-third Regiment Wisconsin 
Infantry, and served until the war closed. 
Mr. and Mrs. Densmore have three children: 
George, Charles and Caroline. They lost a 
son, William Henry, at the age of thirteen 
years. Mr. Densmore and wife have a pleas- 
ant home and possess all the cjmforts of 
life, as the result of their industry. The 
home farm contains 120 acres, but Mr. Dens- 
more has another farm in this town, of 157 
acres. Mr. Densmore cast his first presiden- 
tial vote for General William H. Harrison in 
1840, and is to-day a stanch Republican, 
numbered among the well-known and i-e- 
spected cititizensof the town and county. 






JASPER AVOHLGENANT, a furniture 
dealer, undertaker and lumber merchant 
>^ of Arcadia, engaged in the furniture 
business in this village in the fall of 1875, 
under the firm name of E. J. Tracy & Co. 
After a co-partnership of one year Mr. Wohl- 
genant bought the interest of his partner, 
and was alone in business for about six 
months, when he formed a company with 
Peier Ley, which continued about one year. 
In the meantime the j)resent store building 



was erected. Since the dissolution of the 
last partnership Mr. Wohlgenant has con- 
ducted the business alone, in addition to 
which he has added the lumber trade. 

He was born in Austria, in 1849, a son of 
Joseph Wohlgenant, who died in his native 
country when his son was eight years of age. 
Our sul)ject learned the trade of cabinet- 
maker and came to the United States in 1871, 
and after some time spent in Dubuque, Iowa, 
in work at his trade, he went to Wabasha, 
Minnesota, where he remained about two 
years and then came to Arcadia. Mr. Wohl- 
genant was married in this city to Miss Mag- 
gie Ley, a daughter of his former paitner, 
and they have four daughters: Rosa, May, 
Katherine and Anna. Mr. Wohli^enant's 
family accompanied him to the United States, 
and he now has a brother, Martin, three years 
younger than himself, residing in Brooklyn, 
New York. Our subject is the only furni- 
ture dealer and cabinet-maker in Arcadia. 
He has been quite successful in trade, and is 
numbered among the successful business men 
of Arcadia. 



■^^^l/ZTi/T^- 



~inrin^^ 



fOSEPH RUTH, cashier of the Bank of 
Arcadia, was born in Baltimore, Mary- 
land, in 1861, the son of Joseph Ruth, 
who died when our subject was but thirteen 
years of age. Joseph was educated in his 
native city, graduating at Bryant, Stratton & 
Saddler's Business College in May, 1880, and 
the following year he came to Arcadia. He 
was engaged as book-keeper a few months for 
Fugina Bros. & Fertig, and afterward was 
assistant cashier of the Trempealeau County 
Bank several months, or until that institution 
was discontinued. He has been connected 
with the present l)ank since its organization, 
in 1883. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



625 



Mr. Ruth is the only representative of his 
father's family residing in Wisconsin. His 
only brother, Frank, two years younger than 
himself, resides in Washington, District of 
Columbia; and two sisters are also residents 
of the same city, — Theresa, widow of Henry 
Ruth, and Anna, wife of T. Leckert. Mr. 
Ruth was married in Arcadia, to Miss Antoi- 
nette Plengall, of Winona, and they have 
three cliildren: Helen K., Frank J. and Ray- 
mond M. Mr. Ruth is a careful and efficient 
cashier, and discharges the duties of his po- 
sition with credit and ability. He is respected 
and esteemed by his fellow citizens. 




I^HILLIAM GIBSON is a well-known 
M citizen of Trempealeau county, where 
he has resided since January, 1863. 
He bought his present farm of Charles T. 
Mow!, whose father purchased the land of the 
Government. Very little improvements had 
been made on this place when purchased by 
Mr. Gibson; no buildings had been erected, 
and but forty acres had been broken. 

He was born in what is now the Province 
of Quebec, in 1827, the son of Thomas Gib- 
son, a native of county Derry, Ireland, but 
who emigrated to Canada when a youth. He 
married Huldah Brayton, a native of that 
province, and daughter of Matthew Brayton, 
a native of Rhode Island. His wife was a 
native of Connecticut, and hence Mr. Gibson, 
on his mother's side, is descended from early 
New England ancestry. The maternal ances^ 
tory of our subject emigrated to Canada 
many years after the Revolutionary war, and 
though they and their immediate descendants 
became Canadian subjects, they ever main- 
tained a loyal affection for the Union. Thomas 
Gibson died in Canada, and later the mother 
removed with her family to Michigan, where 



she lived until death. Oilr subject was one 
of a family of nine children, live sons and 
four daughters, of whom he was the fourth 
in order of birth. All lived to have families 
of their own, and there are now three l)rothers 
and one sister living. William is the eldest 
of those living; James, the sixth in order of 
birth, is a resident of this county, as is John, 
the youngest of the three; the sister resides 
at Antigo, Wisconsin. 

William Gibson grew to manhood in 
Canada, and was there married to Jane Mc- 
Gregor, a native of Scotland, but who emi- 
grated to Canada from her native country 
with her parents when a child. Mr. Gibson 
moved from Canada to Outagamie county, 
Wisconsin, in 1855, but the rest of the family 
removed from that country to Michigan. In 
Outagamie county he improved a farm, on 
which he continued to reside until he came 
to Trempealeau county, in 1863. Mr. and 
Mrs. Gibson have six children, three boys 
and three girls: Thomas, Eliza, Huldah Ann, 
Janet, Daniel and Robert. Mr. Gibson is 
one of the representative men of the town of 
Trempealeau, where he has lived for nearly 
thirty years. His reputation is that of a man 
of public spirit and integrity, and is respected 
and esteemed by his fellow citizens. In his 
political affiliations he is a Republican, having 
voted for the first presidential candidate, 
John C. Fremont, in 1856. 



*f. 



-^r 



'HOMAS HENRY.— This gentleman is 
another one of the prosperous farmers 
of Buffalo county. He was born in 
New York city, September 24, 1844, son of 
Robert and Isabel (St. Clair) Henry. His 
father was a son of Thomas Henry, and was 
born in Boswell, Scotland, June 10, 1818. 



636 



BIOGRAPniOAL HISTORY. 



Grandfather Peter St. Clair was a native of 
the Orkney Islands. 

Robert TIenry was by occupation a ship 
carpenter, and for many years pursued that 
business on the Clyde. In June, 1844, he 
eniiifrated to the United States with his 
family, and landed in New York. Locating 
in that city, he began work at his trade and 
remained there about one year, after which 
he came West, settled at Racine, Wisconsin, 
and C07itinued the tame business. He made 
Ills home there for eleven years, then removed 
to BuflFalo county and took up his abode on 
section 30, Waumandee towtiship, where he 
had previously purchased 240 acres of land. 
Tiiis was in 1855. He subsequently added 
forty acres to his farm. At that time there 
were few settlers here. Mr. Henry's nearest 
neighbor was John Kirchner, who lived three 
miles northeast of him. At tirst he built a 
cabin, which served for a home until 1S64, 
when the present farm dwelling was com- 
pleted. From time to time Mr. Henry con- 
tinued to make improvements until 1890, 
when he sold out to his son Thomas. Durino- 
the early settlement of Buffalo county he was 
prominent in local affairs, and in 18G9 was 
elected by the Republican party for the State 
Assembly, and served one term. He is now 
a resident of Winona, Minnesota. To him 
and his wife ten children were born, as fol- 
lows: Margaret, Thomas, Sarah, wife of S. 
M. Meyers, of Independence, Wisconsin; 
Jenet, wife of V. Morgan, of Chippewa 
Falls; Isabel, who married J. F. Stewart, is 
now deceased; Margaret, Jane, Robert, John, 
Agnes, wife of Henry Goodrich, of Chicago. 
All are living except the two Margarets, John, 
Isabel and Jane. 

Thomas Henry was reared on the farm and 
received his education chiefly in the public 
schools. February 3, 1805, he enlisted at 
Fountain City, in Company K, Forty-eighth 



Wisconsin Infantry, Captain John D. Lewis, 
and went into camp at Milwaukee. When 
the regiment was ordered West for Indian 
service, Mr. Henry, being sick with typiioid 
fever, was left behind. Before he recovered 
the war ended, and he received his discharge 
from the service, June 16, 1865. He then 
returned home and engaged in farming. In 
1874-'75 he attended the commercial school 
at La Crosse. January 18, 1890, he pur- 
chased his father's farm and is now conduct- 
ing the same; has about 150 acres under 
cultivation, and among his stock are found 
short-horn cattle and Clydesdale horses. 

In 1880 Mr. Henry was Town Assessor. 
In 1888 he was chairman of the Board of 
Supervisors for the county, and was re- 
elected to the same position in 1891. He is 
also Clerk of the School Board. April 15 
1890, he was appointed Postmaster of An- 
chorage, and now fills that office. In 1890 
he supported the Republican ticket; is, how- 
ever, independent in his political views. 

Mr. Henry was married February 16, 1880, 
at Arcadia, Wisconsin, to Grace C, daughter 
of William and Grace (Muir) Robertson, of 
Arcadia. They have one child, Robert Roy. 

ULLECK OLSON is the first settler of 
the town of Preston, having located 
there in July, 1854. His nearest 
neighbor was Mr. George Smith, now of 
Galesville, who lived where is now the 
town of Gale. Mr. Olson was born in Nor- 
way, February 24, 1830, and about twelve 
years later the family emigrated from Norway 
to America, landing in Milwaukee when that 
city of nearly a quarter of a million people 
was but a small, uninviting place, and settled 
in what is now the town of Norway, Racine 
county, five years before this country became 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



627 



a State. The raotlier died soon after coming 
to this country, leavinga husband and five chil- 
dren, of which GuUeck was the oldest, being 
at the time of her death thirteen years of 
age. The family settled on some land in 
Racine county and lived there for many years, 
where some of the family still reside. The 
father lived at his old home in Racine county 
until his death, which occurred in January, 
1891, leaving a widow who still survives, he 
having re-married. Of the live children by 
the first marriage, Gulleck is the eldest; 
Knut, the second in order of birth, is a resi- 
dent of the town of Preston, as is also Bur- 
chard, the third. Anna is the wife of Frank 
Immell, of Blair, an inventor. Ole resides at 
Burlington, Wisconsin. The eldest daughter 
married Frank Overson, and died in Racine 
county. A son, Abraham, and a daughter^ 
Andrina, live on the old homestead. 

November 25, 1850, the Rev. H. A. Stub 
united in the bonds of matrimony Mr. Gul- 
leck Olson and Miss Bertha Olson, a native 
of Norway who came to this country the same 
year as her husband, and two years later they 
removed to what was then Bad Axe, now 
Vernon county, Wisconsin, where they lived 
for a short time, then sold their farm and 
came to this country. They first settled on 
the northeast quarter of section 13, township 
21, range 7 west, but a few years later moved 
to section 18, which has since been tlieir 
home. As the result of their industry and 
good management they now have a pleasant 
and comfortable home, and a fine farm of 
227 acres of good land. Of the five children 
born to their marriage, Helen is the wife of 
Ole Lee, of Brookings, Dakota; Ebert is a 
resident of Tomahawk, Wisconsin; llenry 
and Thomas are at home, and Isabel is the 
wife of Olaus P. Strum. Mr. Olson has 
lived here for a period of thirty-eight years 
and has seen the country grow from a state of 



wildness to its present importance. He has 
held many offices of trust and honor; has 
served as chairman of the Boai-d, Town 
Treasurer and School Treasurer for many 
years. Politically he is a Republican, and 
religiously lie and family are members of the 
Lutheran Church. 



^^ 



HIMANN HELGESON was born in 
Norway, March 20, 1851, son of Helge 
Iverson, who died when his son was but 
six months old. When sixteen years of age, 
in 1867, he came to America, accompanied 
by an older sister, Aaste, who died in Dane 
county about three weeks after their arrival. 
Mr. Helgeson remained in Perry. Dane 
county, for about six years, and was married 
there to Miss Astri O. Bakken, a native of 
the town of Perry, Dane county, and to them 
were born ten children, six of whom are still 
living, viz.: Anton A., Emmn Lena H., Henry 
O., Oscar Edward, Anna T., and Tine A. 
They lost three children by death. In 1873 
they came to Trempealeau county, locating 
on section 8, in the town of Albion, but later 
removed to their farm on section 18, which 
they still own. Their home farm consists of 
120 acres of nicely located land. 

Mr. Helgeson was formerly identified with 
the Republican party, but is not now identi- 
fied with any political party, but believes in 
supporting men for oifice on the ground of 
principle, not from any political organization 
to which he may chance to belong. He is 
one of the representative men of Albion, and 
has been called by his fellow citizens to serve 
in various positions, the duties of which he 
has discharged with ability and fidelity. He 
is the present town clerk and is serving his 
eighth term in that capacity. For a number 
of years he was a member of the Board of 



628 



BIOGRAPHICAL niSTORT. 



Supervisors, beincr twice elected to the cliair- 
inaiiship of that body, and was a Justice of 
the Peace for many years. Religiously he is 
connected with the United Lutheran Church, 
and is secretary for the congregation to which 
he belongs, and has ever been identified with 
the buililiiig up and support of the church. 
In fact, he has ever been prominently 
identified with whatever tends to promote 
the moral and religrious growth of the com- 
munity in which he lives. 



fREDERICK RICHTER. one of the 
pioneers of Buffalo county, Wisconsin, 
was born at Blankstadt, Baden, Germany, 
October 23, 1827. His parents, Jacob and 
Susanna (Slump) Richter, were both natives 
of Germany, the former born in 1800 and the 
latter in 1803. His father was a cooper by 
trade. They both passed their lives and died 
in Raden, the father dying in 1876, and the 
mother in 1882. Their nine children were: 
Peter, George, Frederick, Lena, Eva, Louisa, 
Susanna, Elizabeth and Margaret. Frederick, 
George, Susanna and Margaret emigrated to 
the L'^nite<l States. George went to Des 
M'dnes, Iowa, and died there. Margaret 
was in Freeport, Illinois, and died a number 
of years ago. 

Frederick Richter came to this country in 
1858, and landed in New York. In his na- 
tive land he had learned the cooper's trade, 
and also that of a brewer, and after his ar- 
rival in New York went to Williamsburg, 
that State, and obtained employment with a 
brewing company. From there he went to 
Siindusky, Ohio, thence to Freeport, Illinois, 
next to St. Louis, from there to New Orleans, 
then to Dubuque, Iowa, thence to Stillwater, 
Minnesota, and again back to Freeport, much 
of the time being engajjed in the 



business. In 1856 be came to Fountain City, 
and, in partnership with his brother-in-law, 
Valentine Eder, erected a brewery known as 
the Eagle Brewery, the second one in the 
couuty. He operated this establishment un- 
til 1861, when he sold out. In 1860. having 
great trouble with his eyes, he made a trip to 
Europe, accompanied by his wife. Returning 
the following year, he took up his abode in 
Freeport, where he remained two years, after 
which he again came to Fountain City, and 
for nineteen months was foreman of his old 
brewery. In 1871, in company with Philip 
Eder, he erected a brewery and continued in 
business there until 1873, then selling his 
interest in the establishment, on account of 
his eyes again. Moving to the old county 
seat near Sandy Hook, he occupied the old 
courthouse for three years. In 1873 he 
made another trip to his native land, and after 
a sojourn of four months there came back to 
Sandy Hook and opened his present saloon. 
He owns 280 acres of land, has built a line 
brick house and made other improveinonts. 
His location is a good one, being on the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Northern Railroad, and 
overlooking the Waumandee bay. 

Ml'. Richter was married at Fountain City 
November 23, 1856, to Elizabeth, daughter 
of John and Margaret Eder. His politicial 
affiliations are with the Democratic party. 



-T-T/l/?/2/- 



•1/inn^^ 



brewing 



fOIING.FAULDS&ALLANJ.COWIE 
are the proprietors and publishers of Ths 
Leader of Arcadia, one of the oldest 
newspapers of Trempealeau country, it hav- 
ing been established about twenty years ago. 
It was formerly the leading Republican paper 
of Trefnpealeau county, but when Mr. Faulds 
took control he changed its political com- 
plexion entirely, making it strongly Demo- 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



629 



cratic. It is now the recosjnized organ of the 
Democratic party in the county. 

Both of these gentlemen are representatives 
of pioneer families of Bnifalo county. Mr. 
Faulds was born in Glencoe township, Buffalo 
county, November 24, 1867, a son of John 
Faulds, who settled in that township in 1855. 
James Faulds, the father of the latter, was 
born in Scotland and emigrated to America 
about 1848, settling in Pennsylvania, and in 
1855 came to Buffalo. Here James Faulds 
resided until his death. John Faulds, the 
father of our subject, is now a resident of 
Arcadia. John G. Faulds was educated at 
the public schools of his native town 
and also in the graded schools of Ai-cadia. 
In 1882 he entered the office of The Leader, 
to learn the trade of printing, Charles A. 
Leith being the editor of the paper. Here 
Mr. Faulds continued about thirteen months, 
when he i-e-entered the high school at Arca- 
dia. In November, 1885, he became con- 
nected with the La Crosse County Record, 
published at Onalaska, and January 1, 1887, 
was employed on the La Crosse Rej^uhlicaji 
and Leader. June 1, 1887, he became con- 
nected with the Buffalo County Journal, 
published at Alma, where he remained three 
years, and in February, 1890, he purchased 
a one-half interest in The Leader of Mr. 
George Mathys. During the session of the 
Legislature for 1891, Mr. Faulds wasenrolling 
clerk of the State Senate. 

In June, 1890, he wedded Miss Julia 
Protz, of Alma, Buffalo county, a daughter 
of Rudolph Protz, a prominent ploneei' set- 
tler of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Faulds 
have one child, a daughter, Wanda. 

Allan J. Cowie, who purchased the half 
interest in The Leader of Mr. Faulds' part- 
ner July 17, 1891, was born in Glencoe, 
Buffalo county, August 25, 1865, a son of 
Hon. George Cowie, a pioneer of that county 



and one of its prominent and well-known 
citizens. Mr. Cowie received a good English 
education in the public schools of his native 
town, and also in the high school of Arcadia. 
He began teaching at the age of sixteen, at 
which he worked during the winter season 
and on his father's farm in the summers for 
several years. In 1887-'88 he was principal 
of the schools at Independence, this county, 
and for the three years following was engaged 
as agent for the Northwestern Elevator Com- 
pany in Minnesota. Messrs. Faulds & Cowie 
are young men of great energy and ability, 
and The Leader under their management has 
become largely increased in circulation and 
influence. 



if-.ON. ISAAC CLARK, president of the 
Bank of Galesville, has been closely 
identified with the history of the village 
of Galesville and of Trempealeau county 
since 1855. He is a native of Franklin 
county, Maine, where he grew to manhood. 
His father, Isaac Clark, also a native of the 
Pine Tree State, was descended from an old 
New England family, and continued to live in 
his native State until his death. Mr. Clark, our 
subject, was married at the age of twenty- 
three years, to Miss Emily French, and in 
the fall of 1854 they came to Wisconsin and 
spent the first winter in Gi-een Lake county. 
In 1855, in company with his brother-in- 
law, John C. French, he came to Trempealeau 
county and purchased over a section of land. 
Mr. Clark has now a fine farm and beautiful 
home just outside the limits of Galesville. 
He lost his first wife by death in 1867, and 
his second wife, Julia Webb, died in 1877. 
His present wife was Fra F. Viles, a native of 
Maine. He has three children by the first 
marriage: Eugene, Florence and Genevieve, 



630 



BIOGRAl'HWAL HISTORY. 



and two sons by tlie second: William and 
Leslie. 

Mr. Clark has been prominently connected 
with the banking interests of Galesville since 
the organization of the first bank at this 
place, in 1883. With W. C. Brooks he es- 
tablished a banking honse with a capital of 
$10,000, which they conducted as a private 
bank for some time, and then organized 
under the banking laws of the State. He 
erected his present line building in 1886, 
which is of a solid brick, 80 x 44 feet, the en- 
tire cost being about $20,000. Mr. Clark 
has been president of the bank since its lirst 
organization; C. M. Kellogg is the present 
cashier, and tiie directors are Isaac Clark, 
Wilson Davis, Daniel Kennedy, William B. 
Thompson, E. M. Towbridge, Edgar Palmer 
and C. M. Kellogg. This is the most im- 
portant banking institution of Trempealeau 
county, its directors and stock-holders are all 
substantial citizens, and its business is con- 
ducted on a most careful and judicious plan. 
Few men are better or more favorably known 
throughout Trempealeau and adjoining 
counties than Mr. Clark. As a business man 
he has ever been enterprising and successful, 
and in a special manner is Galesville indebted 
to him for much of its growth and prosperity. 
In his political aiBliations he is a Republican, 
and in his earlier voting days belonged to the 
Whig party. He has been called upon by 
his fellow citizens to till a number of local 
offices, and in 1809 was elected to the Legis- 
lature of the State, and served in that capac- 
ity in an acceptable manner. 



fORN OCHSNEK.— No name is more 
intimately or favorably associated with 
the history of Buffalo county than that 
of John Ochsnei-; and without a biography 
of hini this work would be incomplete. 



Mr. Ochsner was born in Zurich, Switzer- 
land, February 26, 1832, son of Heiiry and 
Barbara (Morf) Ochsner. His father, a farmer 
by occupation, was born in that country in 
the year 1798. He emigrated with his family 
to the United States in 1851, landed in New 
York and came from there to Wisconsin. 
Settling in Sauk county he engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits and continued there until 
his death, which occurred in 1854. The 
mother survived him until 1877, her death 
occurring in Waumandee. They were the 
parents of nine children, viz.: Henry, Bn- 
dolpli, John, Dora, wife of John H. Menz, of 
Waumandee; Conrad, Barbara, wife of Henry 
Weal ty, of Waumandee; Lizzie, wife of God- 
frey Weal ty, of Oregon; Ann, wife of Otto 
Bavner, also of Oregon; and Edward, who 
enlisted in the Second Wisconsin Cavalry, 
and was killed in 1863. 

John was reared at home, receiving a 
common-school education and assisting his 
father on the farm. In 1855 he bought 
some land on Beef river, Buffalo county, and 
I'eturned soon afterward to Sauk county. The 
following year he came again to Buffalo 
county, and not liking his location he pur- 
chased 280 acres of land in sections 16 and 
21, where his present home is situated. He 
at once began the work of improvement by 
breaking ground and erecting buildings, and 
as the years rolled by the work was continued 
until his present highly cultivated farm is 
the result. His brick residence was built in 
1886. Some time after settling here he 
bought eighty acres of land in order to com- 
mand a better water course. A portion of 
his first farm he sold to his brother Conrad. 
He now owns 400 acres in one body. He 
has another farm of 280 acres in Lincoln 
township and one of 160 acres in Montana 
township, which he leases. In his agricult- 
ural pursuits he has not confined himself to 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



631 



any special product, but has given his atten- 
tion to general farming and stock-i-aisine;. 

The Wanmandee river runs through his 
farm and furnishes an excellent water power. 
In 1863 Mr. Ochsner erected a gristmill, at 
first having two pair of millstones and using 
the turbine wheel. From time to time he 
made improvements in his mill, and in 1886 
rebuilt it and put in the roller system, using 
eight rollers. He also had two buhrstones 
for grinding feed. In the fall of 1887 his 
mill was burned down, supposed to have been 
the work of an incendiary. He was insured 
for $4,000, and his loss was estimated at 
$8,000. The following year he rebuilt, put 
in the same number of rollers for flour and 
two additional ones for feed, and his mill 
now has the capacity of sixty-live barrels per 
day. His brand is the "White Rose," and 
for all the product of his mill he has a ready 
sale. 

Mr. Ochsner was marrJed at Zurich, Switz- 
erland, in February, 1861, to Louise, daughter 
of John and Doratha (Staub) Wealby. Tlie 
following named children iiave been born to 
them: Adolph, Lena, wife of George Schmidt, 
of Alma; liudolph, Henry, Hedwig and 
Henry, the two latter being now deceased. 

Besides attending to his personal interests, 
Mr. Ochsner has found time for public duty, 
always discliarging the same carefully and 
conscientiously. He has held the position of 
Town Assessor, has been chairman of the town 
board of Supervisors, and has also served as 
one of the County Commissioners. He takes 
an active part in local politics, usually sup- 
porting the Republican party. 

Mr. Ochsner has won his own way in the 
world, and the signal success he has attained 
in life tnay be attributed to his industrious 
habits, his good judgment and his strict in- 
tegrity. He is a gentleman of pleasing ad- 
dress, warm and genial in nature, benevolent 



in act and charitable in thouo-lit. His re- 
ligion is that of the golden rule, and by 
following it through life he has won hosts of 
friends. His career is, indeed, one worthy of 
emulation. 



^ 



^ 



JETER UHL, one of the well-known 
d and successful farmers of Trempealeau 
county, resides on section 14, Gale 
township. He is a sou of Michael Uhl, who 
was born on the river Rhine, Germany, and 
was married to Mary Schrodes. In April, 
1849, the family emigrated to America, land- 
ing in New York, after which they went 
to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence to 
Washington county, same State, where they 
purchased a farm. In 1854 they came to 
Trempealeau county ard settled in Gale 
township, where the father, Michael Uhl, 
lived until his death, which occurred Sep- 
tember 30, 1885, at the age of eighty-six 
years and eleven months. His wife, Anna 
■Uhl, was born October 18, 1803, and died at 
the homestead in Gale township, March 21, 
1886. They both lie buried in the beautiful 
cemetery at Galesville. Peter Uhl, the sub- 
ject of this sketch, is the eldest of a family 
of six children, two sons and four daughters, 
all of whom are living but a daughter, Mary, 
who died after attaining womanhood. George 
is the second of the family in order of birth; 
MoUie, the eldest daughter, is married and 
lives in Winona, Minnesota; Christena lives 
in La Crosse, and Barbara in Arcadia. On 
coming to this county the family at once 
secured a tract of land, but all was then new 
and it seemed to them that the country would 
never sufficiently develop to render their land 
of material value. 

Peter, being the eldest son, became the 
leader of the family, and upon him devolved 



633 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STOUT. 



quite a responsibility, but he was young and 
strong and did not shrink from the duty that 
devolved upon him. They had brought some 
nnoney with them, but the question was to 
get something to live upon till a crop could 
be raised. In the fall of 1854 Peter started 
out alone with three ox teams and a wagon, 
determined to secure provisions for the fam- 
ily if Biich were to be t'ounc'. He went first 
to Trempealeau, where he had been promised 
flour, but was disappointed and went on to 
La Crosse. There he bought twelve barrels 
of flour, and loading them on his wagon 
started for home. The difhculties attending 
this trip may be conceived when it is known 
that there was not a bridge at this time be- 
tween the present village of Galesville and 
La Crosse. In returning with his load of 
flour he forded the La Crosse river three 
times, and before crossing he would remove 
all his load but four barrels, that he might 
not risk too much, thus making three trips 
at each crossing. He succeeded in reaching 
home after a week's absence, without material 
damage, and thus the family were supplied 
with flour for quite a long period of time. 
At another time his father accompanied him 
on a trip to La Crosse, and as the river was 
somewhat flooded by recent rains the opera- 
tion of crossing was a very hazardous one. 
While fording the river the box of the wagon 
containing the father was carried away by the 
stream, and Peter, with great presence of 
mind, sprang into the water at the head of 
the oxen, caught hold of the bow of the yoke 
and succeeded in leading tiiem ashore, and 
then returned and poled the bo.\ containing 
his father to the shore. The old gentleman, 
though much frightened, was not injured, 
but received a severe wetting. These were 
some of the experiences of the first year of 
their pioneer life. They raised a fair crop 
the first year, and thereafter had no special 



trouble in getting enough to live on. But 
they were in no hurry to improve the land, 
being still in doubt whether the country 
would ever be settled. Peter then left home 
for a time, and worked at whatever he could 
find to do, but it was not long before other 
settlers came in, and it became certain that 
the country would eventually be settled. 
Then Peter and his brother George went to 
work in earnest, and helped the father clear 
the farm and make a home for the family. 
They built roads and bridges, and gradually 
the country put on the appearance of civilized 
life. 

Peter Uhl was married, in March, 1857, to 
Miss Abbie Hardt, and they have eight chil- 
dren, viz.: Michael, Peter, Abbie, Rosa, Anna, 
Philip, Lizzie and Jennie. The father has 
always been a hard-working and industrious 
farmer of this county, and has been very suc- 
cessful. He had at one time 1,200 acres of 
land, some of which he has given to his sons, 
but his home farm now consists of 480 acres, 
and he also has 200 acres west of this place. 
He has a tine brick residence and a beautiful 
home. He has been very successful in the 
raising of stock, both horses and cattle, 
making a specialty of the Devonshire breed 
of cattle, and keeps a large number of cows 
for dairy purposes. 



EV. NELSON COOK, of Trempealeau, 
is a pioneer of this State, having been a 
resident of AVisconsin during the whole 
time of its existence as a State, and for four 
years previous to its admission into the 
Union. He was born in Genesee county. 
New York, March 5, 1817, the son of Jesse 
and Nancy (Lozier) Cook. Mr. Cook, on 
his father's side, is descended from an early 
Welsh family of Puritan religious belief. 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



633 



The grandfather of our subject, Miles Cook, 
was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and 
a native of Connecticut. After the colonies 
had secured their independence he settled in 
Jefferson county. New York, and later re- 
moved to St. Lawrence county, where he 
lived until death. They were the parents of 
eight children, five sons and three daughters, 
who grew to mature years, but all have now 
passed away except a son and daughter. The 
former, Gideon Cook, was born July 23, 
1803, and now resides with his son George 
in Independence, Wisconsin ; the surviving 
sister, Ruth, was never married, and is now a 
resident of Michigan. The mother of our 
subject was born in New York, the daughter 
of Peter Lozier, a native of France, and de- 
scended from the nobility of that country. 
The mother of Peter Lozier was the youngest 
sister of Marquis La Fayette, the eminent 
soldier and patriot who assisted Washington 
in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Lozier 
emigrated to America in early life, settling 
in Schoharie county, where he lived until 
death. Jesse Cook, the father of Rev. Nel- 
son Cook, was a minister of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, as was his father before 
him, so that the subject of this sketch would 
seem to have inherited a disposition to preach 
the gospel. When Mr. Cook was a mere child 
his father removed from Genesee county to 
Jefferson county. New York, and in the spring 
of 1844 Jesse Cook emigrated, and his fam- 
ily came in the summer of 1845, to the then 
Territory of Wisconsin, where he and his 
wile lived until death. He was born July 
30, 1793, and died January 10, 1807. His 
wife, Nancy Lozier, was born May 23, 1796, 
and died August 27, 1845. Jesse Cook re- 
married after the death of his first wife, and 
was the father of eleven chi'dren by his first 
marriage, si.x sons and five daughters, eight 
of whom grew to mature years and four are 



now living. The subject of this sketch is the 
oldest of the family; Sarah is the widow of 
Nelson B. Schram; Alvin W. and Esquire. 
There is one surviving daughter of the second 
marriage. 

Rev. Nelson Cook, our subject, was reared 
in Jefferson county, and learned the trade of 
shoemaking with his father, who followed 
that occupation. His opportunities for ac- 
quiring an education in early life were limited, 
and he never atteTuled school after the age of 
twelve years. He was married October 5, 
1835, to Miss Lydia Wilcox, a native of New 
York. In the autumn of 1844 he came to 
the Territory of Wisconsin with his family, 
and settled in the town of La Grange, Wal- 
worth county, where he lived until 1859, 
when he came to Trempealeau county and 
settled on section 3, Trempealeau township, 
where he now lives. The land comprising 
his home farm was located by his father on a 
soldier's land warrant, he having served in 
the war of 1812, as did two of his brothers. 
All was wild and new when Mr. Cook came 
to this county, and here he has made a fine 
farm and has a beautiful home. He lost his 
first wife by death March 27. 1879, and July 
6 of the same year he was married to Mrs. 
Cynthia Chase, widow of Joseph Chase. 
She died May 8, 1882. His present wife 
was a daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Spauld- 
ing) Smith, both of whom died when Mrs. 
Cook was a child. At the age of si.xteen 
years she went to Kalamazoo, Michigan, 
where she married Frederick Booher, who 
died there in 1872. After the death of her 
husband she went to Ottawa, Illinois, where 
she lived seven years and then came to Trem- 
pealeau county. Mr. Cook is the father of 
three children by his first marriage, viz.: 
Minerva Jane, wife of James Cox, of Trem- 
pealeau; Harriet M., the wife of Ilarlt/W 
Rood, of Portage county, Wisconsin; Lester, 



6:!4 



BWGRAPIITCAL UTSTORT. 



the only son, is a resident of Trempealeau 
county. He lost three children by his iirst 
marriage, — Adelia, Sarah and Esther, the 
latter haviuff been a twin sister of Lester. 
Mrs. Cook has two daughters by her first 
marriage, — Anna M. and Emma Mabel. The 
latter is the wife of George Lee, of Trem- 
pealeau. 

llev. Nelson Cook was converted at the 
age of ten years, and joined the churcli at 
the age of fifteen, having been a church 
member for nearly .sixty years. He began 
preaching in 1842, and was ordained an 
elder in 1853. He came to Trempealeau 
county as a missionary of the LTnited Breth- 
ren Church, but two years later united with 
the Methodist Church, in which connection 
he has since labored. In the discharge of 
his duties as a preacher of the gospel he has 
ever been prompt and faithful, and in the 
early days traveled many thousand miles, 
having often walked twenty-five miles a day, 
preaching three times in the meantime, and 
has been called forty miles to preach a funeral 
sermon. He continued actively in the min- 
istry until the autumn of 1890, when failing 
health compelled him to discontinue regular 
preaching, though still a member of the West 
Wisconsin Conference. Mr. Cook is well 
known throughout Trempealeau and adjoin- 
inir counties, and is esteemed by all as a 
worthy citizen and a Christian gentleman. 



fACOB STOLL, one of the leading hard- 
ware merchants of Buffalo county, Wis- 
consin, was born in the Canton of 
Schaffhausen, Switzerland, November 2, 
1831. His parents, Jacob and Ursula (Muel- 
ler) Stoll, were natives of Switzerland, and 
lived and died there, the former's death 
occurring at the age of fifty-seven, and the 



latter's at sixty-four. His father was by 
occupation a farmer and cattle dealer. 
Gratidfather Stoll was also named Jacob. 

The subject of our sketch lived at home 
until 1850, assisting his father on the farm 
and attending the common schools. He has 
one brother and three sisters, John, Mar- 
garet, Elizabeth and Ursula, all living in 
Switzerland. Mr. Stoll emigrated to the 
United States, landitig in New York, in 
August, 1850, and from there came to 
Madison, Wisconsin. At that place he 
ap[)renticed himself to the blacksmith trade, 
and remained there until January, 1852, 
when he went to New Glarus, Green county, 
and worked at his trade. Leaving there in 
1853, he went to Monroe county, Ohio, 
where he engaged in blacksmithing till the 
spring of 1854; thence to Galena, Illinois, 
still continuing in tiie same business. In 
August, 1855, he came to Fountain City 
and opened iiis shop on the corner back of 
the Republican printing-office. He was the 
third blacksmith in the county, and continued 
work at that trade until 1872. 

In 1809 he established his hardware store 
on the corner of Hill and Main streets, where 
he erected a two-story brick building. He 
has conducted his business here ever since; 
has been prosperous in his undertakings, and 
now has one of the largest stores in the 
county. He also has a tin shop in connec- 
tion with his establishment, in which he 
manufactures all the tinware he sells. Mr. 
Stoll is a man of keen business sagacity, and 
(luring his long residence here has made a 
number of paying investments. He is a 
stockholder in the Fountain City Milling 
Company and in the Fountain City Brewing 
Cdtnpany. He also has a farm of 280 acres 
near the town of Milton, besides some thirty- 
four acres of swamp land. 

Mr. Stoll was married in New Glarus, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



635 



Green coiinty, Wisconsin, June 6, 1852, to 
Barbara, daughter of Christian and Mary 
Liechti. The issue from this union is as fol- 
lows: Lena, born in Ohio, married Christian 
Florin. Her death occurred June 25, 1878; 
Emma, born at Fountain City, April 5, 1856, 
became the second wife of Christian Florin; 
Frederick, born June 6, 1859, died July 4, 
1863; John J., born March 10, 1861; Ed- 
ward, born January 23, 1865, died August 9, 
1865; William G., born July 10, 1867; and 
a child that died in infancy. William is 
engaged in business with bis father, and has 
charge of the tinshop. Mrs. Stoll died July 
21, 1885. October 7, 1886, Mr. Stoll wed- 
ded Mrs. Louise Schwaninger, his present 
companion. 

His son-in-law, Christian Florin, above re- 
ferred to, is also a native of Switzerland. He 
emigrated to the United States in 1808, and 
at once located in Fountain City. By his 
first wife, Lena, whom he married November 
26, 1872, he had four children: John, Oscar, 
Mira and Louisa. After her death he was 
married. May 25, 1880, to her sister Emma. 
In 1809 he became a partner with Mr. Stoll, 
and they are still associated together in busi- 
ness. In politics he is Democratic. 

Mr. Stoll occupies a prominent position 
among the pioneers of this county. Few 
names are more intimately associated with 
its growth and development than his. He 
is a member of the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 
13, of Fountain City, and in politics gives 
his support to the Republican party. 

SRANK HARE, a well-known citizen of 
Trempealeau county, and a gallant sol- 
dier in the war of the Rebellion, resides 
on section 6, in the town of Caledonia. He 
was born in Clinton county. New York, in 



1839, and is of Spanish extraction, his pater- 
nal grandfather having been a Spaniard by 
birth, and for many years a resident of New 
York State, where he died. The father of 
our subject, Joseph Hare, was a native of 
New York, and was married to Elsie Irish. 
In 1851 he emigrated with his family to 
Wisconsin, and settled in La Crosse county. 
In 1861 he removed to Pierce county, and in 
1865 to Trempealeau county, where he died 
in 1870. His wife died December 26, 1885, 
the day following her eighty-fiftli birthday. 
Joseph Hare and wife had seven children, 
four sons and three daughters, and three sons 
and two daughters are still living. The 
eldest, Mary Ann, still lives iu New York; 
Lemuel, the eldest son, resides in Trempea- 
leau; Avis now resides in Fierce county; 
Decati;r was a member of the Eighth Wis- 
consin in the war of the Rebellion, and now 
resides at Independence, Trempealeau county; 
Huldah Jane was twice married, and died in 
Carson City, Nevada; Merrill, also a member 
of the Eighth Wisconsin, died after the war, 
of disease contracted in the army. 

Frank Hare, the youngest of his father's 
family, enlisted at Prescott, Pierce county, 
Wisconsin, in June, 1861, in Company B, 
Sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and has 
the honor of being the first man who put his 
name on the company roll. He was, how- 
ever, at once followed by lifty others. His 
army experience was a most thrilling one, 
and proves him to have been a daring soldier. 
He followed the fortunes of the Sixth Wis- 
consin, which formed a part of the Iron 
Brigade, and no military organization iu the 
war of the Rebellion did more heroic service. 
We shall endeavor to give a condensed record 
of Mr. Hare's military service. After enlist- 
ment he drilled with his company at Prescott 
for about three weeks, when they were ordered 
to Madison, where they went into camp 



C36 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



and drilled until after the battle of Bull Run. 
They then started for "Washington, arriving 
in Baltimore in time to have a skirmish with 
the secessionists of that city, and after arriv- 
ing in the Capital city they went into camp 
at Arlington, Heights, and there received 
muskets and drilled. They went thence to 
Camp Lyons, where they were witnesses of 
the first punishment of desertion, and were 
drawn up to see the soldier shot for that 
crime. They returned to Arlington Heights, 
and there engaged in drilling and picket duty. 
and also assisted in building ths forts about 
that place. The first battle in which Mr. 
Hare took part was that of the second battle 
of Bull Run, under General Pope, after which 
he went to South lilountain, and was detailed 
to assist in burying the dead, burying the first 
member of his company that was killed in 
battle, A. B. Wilson. The next conflict in 
which he was engaged was the terrible battle 
of Antietam, where he received a wound in 
the left thigh. This required his confinement 
in the hospital, first at Hagerstown, then at 
Washington, and tiience at the New York 
City Hospital, where he remained two 
months. He went then to Fort Hamilton, 
and a week later took steamer to Alexandria, 
where he entered the convalescent hospital. 

There Mr. Hare took steamer for Bell 
Plain, and after landing in Cliesapeake bay 
he rejoined his regiment, and the following 
day started on the march to Fredericksburg, 
taking part in the battle at that place under 
Burnside. His regiment made the celebrated 
charge at Fitzhugh's Crossing and covered the 
retreat of Burnside They then returned to 
Bell Plain Landing, fought at Chancellors- 
ville under Hooker, and took part in the great 
battle of Gettysburg, where he fought as a 
member of the Iron Brigade for three days. 
Joining the forces of General Grant, they 
took part in the terrible battle of the Wilder- 



ness, May 5, 1864, and he was shot through 
the left leg by a minie ball and fell into the 
hands of the enemy, by whose surgeon his leg 
was amputated on the field. He lay on the 
field of battle until Juiie 6, when he was re- 
moved to Gordonsville. His experience in 
the battle of the Wilderness, both before and 
after he was wounded, was the most thrilling. 
General John A. Kellogg, in an oration on 
Decoration Day at Faribault, Minnesota, 
May 30, 1874, gave a graphic account of the 
battle of the Wilderness fought May 5, 1864. 
Among other things he says: "I had the 
misfortune to be slightly wounded and taken 
prisoner. On being taken to the rear, 1 hap- 
pened to be temporarily confined near the 
Rebel hospital. Under a high tree I noticed 
two wounded men wearing the blue, and soon 
discovered them to be Captain Rollin P.Con- 
verse and Corporal Frank Hare. The cor- 
poral had been vvounded in the leg, and had 
just suffered an amputation above the knee. 
The captain had been shot through the body 
and also through the thigh, and the rebe\ 
surgeons had decided to experiment on him 
by what is known as a hip amputation. Con- 
verse knew that his wound was mortal, and 
was desirous of avoiding unnecessary suffer- 
ing. Whispering to Hare, he told him that 
in his inside coat pocket was a small Colt's 
revolver, which iiad escaped the notice of the 
enemy, and he desired Hare to get this and 
pievent if possible his being disturbetl before 
he died. Corporal Hare obeyed the order, 
and when the attendants attem])tfd to remove 
the captain to the amputating table, he cocked 
his revolver and in a quiet way commanded 
them to desist, saying he would shoot the first 
man who laid hands on the captain. A guard 
was brought up, and with cocked muskets 
aimed at Hare's breast, ordered iiim to drop 
the pistol. He only laughed at them, saying : 
' What do you suppose I care for my life 




.^ 




~v' ^^-^<^^ 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



637 



with my leg gone? Kill me if yon will, but 
that man is my captain. He has ordered me 
not to permit him to be moved, and I shall 
obey his orders to the best of my ability, and 
so long as I live and have strength to shoot 
it will be dangerous for any man to touch 
him while he lives.' Struck with admira- 
t'on at his coolness, the guard was ordered to 
leave them, and one rebel officer, looking 
admiringly at Hare remarked, ' I would like 
a regiment of such men.' This aroused the 
dying captain, who replied: ' I had the 
honor to command a hundred such men; the 
North is full of them, and sooner or later we 
shall triumph, and your rebel flag will be 
trailed in the dnst.' These were his last 
words, which having been uttered, he fell 
back dead." 

Mr. Hare was taken from the battlefield of 
the Wilderness by his captors to Gordons- 
ville, where he suffered a second amputation 
of his limb. While at that city the Rebels, 
fearing an attack by the Union troops, placed 
Mr. Hare and other prisoners on flat cars and 
ran into a swamp, where they remained three 
days without food or water. They were then 
taken to the stockade at Andersonville, where 
they stayed fourteen days, and thence to Cas- 
tle Thunder, Richmond. From there they 
were taken to Libby prison, pnd in Septem- 
ber, 1864, came out on what is known as the 
"Ten Thousand Exchange." After having 
been a prisoner four months and fourteen 
days, and all of this time in a severely 
wounded condition, Mr. Hare was taken to 
City Point and thence to Annapolis, Mary- 
laud, where the tliird amputation of his limb 
was performed. At the latter city he obtained 
his discharge and returned to Prescott, Wis- 
consin, and there, in 1866, the fourth opera- 
tion was performed, which consisted in re- 
moving the bone to within an inch of the 

hip socket. Wlien his wound had sufficiently 
4a 



healed he came to Trempealeau county, where 
he has since lived. 

It would seem impossiljje after the 
long and intense suffering that he endured 
that Mr. Hare should be able to perform 
much manual labor, or realize in any way 
much enjoyment in life, but on the contrary 
he started out determined to make for him- 
self a home. He has improved a farm, and 
has a pleasant home and surroundings, located 
about two miles southeast of Galesville. His 
farm contains 140 acres, on which he has 
made all the improvements, but even his 
iron constitution and determined will cannot 
wholly prevail against the sufferings he has 
endured, and as the years pass by he feels 
more and more the effects of his experience 
as a soldier. As he was a brave soldier in 
the cause of the Union, so he is a respected 
and esteemed citizen. 

He was married, March 13, 1869, to Miss 
Sophrona Terpna, and they have one son, 
Cortez. 



fOHN GILLESPIE is president of the 
Bank of Arcadia, which was established 
by him in 1883. He does a general 
business, and the officials of the bank are 
John Gillespie, president; and Joseph Ruth, 
cashier. Mr. Gillespie has been a resident of 
Trempealeau county since 1873. He was born 
in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1827, and at the 
age of nineteen years lie emigrated to Can- 
ada, where he remained three years, residing^ 
first at Pictou and then at CoUingwood. 
From Canada Mr. Gillespie went to Roches- 
ter, New York, where he was engaged as 
clerk in a mercantile institution for two 
years; but, wishing to secure employment that 
would promise better than a simple clerkship, 
he accepted an agency for the sale of shoulder 



638 



BIOOIiAPinC.AL niSTORT. 



braces for a man living in Syracuse, New 
York. In the sale of tliis article he was 
quite successful, and decided to engage in 
its manufacture himself, and accordingly lo- 
cated near Ithaca, where he continued for a 
number of years. After his marriage he re- 
turned with his wife to Canada on a visit 
with friends in that Dominion, and later went 
to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he was con- 
nected with a toll gate on a public road. 
After a time he purchased the stock and 
operated the business thirteen years. From 
Indiana he removed to Rochester, Minne- 
sota, where he engaged in farming and mer- 
chandising until he came to Trempealeau 
county. 

Mr. Gillespie was married, at Ithaca, to 
Eliza Hollister, who died in Indiana. He 
was afterward married, in that State, to Miss 
Amanda Penniman, and it was owing to her 
illness that he removed to Minnesota. She 
died, however, at Rochester, and he was sub- 
sequently married to his present wife, Mrs. 
Mary B. Murphy. Mr Gillespie has three 
children by his first marriage, a son and two 
daugliters, and the former, John, is a farmer 
near Rochester, Minnesota; Mary is now 
Mrs. D. Search, and resides in London, Eng- 
land; Eliza is the wife of John Pennington, 
also of Rochester; a son and daughter were 
born to the second marriage: Charles, who 
resides in the province of Ontario, Canada, 
and Helen, wife of F. Parks, of Carthage, 
New York. Mr. Gillespie is a well-known 
citizen of Ti-enipealeau county, is a successful 
business man, and is numbered financially 
among the leading citizens of this county. 

— "* ' "^ • s i' S ' T" "*'''— 



[LRICH FRIED, one of the prominent 
business men of Fountain City, Wis- 
consin, is the subject of this biography. 
He was born in Switzerland, August 24, 



1846, son of John and Margaret (Lietha) 
Fried, also natives of that Republic. His 
father, a farmer by occupation, emigrated to 
the United States in 1857, landing in New 
York. From there he came direct to Wis- 
consin and located in the town of Cross, 
Buffalo county, where he purchased a par- 
tially improved farm. He remained there 
and cultivated his lands until 1870, when he 
sold out to his sons, Ulrich and Leonhardt, 
and removed to Arcadia, Trempealeau county, 
same State, where he died in 1873. His 
widow is now living in Stutsman county, 
North Dakota, with her youngest son, Anton. 
Their seven children are as follows: Peter, 
Ulrich, Leonhardt, Magdalina, John, Mary, 
now Mrs. Gusal, and Anton; all living ex- 
cept John and Magdalina. 

The subject of our sketch remained with 
his parents until he was about seventeen 
years of age, attending school and working 
on the farm. He then went to Fountain 
City and learned the carpenter's trade, at 
which he worked for si.x years. At the end 
of that time he and his brother Leonhardt 
bought their father's farm, conducting it 
together for a while and afterward dividing 
it between them. In 1880 he purchased his 
brother Peter's farm, adjoining his own. He 
has 140 acres under cultivation, there being 
550 acres in the farm. 

In 1874 Mr. Fried, while on the farm, 
began to deal in sewing-machines and agri- 
cultural implements, and in 1884 moved this 
business into Fountain City, locating on 
Front street. He has established a tine trade 
here and is doing an extensive Inisiness. He 
makes a specialty of agricultural implements, 
handles the J. F. Seiberlig's mower and 
binder, all the latest improved farm ma- 
chinery, and a full line of chain and iron 
force and lift pumps. He handles the Seam- 
stress and Jennie June sewing-machines. 



BIOaRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



c;h9 



His establishment is one of the best of its 
kind in the city. 

Mr. Fried was married in the town of 
Milton, Wisconsin, July 2, 1870, to Sedonia, 
daughter of Rudolph and Mary Gasal, and 
has seven children, namely: Emil, Rudolph, 
Peter, Gaudenz, Maggie, Alma and Erwin. 



-'-y-iyin. 



'/V—^-^lfinn^^ 



C. BUTTON, attorney and counselor 
at law, Trempealeau, has been a mem- 
ber of the bar of this county since 
1879, sncceeding his brother S. W. Button, 
now Judge of Monroe county, and resides at 
Sparta. Judge Button was engaged in the 
practice of law at Trempealeau for a number 
of years, and also served as a soldier in a 
Wisconsin regiment, in the war of the rebel- 
lion. He was severely wounded in the ser- 
vice in his left shoulder, from which he has 
never fully recovered. 

Julius C. was born in Lorain county, Ohio, 
the son of Charles and Cynthia (Watson) 
Button. The parents removed from the 
State of New York to Ohio, thence to Mich- 
igan, later to La Salle county, Illinois, set- 
tling near Ottawa. From Illinois they re- 
moved to Green county, Wisconsin, about 
1845, where the father died the following 
year. The mother survived until 1879, when 
she died at the old home in Green county. 
Charles Button and wife had fourteen chil- 
dren, ten sons and four daughters, and eight 
brothers and one sister are now living. The 
eldest, Rev. Asa Button, was a minister of 
the gospel for over forty years. He was 
instantly and very mysteriously killed by a 
train of cars on the Chicago, Milwaukee & 
St. Paul Railroad, near Chicago. He had 
attained to the age of seventy-live years, but 
was strong and robust at the time of his 
death. The second brother. Rev. Ard But- 



ton, is a Methodist clergyman, and now a 
resident of Kansas; Hollis W. is in the 
railroad service in California; Rev. Charles 
Button is a Baptist clergyman, and lives at 
Riverside, California; Zebulon is a farmer 
and lives in Kansas; Ulysses S., a merchant 
of Tomah, Wisconsin, where he has lived for 
many years; Ralsey W., is with his brother 
Hollis in California; and J. C. Button, the 
subject of this sketch. 

The latter came to Wisconsin with his 
father's family, where he received a liberal edu- 
cation, graduating at Beloit College in 1852, 
and soon afterward began the study of law at 
Beloit. The California gold excitement was 
then at its height, and Mr. Button with 
thousands of others became a victim of the 
gold fever and joined the high caravan which 
crossed the plains toward the Pacific coast. 
The party of which he was a member left 
Wisconsin in the spring of 1853, and crossed 
the plains to Oregon with teams, the trip 
consuming about six months. Mr. Button 
remained in the vicinity of Salem, Oregon, 
engaged in teaching and practicing law for 
three years. He then went to San Francisco, 
and was also in Sacramento for a time, after 
which he returned to Wisconsin, via the 
Isthmus of Panama, in the fall of 1855. On 
his return he resumed the study of law, 
reading at Monroe, Green county, and also 
at Janesville, and was admitted to the bar 
in the former place in the fall of 1857. After 
practicing for a time in Southern Wisconsin, 
he opened an office at St. Croix Falls, Wis- 
consin, and was soon afterward elected Dis- 
trict Attorney. But the country where he 
was located was too new and without im- 
mediate prospects of settling up rapidly, and 
he therefore removed to Prescott, where he 
was in practice for a period of sixteen years, 
and was also Prosecuting Attorney for two 
terms. 



640 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



In 1878 Mr. Button crossed the Atlantic 
and made an extended tour of the old world, 
visiting many of the most important points 
mentioned in ancient and modern history. 
Starting from the port of New York, he 
landed at Glasgow, Scotland, where he visited 
most of the places of historical interest in 
that country. He went thence to England, 
over which lie took an extended tour; from 
London he went to Paris, thence to Lyons 
and on to Spain. Returning to France he 
went to Dijon and passed tlirough the Mt. 
Cenis tunnel into Italy; visited Turin and 
Geneva, the leaning tower of Pisa; visited 
Rome and Naples, and at the latter place 
took ship and crossed the Mediterranean sea 
to Alexandria, Egypt, thence to Cairo, where 
he stood on the top of the pyramid of Cheops. 
This pyramid is 480 feet in height, and its 
base covers an area of thirteen acres. He 
went thence up the Nile to the Red Sea, 
through the Suez canal, then took boat to 
Joppa, thence to Jerusalem. This celebrated 
ancient city was his headquarters for some 
time while visiting other places of interest. 
He went next to the sea of Galilee, crossed 
the Jordan river, and visited various places 
of interest including Sidon and Tyre. He 
crossed the country from Beyroot to Damas- 
cus, a distance of seventy miles and returned, 
there took ship and went to Tarsus, visited 
the island of Patmos and old Troy on the 
way to Constanlinople. From the latter city 
he went up the Black Sea and visited Odessa, 
Sebastopol, Constantinople, Athens, Corinth, 
and Corfu, crossing the Adriatic Sea to 
Brindisi and Naples. At Naples he learned 
of the death of Victor Emmanuel, whose 
funeral he attended, and there witnessed a 
most brilliant military display. Going thence 
to Venice he thei-e learned of the death of 
Pope Pius, and returned to Rome and wit- 
nessed the funeral display which followed the 



death of that potentate. He then went from 
Rome to Florence, visited the famous cathe- 
dral at that place, thence to Prague and 
Munich and various other places, including 
the city of iierlin, thence to Moscow and St. 
Petersburg. He next started for the city of 
Christiania, but the change in the climate 
occasioned by his rapid change in latitude 
caused him to take a severe cold, and he 

therefore changed his mind and visited Ham- 
en 

Inirg, Amsterdam and the Hague. He went 
thei'.ce to Brussels and stood upon the famous 
lield of Waterloo, next to Geneva, then to 
Calais, thence to London and Liverpool. He 
crossed into Ireland and visited Dublin and 
various other places of interest, including 
the famous city of Cork, going thence to 
Queenstown, whence he sailed for New York. 

Soon after his return Mr. Button came to 
Trempealeau to visit his brother, who was 
engaged in the practice of law, and was in- 
duced by him to remain. They practiced for 
a time in partnership, when owing to failing 
health the brother went to Texas, and on his 
return located at Sparta. 

Mr. Button's wife was formerly Miss Char- 
lotte Wheaton, a native of New York. They 
have no children, having lost a son Charles in 
1864, at the age of five years. Mr. Button 
received a liberal literary education in early 
life, which has been supplemented by a prac- 
tical knowledge of the world, obtained by 
extensive travel. It is estimated that his 
trip to the old world covered a distance of 
about 25,000 miles, about 800 of which he 
traveled on foot. He has always been an ex- 
tensive reader, and is well informed on the 
various issues of the day. His professional 
practice he follows rather as a matter of pas- 
time, and to afford him an occupation for the 
mind rather than as a business. He" is a pro- 
gressive and enterprising citizen, and his 



BIOaRAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



641 



knowledge of the world makes him a most 
entertaining and profitable companion. As 
a citizen lie commands the respect and esteem 
of all with whom he comes in contact. 



►>4f-. 



fSON. ALEXANDEK A. ARNOLD, one 
of Wisconsin's representative citizens, 
Ts¥ and a pioneer of Trempealeau county, 
resides at his beautiful farm home aljout one 
mile northeast of the center of the village 
plat of Galesville. He was born in Rhine- 
beck, Dutchess county, New York, October 
20, 1833, a son of Archibald H. R. Arnold. 
The family is of English origin, but the first 
American ancestor came to this country dur- 
ing the early history of the colonies. The 
great-grandfather of the subject ot this sketch 
was Ahab Arnold, and from him our subject 
gets his middle name. The latter was one 
of twelve sons, was a native of Rhode Island, 
and a pioneer of Dutchess county, New York. 
He lived to the advanced age of ninety years. 
Welcome Arnold, the grandfather of A. A. 
Arnold, married Mary Row, who was of Hol- 
land Dutch ancestry. Archibald H. R. was 
the only son of his parents, as was also Wel- 
come Arnold, who lived to the advanced age 
of ninety-seven years. The mother of our 
subject was Catherine M. E. Shultz, also of 
Holland Dutch ancestry. The parents con- 
tinued to reside in Dutchess county until 
death. The father was a man of considerable 
ability, was a Democrat in politics, and both 
he and his wife were long members of the 
Christian Church. The husband survived 
the wife and mother a number of years. 
They were the parents of seven children, 
all of whom grew to manhood and woman- 
hood, and all are still living but two. The 
eldest, Mary, died at the age of sixteen years; 
Alexander was the next in order of birth; 



Geraldine married Edward Cruniraey, and 
resides at Poughkeepsie, New York; Emma 
became Mrs. Roberts, and died at Pough- 
keepsie in 1890; Rosa P. married Charles 
Williams, and lives in the latter city; Ham- 
ilton J., a resident of Kansas City, is engaged 
in the drug business; Washington W., the 
youngest, is also at Kansas City, where he is 
engaged in the real-estate business. 

The boyhood days of our subject were spent 
on a farm and in attending school, and for 
a time he was a student at Starkey Academy, 
and what was then known as Nine Partners 
Boarding School, and also at Poughkeepsie 
College. He taught school for a time, and 
in 1855 was graduated at the Ohio Law 
School. He next entered the ofHce of the 
late Hon. Theodore Miller, of Hudson, New 
York, where he remained as a student six 
months, and was then admitted to the 
Supreme court of that State. Early in 1857 
Mr. Arnold come to Wisconsin, and con- 
tinued for a short time in Elkhorn, Walworth 
county, residing with a cousin, where he was 
also admitted to the bar, and there tried his 
first case in law. He had two cousins, W. 
A. Johnson and Mrs. George A. Smith, re- 
siding in Gales\ille, and, desiring to see more 
of Wisconsin before making a permanent 
settlement, he came to Galesville, in June, 
1857. Here he decided to remain, and im- 
mediately engaged in the practice of his pro- 
fession. 

He married, in 1859, Miss Hattie Tripp, 
who died in 1861, leaving one child, Blanche, 
who died at the early age of two years. Mr. 
Arnold continued in the practice of his pro- 
fession until August, 1862, when he decided 
to enter the military service of his country, 
and accordingly enlisted in Company C, 
Thirtieth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry. On the organization of the com- 
pany he was elected its Captain, and was com- 



642 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



missioned as such by Governor Lewis. He 
continued in this capacity until the close of 
his service, and during the lirst year of this 
time he remained in this State with his com- 
mand, where he was engaged in enforcing 
the draft. The second year of his military 
career was mostly spent at Fort Kice, on the 
Dakota frontier, and the last year he was 
connected with the military operations in 
Kentucky, and was mustered out at Louis- 
ville, that State. On his return after the 
close of the war, instead of engaging in the 
practice of his profession he determined to 
engage in agricultural pursuits, and to make 
for himself a tine country home. Previous 
to entering the army he had purchased 
eighty acres of his present farm, and, after 
spending about one year in the State of New 
York visiting friends, he purchased 160 
acres adjoining his eighty acres, wliich he 
immediately began to improve. This loca- 
tion is one of the most beautiful in the State 
of Wisconsin, and rendered more so by the 
labor and industry of many years. Captain 
Arnold's fine brick residence is situated upon 
an elevated and commanding site, surrounded 
by shade and ornamental trees, and the view 
from his residence and adjacent elevations 
are grand and beautiful. Ilis farm now con- 
tains about -400 acres of excellent land, where 
he has for many years been largely and suc- 
cessfully engaged in breeding short-horned 
cattle and Berkshire swine. 

He is also well known in the political field 
in the State of Wisconsin, where he has been 
called by his fellow citizens to honorable and 
responsible positions. He is of Democratic 
ancestry, and cast his first presidential vote 
for James liuchanan, in 1856. Later, in the 
slavery issue, he indorsed the views of 
Stephen A. Douglas, whom he supported in 
1800, but voted for Abraham Lincoln in 



1864, and has ever since affiliated with the 
Republican party. He was a member of the 
Assembly branch of the Legislature in 1870, 
and in 1878-'79 was a member of the State 
Senate. In 1880 he was again a member of 
the Assembly, and was chosen speaker of that 
body. He was made a Mason in 1860, in 
the Trempealeau Lodge, and in 1889 was one 
of the chief organizers of the Charles H. 
Ford Grand Army Post, No. 257, of Gales- 
ville, and was the first commander of the 
post. Ca])tain Arnold has held many local 
offices, including chairman of the board of 
Supervisors for many years. He has been 
many years a member of the State Agricul- 
tural Society, and its president for two years. 
Has been an important factor in the County 
Agricultural Society, serving several times 
as presidcuit. For a number of years he has 
held the office of president of the board of 
trustees of Gale College, and as vice-presi- 
dent of the faculty. While a member of the 
Legislature he obtained the charter for the 
Galosville & Mississippi River railroad — 
which now forms the stub from Trempea- 
leau to Galesville — and was president of the 
company during the construction of the road, 
and until it was transferred to the North- 
western Railroad Company. This scheme 
rendered its promotion very unpopular, until 
after the road was completed and its advan- 
tages to the village began to be felt. He has 
done a large amount of surveying, and his 
services in that direction are still in frequent 
demand. 

February 1, 1869, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary Douglas, a daughter of 
Hugh Douglas, a well-known pioneer of 
Melrose, Wisconsin. They have five chil- 
dren, three sons and two daughters, viz.: 
Archibald, Mollie D., Gerald, Alex, and Beu- 
lah. Captain Arnold is esteemed by his 



BIOGBAPRIOAL HISTOMT. 



643 



low citizens as a gentleman of culture and 
ability, and is recognized by all as an enter- 
prising and progressive citizen. 

|ICIiOL AS WEm AN DY, County Clerk 
VM of Buffalo county, and a resident of 
Alma, was born in the town of Alma, 
May 15, 1858, and is the son of John and 
Elizabeth (Lellig) Weinandy. His parents 
were natives of Rhine Province, Prussia, and 
were married in their native land. They 
emigrated to the United States in the spring 
of 1856, and located in Grant county, Wis- 
consin, where they remained about one year, 
after which tiiey moved to Buffalo county. 
Here the father pre-empted a claim on section 
5, range 12, township 21; improved his farm 
and lived on it until the time of his death, 
October 24, 1887. His widow is still living 
at the old homestead. Mr. Weinandy was 
a soldier in the Prussian army, in which he 
served about four years, three years under 
the regular law and one year subsequently 
during the troubles of '48. He and his wife 
were the parents of eight children, namely: 
Jacob, Nicholas, Margaretta, Josephine, 
Elizabeth, Franciska, Elizabeth (2) and John. 
Of these live are living; Jacob, Nicholas, 
Franciska, Elizabeth and John. 

The subject of our sketch secured his pri- 
mary education at home, and at tiie age of 
iifteen was sent to the Gaiesville University, 
where he studied two terms. In 1874 he was 
employed to teach the district school in John's 
valley, Lincoln township, this county. The 
next two winters he taught in the Stein's 
district, working on the farm during the 
summer. In the spring of 1870 he taught 
one term in the Dry Cally district. In the 
fall of 1878 be again entered the Gaiesville 
University, remaining there one year, and the 



following fall took charge of the school at 
Buffalo City, Buffixlo county, where he taught 
until the fall of 1890. During the autumn 
of 1887 he was nominated as Clerk of the 
Circuit Court on the Democratic ticket, but 
was defeated, losing the election by a small 
majority. In the fall of 1890 he was brought 
out by the same party as a candidate for 
County Clerk, was nominated and elected by 
a majority of 626. He was installed into 
office the lirst Monday in January, 1891. 

Mr. Weinandy was married at Buffalo 
City, June 28, 1880, to Josephine Stein, 
daughter of John P. and Elizabeth (Back) 
Stein. Her father was a pioneer of this 
State, having moved here in 1846 and settled 
in Eau Claire. In 1851 he came to Buffalo 
county and engaged in farming. Mr. and 
Mrs. Weinandy have two children, Oscar F. 
and Oliver R. 

Mr. Weinandy may be termed a self-made 
man. Beginning life as a teacher of a dis- 
trict school, he has worked his way up to his 
present position of prominence and trust. 
Judging from his past success, it may safely 
be predicted that he has a bright and useful 
career before him. In his religious faith he 
is a Catholic. 

fAMES P. MALLERY, one of the pio- 
neers of La Crosse county, has been a 
resident of the town of Hale, Trempea- 
leau county, since 1867; he made the claim 
of his farm in March of that year, an^l located 
there the following June. He was born in 
Corinth, Saratoga county, New York, in 1833, 
a son of D. P. Mallery. At the age of 
twenty-two years he accompanied his father 
to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and six years 
later he enlisted in Company A, Thinl Wis- 
consin Cavalry. From the time of his enlist- 



644 



BIOGRAPniGAL HISTORY. 



ment in 1861 to the time he was mustered 
out at Madison, Wisconsin, January 30, 1865, 
Jie was in active service, excepting tliree 
months of 1S62, wlien sickness prevented liim. 
He participated in some of the most impor- 
tant engagements of the war; and although 
he escaped tlie l>ullets of tlie enemy, his 
health was much broken by exposure, and he 
has never recovered his former strength. In 
Missouri he took part in the battles of Mon- 
ticello. Cabin Creek, Taborsville, Maysville, 
Little Osage, Cone Creek and Gran by; he 
was also at Devil's Backbone, Arkansas, 
Dripping Springs, Cane Hill, Perryville, 
Dallas and Prairie Grove, also in Arkansas, 
and at Baxter Springs and Honey Springs, 
Idaho Territory. He was a gallant and 
faithful soldier, and freely gave his efforts in 
behalf of the cause he esteemed holy and just. 
Darling P. Mallery, the father of James 
P., was born in Saratoga county. New York, 
in 1809, and married Polly M. Creel, who 
was born in the same year as lier husband. 
To them were born three children, one son, 
James P., and two daughters; one of the 
daughters is the wife of M. J. Whitney, and 
the other is married to I. A. Wells. In 
1855 they came to Wisconsin, and settled in 
the town of Burns, La Crosse county; here 
Mr. Mallery became a prominent and well- 
known citizen, taking an active interest in 
commercial and political movements, and 
aiding the growth and development of the 
county. He was Deputy Sheriff of the county 
for eighteen years, and was Justice of the 
Peace and Su{)ervisor. Later he removed to 
Trempealeau county and settled on a farm 
adjoining that of his son; he purchased this 
land in 1883, and there he and his faithful 
wife passed the remainder of their days. Mr. 
Mallery's death occurred on the morning of 
February 13, 1802, and his wife passed away 
the evening of the same day. These worthy 



and respected people, who were born in the 
same year, and had lived together more than 
fifty years, passed from this life to that of 
reality within the rising and setting of the 
sun; they had attained their eighty-third year. 
Darling P. Mallery was appointed Constable 
after the death of his father, before he was 
twenty-one, and held a town office every year 
up to the time of liis death, when he was also 
Justice of the Peace. 

James P. Mallery was married in 1866 to 
Angelina E. Barry, who died July 15, 1877, 
the mother of six children: Henry D. died at 
the age of nineteen years; Jane Lorinda died 
at the age of nine years; Alfred E. was one 
year old when he died; George W., Nettie N. 
and Melvin H. are all at home; Mr. Mallery's 
second wife was Miss Theresa Jane Anderson, 
who was born in Washington county, Wis- 
consin, a daughter of Samuel Anderson, one 
of the pioneers of that county, but now a 
resident of the village of Hartford. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mallery have two daughters: Millie May 
and Mary Ethel; they are genial, hospitable 
people, and are held in high esteem by a wide 
circle of acquaintances. 



ILLIAM COX is one of the early 
settlers of the town of Hale. He 
resides on section 25, town 23, range 
8 west, where he and his stepson, Oliver F. 
Jacobs, own a line farm of 160 acres of good 
land, well improved, and here they live sur- 
rounded by all the comforts of life. He was 
born in Somersetshire, England, in 1825, and 
when he was ten years of age his parents 
emigrated to America, locating near White- 
water, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and here 
our subject grew to manhood. He enlisted 
June 7, 1862, in Company D, Twentieth 
Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and 




BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



645 



participated in many important events of the 
war, including the siege of Vicksburg and 
the important event at Yazoo City, Browns- 
ville and siege of Fort Morgan. He also 
took part at Meadville and at the siege of 
Spanish Fort, and received his discharge at 
Galveston, Texas, July 14, 1865. Although 
never wounded, like so many other brave 
soldiers who fought for their country in the 
late war, his constitution was very much 
shattered by his service in the army. He- 
turning to Whitewater at the close of the 
war, he removed to Trempealeau Prairie the 
same year and settled on a farm, and soon 
after wedded Mrs. Jacobs, nee Catherine Ann 
Pierce, daughter of Zadick Pierce, a native of 
Massachusetts. Of the three children born 
to her first marriage, two, Eliza and Willie, 
are deceased. Her son Oliver F. was born in 
Walworth county, May 23, 1863. To the 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cox three children 
have been born, but only one, Emery Elmore, 
is now living. A son, Charles Edwin, died 
at the age of one and a half years, and little 
Ella died at the age of two. Mr. Jacobs, the 
first husband of Mrs. Cox, who served in 
Company E, Forty-third Regiment Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, died at Keokuk, Iowa, 
during the war of the Rebellion. 

fAMES L. HALLOCK, of the town of 
Nelson, Buffalo county, is numbered 
among the well-known pioneers of West 
Wisconsin. His honae and farm are on sec- 
tion 3, town 28, range 13 west, where he set- 
tled in 1855, entering his land on November 
17 of that year. Mr. Ilallock was born in 
Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 
1823. His father, Peter Hallock, a native of 
Dutchess county, New York, was a soldier in 
the war of 1812, and his widow was for many 



years a pensioner by virtue of his service in 
this war. He was Captain of the company 
which he had raised, and fought in the cele- 
brated battle of New Orleans under General 
Jackson. He was married to Miss Lavina 
Vail, a native of Dutchess county, of German 
ancestry, who survived him many years and 
several times visited her son, the subject of 
this sketch, after he came to Wisconsin. 
They were the parents of ten children who 
grew to maturity, three sons and seven daugh- 
ters, but two of whom are now living. The 
subject of this sketch grew to manhood in 
his native State, and was lor many years 
engaged in the service of the Delaware & 
Hudson Canal Company. Here he was mar- 
ried, in 1849, to Miss Hattie Simonson, a 
native of New Jersey. In 1852, when the 
gold fever was at its height, he became pos- 
sessed of the gold fever and went to Califor- 
nia. Going around Cape Horn, he reached 
San Francisco five months after leaving ttie 
port of New York, and remained on the 
Pacific coast until 1855, when he returned 
home by way of the Isthmus. In the fall of 
the same year he decided to seek a location 
in the West, and came to Buffalo county. 
He went as lar north as the present site of 
Lake City, Minnesota. While on an ex- 
ploring and hunting expedition he selected 
his present land and at once made his settle- 
ment, and here he and wife have lived for a 
long period of thirty-six years, and have been 
prominently identified with the growth and 
development of the country during this long 
period. Mr. Hallock has ever been one of 
the representative men of Buffalo county, 
and has been called upon to serve in various 
ofhcial positions, the duties of which he has 
discharged with fidelity. In 1869 he was 
elected to the Legislature of the State of 
Wisconsin, and served in that body in a most 
acceptable manner. In his political senti- 



646 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STOUT. 



nients he has always been a stanch Republi- 
can and has always possessed much influence 
in the councils of his party. He is still a 
Eepublican, with strong prohibition princi- 
ples. The confidence which his fellow-citi- 
zens have had in the integrity and ability of 
Mr. Ilallock is well illustrated in his almost 
uninterrupted continuance in official posi- 
tions. Besides his service in the Legislature, 
he has been chairinan of his Town Board 
and Justice of the Beace for not less tlian 
twenty years, and still occupies the latter 
position. He is of a cordial and genial dis- 
position, fair and honorable in all his deal- 
ings with his fellow-men, and possesses the 
confidence and esteem of all who know him. 
Mr. and Mrs. Hallock are the parents of two 
sons and three daughters. They lost one 
daughter. 



(MIL J. HANKEY, general merchant at 
Trempeleau, has been engaged in this 
business since 1868. His store build- 
ing, an elegant structure, is located on the 
corner of Main and Second streets, is two- 
stories liigh, has a basement thirty-four feet 
in width by seventy in depth, and was erected 
by him at a cost of about $7,500. 

Mr. Hankey was born in Prussia, in 1844, 
the sou of Gotlieb Hankey, who died when 
his son was a child. AVhen a lad of ten years 
our subject came to the United States with 
his mother, who located at Beaver Dam, Wis- 
consin, where he was educated and began 
merchandising. He came from that city to 
Trempealeau, where he at once entered into 
business, and for three years was associated 
with Thomas Veltum, now of St. Jamco, Min- 
nesota, but eince that time has been alone. 

He was married in 18fi9, to Mary Frances 
McGnne, of Beaver Dam, a native of AVis- 



consin and a daughter of Thomas McCune, 
who was born and reared in Ohio. His father, 
a native of Scotland, was an early settler of 
Ohio. He and his wife came to Wisconsin 
with their son Thomas, where they lived until 
they died. Thomas McCune married Caroline 
Bentley, a native of Dutchess county. New 
York, who was then living with her parents, 
Tabor and Deborah Bentley, in Oak Grove, 
Dodge county, Wisconsin. Mr. Bentley is dead, 
but his wife, the grandmother of Mrs. Han- 
key, is still living in Dodge county, Wisconsin. 
Mr. and Mrs. McCune were early settlers of 
Oak Grove, where he died August 22, 1865. 
In the fall of 1874 the mother moved to Cali- 
fornia, and died there December 7, 1880. 
Mr. and Mrs. McCune were the parents of 
four children, two sons and two daughters, 
of whom Mrs. Hankey is the eldest. The 
second child and older son, Samuel Tabor, 
was killed by the cars at St. Paul, Minnesota, 
leaving a family; Duley Elma became the 
wife of Thomas Teltum, and now resides at 
St. James, Minnesota; and William Henry, 
the youngest of the family, also lives in Min- 
nesota. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hankey have two children: 
Lena and William T. The latter graduated 
at the Philadelphia School of Pharmacy in 
May, 1891, and is now engaged in the drug 
business in Cleveland, Ohio; and Lena is as- 
sisting her father in business. They lost 
their youngest child, Adelbert Grover, who 
was born February 4, 1876, and died April 
7, 1887. 



1^ E N R Y H U B E R , Sheriff of Buffalo 
county, AVisconsiu, was born in this 
county, July 29, 1860. His parents, 
Casper and Rosa (Bauman) Huber, were born 
in Germany and Switzerland respectively, the 



BIOORAPEICAL HISTORY. 



647 



former at Wiirttemburg, Germany, and the 
latter in the city of Lenzburg, in the canton 
of xlargau, Switzerland. His father was a 
shoemaker by trade. Emigrating to the 
United States in 1851, he located first at 
Philadelphia, where he resided for one year, 
and then removed to Cincinnati, where he 
lived about four years, working at his trade. 
In 1857 he left Cincinnati for the West, and 
took up his abode in Buffalo City, Buffalo 
county. A year later he settled on a liome 
stead claim in the township of Belvidere, and 
began farming. In this occupation he con- 
tinued until the time of his death, which 
occurred November 9, 1891. To him and 
his wife eleven children have been born, viz.: 
Gustave, Kobert, Oscar, deceased; George, 
Henry, whose name heads this sketch; Rosa, 
who died young; Albert, Charles, Ferdinand, 
Selina, now Mrs. John Lindrnde; and Emily, 
now Mrs. J. Mourning. 

The early life of Henry Hnber was spent 
at home, assisting his father and attending 
the public schools, until he was twenty. At 
that age he came to Alma and engaged in 
the butchering business. On the first of 
May, 1882, he opened a hotel on Main street, 
the Massasoit House, which he conducted 
three years and sold to Mr. Leanhardy. After 
that he was engaged in the manufacture of 
soda-water for two years. Disposing of that 
business he went to Wabasha and opened the 
Commercial Hotel, which he carried on one 
year. Then he returned to Alma and re- 
opened his butcher business, in partnership 
with Fred Hemrinch, and together they are 
still conducting it. May 1, 1890, he and his 
partner purchased the brewery of John Hem- 
rinch, which they remodeled and improved, 
and in which they are now making a popular 
brand of beer, doing a prosperous business. 

Mr. Huber was nominated for Sheriff in 
1890 by the Democratic party, and was 



elected by a majority of 127 votes. He was 
duly installed in office, and is now discharg- 
ing the duties of Ins responsible position in a 
manner that gives satisfaction to the people. 

Mr. Huber was married at Alma, May 10, 
1882, to Anna, daughter of Henry and Anna 
Bube, then of Cincinnati. Mr. Bube was 
killed on a Government steamboat while he 
was serving as first mate, his death being the 
result of an accident. His widow is now 
living at Alma. Mr. and Mrs. Huber have 
five children: Dora, Oliver, Alice, Oscar and 
Frederick. 

Socially, Mr. Huber is a member of the 
Masonic Lodge, No. 184, A. F. & A. M., of 
Alma, and the A. O. U. W., No 52. He is 
one of the rising young men of Buffalo 
county, and has the confidence and esteem of 
the people. It is -safe to predict that he has 
a bright and prosperous future before him. 

—- ►•|*>^-"-~ — 



B. AND D. P. GIBSON.— Among 
f nv/tIK the well-known pioneers of Trem- 
—"^ ® pealeau county, are Milo B. Gib- 
son and his bi-other, Delorm P. Gibson, 
residents of the town of Albion. Their 
father, Adam U. Gibson, was born August 
8, 1809, in the state of New Hampshire, 
of Scotch- Irish ancestry. His father was 
also named Adam and belonged to an early 
New England family. 

Adam U. Gibson was one of seven chil- 
dren, three brothers and four sisters. All 
were born in New Hainpsliire and eventually 
became widely dispersed about the country 
and probably all have now passed away, as 
the subjects of this sketch have no know- 
ledge of any living members of their family 
of the father's generation. Adam U.Gibson 
lived at home till the age of twenty-one 
years, when he went to the Dominion of 



648 



BIOORAPUWAL UISTOUY. 



Canada, where he was married to Rachel 
Lindsy, a native of that country. In about 
1835 he rouioved with his wife to Wisconsin, 
locating in Iowa county, and engaged in the 
occupation of milling, near Fort Hamilton, 
now called Wyota. In 1854:, resolving to 
change his location, he started out with one 
charles Pike for the purpose of locating a 
future place of residence. They went up the 
Mississippi at that time as far as St. Paul, 
where Mr. Gibson thought some of locating, 
but finally returned to Iowa county without 
having selected a location. In 1856, accom- 
panied by a man named George Rossman, he 
aufain started northward with the determina- 
tion of making a permanent settlement. The 
families went via Mississippi river to Foun- 
tain City, and thence across the country with 
teams. They made locations in Ijuliiilo 
county, near the county line of Trempealeau. 
Mr. Gibson lived a few years in Buffalo 
county, when he removed across the line to 
Albion, Trempealeau county, where he re- 
mained the rest of his life. The land on 
which he settled in Buffalo county he pre- 
empted from Government, but his farm in 
the town of Albion ho obtained under the 
homestead act. This was the final settle- 
meat of Mr. Gibson, and here he lived until 
death, which occurred October 19, 1884, 
at the age ot seventy-three years. The wife 
and mother had preceded her husband to 
the other world several years previously. 
Mr. Gibson, Sr., was a most excellent 
citizen, honored and respected by ail. He 
had seen men of the world and was an ex- 
cellent judge of men. In 1851 he crossed 
the plains to California, returning three 
years later via the Isthmus of Panama. In 
his political connections lie was a Democrat 
of the Jackson school. He possessed strong 
powers physically, and was an industrious, 
enterprising citizen. He and wife were the 



parents of four sons but no daughters. All 
the children are now living: John L., the 
eldest, is now a resident of West Superior; 
Nelson, the second son, lives in Pioche, 
Nevada; Milo B. is the next in order of 
birth, and Deiorm P. is the youngest of the 
family. It has thus been seen that the two 
younger brothers are the only representatives 
of the family residing in Trempealeau county. 
Milo B. Gibson resides on section 6, where 
he has a fine farm and a pleasant home. He 
was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, July 

17, 1841, and educated at the common 
schools. He was severely injured when a 
boy, which rendered him somewhat crippled 
in his youth, and by his father's request 
entered tiie drug store of Dr. J. N. Clerner, 
at Argylo, as a clerk, and later was engaged 
as a clerk in a dry-goods store. He, how- 
ever, followed his father's family to their new 
home in 1857, the year after the family came, 
lie was at this time sixteen years of age. 
He continued to reside with his father's 
family until the age of twenty years, when 
he started out for himself. The first land 
tiiat he owned was in the town of Albion, 
and he and family have occupied their pres- 
ent home since about 1870. His farm con- 
tains 240 acres of land under excellent state 
of cultivation, and on which he has made all 
improvements. He was married October 

18, 1862, to Mary Harvey, a daughter of 
Robert and Eunice (Duncanson) Harvey. 
The parents of Mrs. Gibson spent their early 
lives in Nova Scotia, removing thence to 
Dodge county, and thence to Buffalo county, 
in 1856, where they lived till death, where 
the mother died December 13, 1871, and 
the father March 31, 1886. Mrs. Gibson 
was one ot nine children, six sons and three 
daughters, all of whom are living in 1891, 
and a number of whom are residents of Mon- 
dovi, Buffalo county. Mr. and Mrs. Gibson 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



649 



have five children, four daughters and a son: 
Maggie is tlie wife of Albert Gott, of Stan- 
ley, Chippewa county, Wisconsin; Ida and 
Ona are twins: the latter is the wife of G. 
H. Inglesby; the next iu order of birth is 
Lydia; Nelson, the only son, is the youngest 
of the family, and was born July 25, 1871. 
Mr. Gibson is chairman of the town board of 
Albion in 1891, and is one of its successful 
and representative citizens. 

Delorm P. Gibson, whose farm joins that 
of his brother, was born in Iowa county, 
Wisconsin, July 19, 1843, being about 
thirteen years of age when he came with his 
parents to their new home in West Wiscon- 
sin. He resides on the old homestead of his 
parents, with whom he lived or they with 
him until their death. He married Miss 
Margaret A. Harvey, a sister of his brother's 
wife. The time of their marriage was De- 
cember, 1868. The original homestead which 
he owns and occupies, contained eighty acres; 
his present farm includes a quarter section. 
He and wife have seven children, three boys 
and four girls, all of whom were born at the 
homestead. They are Charles, Mina. Pauline, 
Guy D., Mary E., John A. and Roxana. It 
will thus be seen that the Gibson brothers 
are among the earliest pioneers of West 
Wisconsin. They remember well the early 
times and the privations endured by the 
early settlers. Tlie winter of 1856- '57 was a 
severe one, and of course the family had not 
yet an opportunity of raising food for their 
support. They had food Bhi])ped to them 
from Iowa county to Fountain City, and 
went several times to the latter place, where 
they would load their wagons with corn, 
which they would take to Eau Claire and 
have ground, the round trip requiring them 
to travel about 120 miles; and all this dis- 
tance to get a grist of corn meal; but game 
WAS plentiful, hear and elk and other wild 



animals abounding so that excellent meat 
was abundant. The great fear of the settlers 
in the early days was that the small amount 
of timber that the country contained would 
soon be exhausted. But the present condi- 
sion of the country shows how groundless 
were their fears, the country containing at 
present more timber than in the early pio- 
neer days, the result of suppressing fires that 
consumed the early timber before the days of 
the white men. The Gibson brothers are 
numbered among the representative men of 
Trempealeau county, where they have lived 
so long and have done their share toward 
developing the growth and assuring the 
prosperity of their country. 

fOSEPH DICKINSON COOPER is 
another of the pioneers of this town. 
His father, John Cooper, was born in 
Hardin, Ohio, a son of Jesse Cooper, a 
pioneer of that country, where he was reared. 
When he reached mature years he chose 
farming as his occupation and soon after 
married Miss Mary Adams, who was also 
born in Hardin county. He iinally decided 
to emigrate West, where there was open 
Government land, and about 1842 he took a 
trip to Iowa with a brother-in-law, traveling 
on foot. The latter did not return to Ohio, 
but Mr. Cooper returTied, and in 1846 emi- 
grated with his family to Wisconsin and 
settled in Sank county, where he was among 
the first settlers. He lived at various places 
in Sauk county, and in 1870 came to Trem- 
pealeau county and lived on section 4 in tiie 
town of Albion until his death, which oc- 
curred September 14, 1889, at the .age of 
about eighty-one years. The wife and mother 
is still living at the age of seventy-seven 
years, and is quite smart for her years. 



660 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



The subject of this sketch was one of 
tliirteen children. He first came to Trem- 
pealeau county in the fall of 1861, and the 
following year settled on his present place. 
He enlisted on Fehruary 29, 1864, in Com- 
pany K, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and served until May 16, 1865, 
when lie was discharged at tlie Harvey Hos- 
pital, Madison. He joined liis regiment at 
Madison and went thence to Washington and 
joined Grant's army immediately, and the 
tenth day after leaving Madison took part in 
the severe battle of Gainesville. He also 
fought in the celebrated battle of Cold 
Harbor, taking part in the fearful charge at 
that battle, his regiment, which numbered 
about 1,000 when it left Madison, losing over 
half its number; and he also was in the bat- 
tle of Fredericksburg. Mr. Cooper also took 
part in the siege of Petersburg, and was 
among tlie front troops at that place. On 
June 18, 1865, he took part with his regi- 
ment in a charge of the rebel works at 
Petersburg and came out of tlie same with 
but sixty men. At this charge there was not 
an officer, commissioned or non-commissioned, 
but who was killed or wounded. He re- 
ceived a gunshot wound in the foot in this 
action, which incapacitated him for further 
duty with his regiment. He was taken from 
the field to the hospital, the following day to 
City Point, and eiglit days afterward was 
sent to Mount Pleasant PTospital, Washing- 
ton. July 20, 1864, he got a furlough and 
came home, afterward returning to the hos- 
pital at Washington, where he remained 
until March. All this time he was suffering 
from his wound and also from sreneral de- 
bility. In March, 1865, he was sent to 
Harvey Hospital, Madison, and was dis- 
charged May 16, 1865, after serving his 
country so long, faithfully and well. In the 
meantime he had been furloughod for thirty 



days. Mr. Cooper has never recovered his 
health and is a constant sufferer from disease 
contracted while in the service of his country. 
Since the war he has resided on his farm. 
He was married March 16, 1862, to Miss 
Elizabeth Williams, daughter of Satley and 
Julia Williams, who settled in what is now 
the town of Albion, in 1861. Seven chil- 
dren have blessed this union, four boys and 
three girls, viz.: George D.. John L., William 
II., Mary Elizabeth, Clara M., Edwin Albert 
and Effa Jane. He is a member of the 
Wheeler Post, G. A. R., and has the confi- 
dence and esteem of all who know him. 

"♦'' ^ • S i' I ' S" " ' 



T. CLAIR JONES, of Eleva, was born 
in Victor, Ontario county. New York, 
June 9, 1836, a son of William and 
Thankful (Covel) Jones, the former born in 
Boston, Massachusetts, and the latter a native 
of Maine. They were married in Steuben 
county. New York, and soon after located in 
Ontario county. In 1849 they emigrated to 
Wisconsin, settling in the town of Oregon, 
and here the wife and mother passed away, 
February 19, 1856. After the death of his 
wife the father made his home with his son 
St. Clair, who had removed in 1865 to the 
town of Sumner, until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1873, at the age of seventy-three 
years. St. Clair Jones was married in 1858 
to Miss Hannah Tinker, a native of England, 
born in 1841, daughter of Hilton and Sarah 
(Smith) Tinker, natives of England, who were 
pioneers of Dane county, Wisconsin. The 
mother died in her native country and the 
father afterward married again, and he and 
wife are now living in Iowa. 

At the breaking out of the war Mr. Jones 
was a resident of Dane county, and from 
there he enlisted August 9, 1861, in Com- 
fjany I, Twenty-third Wisconsin Infantry, 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



651 



and was mustered into service on the 19th of 
the same month. He went to Cincinnati, 
thence to Camp Bates, thence to Louisville, 
Kentnclcy, thence to Mempliis, Tennessee, 
and participated in the first attack of Victs- 
burg under General Sherman. From there 
he went up the Arkansas river and took part 
in the first engagement at Arkansas Post. 
He then went to Young's Point, where he 
staid during the winter of 1862-'63, thence 
to Milliken's Bend and took part in the cam- 
paign against Vicksburg under Grant, and 
was actively engaged until the surrender. 
He then went to Jackson, Mississippi, and 
there Joioed Johnson; returned to Vicks 
burg and down the river to New Orleans. 
In tlie fall of 1863 he made a campaign 
West of that city toward the Red river for 
the purpose of meeting Kirby Smith and 
Dick Taylor, and met these Geneials at what 
was then known as Carrion Crow Bayou and 
had a hard fight. About 300 men of the 
Twenty-third went into this fight, and but 
thirty-two reported after the battle there, the 
remainder having been either killed, •wounded 
or taken prisoners; thence to New Orleans, 
where the prisoners lost at Carrion Crow 
were exchanged, and returned to his regi- 
ment; thence campaigned to Fort Gaines at 
North Mobile Bay. After the surrender of 
Fort Gaines he took part in the Red river 
campaign, where the regiment which had 
been recruited sustained a great loss. After 
that campaign in January, 1864, he shipped 
to Matagorda Bay, but removed thence to 
Bagdad on the Rio Grande river, thence to 
New Orleans and prepared to commence the 
campaign on Mobile, Alabama. He took 
part in the attack on Fort Morgan, and also 
the capture of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, 
and thence to Mobile, which finished his war 
record. He was mustered out at Mobile, 
July 4, 1865. All four of his brothers were 



in the army. One, William, who was with 
him in the same regiment, Company H, con- 
tracted the inflammatory rheumatism in the 
swamps of the Yazoo river and lived until 
the following spring, when his death occurred 
at the St. Louis general hospital. John A. 
was in the Seventh Regiment, and was taken 
prisoner at the first battle of Bull Run, and 
afterward served in the Forty-eighth Dlinois. 
His iiome is now in Unity, Trempealeau 
county. Covil served in tlie Seventh Wis- 
consin in the latter part of tlie war. He is 
now a resident of this town. St. Clair Jones' 
general health was much broken by exposure 
in the swamps, but he never 'entered a hos- 
pital until about seven days before his regi- 
ment was mustered out, having become 
nearly blind, and although opposed even then 
to going was almost compelled to do so, and 
was in the general hospital at Mobile and 
transferred then to New Orleans, where he 
lay fifteen days and was then sent home. 
His eyes troubled him for a long time, and 
he never recovered his former health. 

In July, 1867, Mr. Jones came to the 
town of Albion, then a part of the town of 
Sumner. His farm is on Trout creek in this 
town, but he and wife live at their pleasant 
home in Eleva. They are the parents of five 
children, all boys, viz.: Norman E., a resi- 
dent of Unity; Almon L., who resides on 
the old homestead; William S., Henry AVes- 
ley and Wallace L. Mr. Jones is a member 
of Wheeler Post, G. A. R. In politics he is 
a Republican. 



,AVID JEREMIAH ODELL, another 

of the pioneers of Buffalo county, 

^ located there in October, 1856, being 

one of the very earliest settlers of that county, 

settling in what is the town of Modena. He 



652 



BWOIiAPfffGAL HISTORT. 



was born in Geauga county, Ohio, July 3, 
1832, one of eight children, four boys and 
four girls. When he was eight years of age, 
his parents removed to what is now Waukesha 
county, then a part of Milwaukee county, 
and here Mr. Odell, Sr., erected the lirst 
house in Merton, Waukesha county, and re- 
moved thence to Columbia county where 
they lived for several years. In 1856 they 
came to Buffalo county, but soon after Mr. 
Odell, Sr., returned to Columbia county, where 
he died, his wife having previously died in 
the town of Merton. 

Mr. D. J. Odell and father entered 640 
acres of land in the town of Modena, where 
he lived and improved the greater part of it 
until 1867, when he sold out in Buffalo 
county and bought a farm in the township of 
Albion, Trempealeau county. He lived on 
this farm for many years and then sold it to 
tht! AVhipple Brothers and pui'chased a farm 
known as the Leach farm, which he still owns. 
He and wife now live in the village of Eleva, 
where they have a pleasant home about three- 
quarters of a mile from the home farm. Mr. 
Odell and a brother, Charles, living at Reeds- 
burg, formerly of Lodi, are all that are now 
left of this once numerous family. 

He was married in Columbia county, 
to Miss Alice Thomas, daughter of James 
Thomas, a well-known pioneer of Columbia 
county, who died March 4, 1867. They are 
the parents of four boys: Otis W., Charles 
E., McClellan, and Edwin. Since he settled 
here, now forty-three years ago. Mr. Odell 
has seen the country grow from a state of 
wilderness to its present advanced condition. 
The Indian, the elk, and the deer long since 
disappeared, were then numerous. Now all 
this has passed away, and where roamed the 
Indian and wild animals are found fruitful 
fields and all evidences of cultivation. Mr. 



Odell is a prominent politician of this county, 
affiliating with the Democratic party. He 
and wife are well worthy a place in the re- 
cord of the old settlers now being prepared. 



OSWELL PHILIP GODDARD, the 
pioneer business man of Eleva, erected 
a store building at this point in the 
spring of 1877, which was the first business 
house erected. Elliott J. Carpenter came at 
the same time and began the erection of a 
gristmill. Soon after the mill (which was 
but a small affair) was started he sold a half 
interest to John Redfield, and not long after 
Mr. Crocker became sole owner. He after- 
ward sold to Snoyenbos & Rusling, who now 
own the mill. Mr. Goddard at once engaged 
in mercantile pursuits, erecting a building 
32 X 46, keeping a general line of merchan- 
dise, and for a number of yeaeg he was the 
only nierchant in the place. Later he sold 
his business, rented his store and engaged in 
the farming implement business, which he is 
now carrying on successfully. He handles 
the I'lano goods, manufactured at Piano, Illi- 
nois. His stock, which is very extensive, 
includes harvesters, binders, horse-rakes, 
mowers, and all farm implements and wagons 
and buggies. 

Mr. Goddard was born in Lower Canada 
(now the Province of Quebec) January 14, 
1836. His father, William (ioddard, was a 
native of the State of New York and re- 
moved to Canada in early life. The mother, 
Catherine (Philips) Goddard, w-as a native of 
Vermont. When Roswell Goddard was thir- 
teen years of age the family removed to Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin, settling at West 
Troy, where they remained for two years; 
then they removed to Dane cotintj', same 
State, where the parents died and are buried. 



BIOORAPHIGAL HTSTOIiT. 



65a 



He was one of ten children, all of whom 
grew to mature years and all of whom are 
living except Marshall, who died from the 
effects of disease contracted while in the 
army, he having served in the famous Eighth 
Wisconsin Eagle Regiment. Two other 
brothers, Abram and George, were also in the 
array, in Illinois regiments. The subject of 
this sketch came to Buffalo county in 1860 
and settled on a farm in the township of 
Modena. His health failed to some extent 
and he rented liis farm and engaged in selling 
machinery for about eight'years before com- 
ing to Eleva. When he left that county he 
sold his farm. 

He was married at West Point, Columbia 
county, Wisconsin, to Rosina Thomas, a 
native of Canada, daughter of James Thomas, 
a pioneer of that county. Six children have 
blessed this union, two boys and four girls, 
viz.: Roswell, the eldest son, who was born 
in July, 1861; Lila, wife of L. A. Merritt, 
of Naples, Buffalo county; Luna, wife of 
William Knapp of Mondovi; Harry, Myrtie 
and Alice. 

Mr. Goddard is one of the representative 
men of this town. In his political views he 
was in former times a Democrat, but being 
impressed with the belief that the evil of 
intemperance should be suppressed by law, 
and believing that the surest method to sup- 
press this evil is by utterly prohibiting the 
sale and manufacture of intoxicants he has 
become a confirmed Prohibitionist in his sen- 
timents. It may be truthfully said that it is 
owing chiefly to his influence that no saloon 
is found in Eleva. As an illustration of his 
influence in the cause of temperance and 
morality the following incident miglit be 
narrated: Soon after the town was started 
two young men came to the place for the 
purpose of erecting a saloon, purchased tlie 
lumber for the building and were about to 

43 



begin its construction. Realizing at once the 
importance of preventing the young men 
from carrying out their plans, Mr. Goddard 
approaclied them in a kindly way and rea- 
soned with tliem as to the evils that would 
result should they continue in their deter- 
mination to go into the saloon business, and 
told them of the importance of starting in 
the right way, as they entered upon their 
career in life. So effectually did he impress 
them with the truth of his arguments that 
they desisted from their undertaking. Mr. 
Goddard saving them from financial loss by 
purchasing their lumber. In his religious 
affiliations Mr. Goddard has been a member 
of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church since 1874, 
and was largely instrumental in building the 
church at Eleva, and has tilled the positions 
of superintendent and class-leader of his 
church for many years. He established a 
Sabbath-school several years previous to the 
building of the church, and furnished a 
building for church and Sabbath-school pur- 
poses. Besides his mercantile interests Mr. 
Goddard is also interested in agricultural 
matters, owning a fine farm of 120 acres 
near Eleva. While residing in Buffalo county 
Mr. Goddard served his township as Treasurer 
for five years, and has tilled the same position 
in the township of Albion for several years. 
Mr. Goddard and E. J. Carpenter owned the 
land on which the original town of Eleva was 
platted, and he had made an addition to "the* 
original plat in his own name. 

fOHN SPRECHEK, the leading business 
man of Independence, Trempealeau 
county, is engaged in the sale of farm- 
ing implements, lumber, grain, hay, etc. He 
was born Novemb'er 29, 1850, in Troy, Sauk 
county, Wisconsin, and continued to reside 



65 1 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOIiY. 



there with bis parents until 1873, when he 
came to Trempealeau county and engaged 
with Krumdick & Muir, in tlie sale of farm 
implements. In 1876 he came to Arcadia, 
and continued the business of his former 
employers for two years, at the end of which 
time he purchased the interest of Mr. Krum- 
dick, the firm becoming Muir & Sprecher. 
One year later he bought out his partner, 
and since then has conducted the business 
alone. Mr. Sprecher has spent his whole 
life thus far in Wisconsin, his father having 
been one of the pioneers of Sauk county, 
where he still lives. Mr. Sprecher possesses 
excellent business ability, a fact which his 
successful career has establisiied, and perhaps 
no man in the county does or has done a 
larger business than he in the line which 
he follows. His successes have been attained 
by close attention to business, and by fair 
and honorable dealing to all. He beo;an life, 
in a business way, witii but $200. His 
field of operations now are not confined to 
the narrow limits of his county; he has ex- 
tensive interests in Milwaukee and Chicago, 
being interested in real estate in both those 
cities. 

Mrs. Sprecher was formerly Miss Caroline 
Scaffer, of Sauk county. They have three 
children, two sons and a daughter, viz.: Jolin 
Henry, Walter A. and Carrie G. They also 
lost two children. 



^ENRY BECHMANN was born in Chris- 
pendorf, Saxony, August 29, 1834, son 
of Henry and Sophia (Brendell) Bech- 
mann. The elder Mr. Bechmann was born in 
1804r, son of Christoph, and was a mason by 
trade. His wife was born in 1806. They 
had a family of seven children, namely: 
Caroline, who married a Mr. Mueller; Chris- 



tian; Henry, the subject of this biography; 
Johanna, now Mrs. Herbst; Theresa, who 
married Christ Meinhardt; Paulina, who 
married Christ Scherf; and Carl — all living 
except the two oldest, Caroline and Christian, 
who died in the years 1884 and 1885 respect- 
ively. The father died at the old home in 
1880, the mother having passed away in 
1853. 

Henry Bechmann spent his early life at 
home, and attended the public schools until 
he was fourteen. In 1857 he bade adieu to 
his native land and set sail for the United 
States, landing in Baltiniore and from thence 
coming direct to Fountain City, where he 
had a brother-in-law. The date of his arrival 
in this city was August 18, 1857. At 
that time the town comprised about 200 
inhabitants. The first year he engaged in 
farming, and after that learned the trade of 
mason. He was chiefly engaged in building 
until 1873. That year he was brought before 
the public on the Reform ticket, and was 
nominated and elected Registrar of Deeds, re- 
ceiving a majority of 300 votes. In 1875 lie 
was re-elected to the same position on the 
Democratic ticket, also receiving a large 
majority this time, and was again elected 
in 1877. In this position he served six 
years, performed his duties faithfully and 
gave entire satisfaction to all concerned. He 
was Town Treasurer in 1868-'69, and again in 
1872-'73. Dnrinc the tiuje he was Registrar of 
Deeds he resided at Aluia, and after the ex- 
piration of his term of office he moved back 
to Fountain City. He then purchased the 
drug business of G. G. Oppliger, which has 
since been conducted under the name of 
Bechmann & Son. Since his return to Foun- 
tain City he has held various positions of 
local prominence and trust. In the spring 
of 1891 he was elected Justice of the Peace, 
receiving a large majority of the votes cast. 



Bl OGRAPHIGA L HISTOH F. 



655 



Mr. Bechmann was married, February 18, 
1856, in the old country, to Wilhelmina, 
daughter of Michael and Wilhelmina Fratz 
scher. Following is the issue from this 
union: Charles Richard, who is in business 
with his father; Emma, wife of Hermann 
Spuehr, of Chicago; Otto C, a druggist of 
Cherokee, Iowa; Anna M., and Paulina, who 
died February 26, 1892. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bechmann are members 
of the Lutheran Church. 



i;LE E. LARSON resides in the town of 
Pigeon, on section 26, township 23, 
range 7 west. Pie is a son of Erick 
Larson, born in the year 1826, and Oline 
Larson, born in the year 1817, and who in 
the year 1859 emigrated with their children 
from the parish of Ringsacker in the county 
of Hedemarken, Norway, to America, set- 
tling in the town of Hamilton, La Crosse 
county, "Wisconsin, where they resided six 
years, removing thence to Trempealeau 
county, settling in the year 1865 on the 
place now owned and occupied by their son, 
Ole E. Larson, with whom they now reside. 
No improvement had been made upon the 
place at that time, and consequently they had 
to go through the usual hardship of pioneer 
life. The farm contains 240 acres, and is 
under a good state of cultivation. Erick 
Larson and wife liave but two children, the 
eldest of whom is Lars, born 1852, and mar- 
ried in 1876 to Miss Ellen Johnson. They 
have two children: Edwin and Emma. They 
are now residing in the town of Northtield, 
Jackson county, Wisconsin. 

Ole E. Larson was born in Norway, Sep- 
tember 21, 1855, and was in liis fourth year 
when he came to America; all of his mature 
years have been spent~in Trempealeau county, 



Wisconsin, and he received his education in 
the common school. He was reared to the 
occupation of farming, to which he has since 
been wholly devoted, except three winters, 
when he was engaged as clerk in the mer- 
cantile house of H. E. Getts & Co., of 
Whitehall, Wisconsin. 

Mr. Larson has been called upon by his 
fellow citizens to serve in various official 
positions, being elected Supervisor of the 
town of Pigeon when Ijut twenty-one years 
of age, and elected Town Clerk when twenty- 
two, serving in that capacity for eleven years; 
at the expiration of that time be was elected 
chairman of the town, and is now serving 
his third term as such; he has also served as 
Secretary of the Pigeon Mutual Fire Insur- 
ance company ever since its organization in 
the year 1882. In his political affiliations 
Mr. Larson is a Republican. He was mar- 
ried May, 28, 1887, to Miss Maria Skorstad, 
a daughter of Christian and Elene Skorstad, 
both born in Norway, in 1819 and 1821 re- 
spectively, and who in the year 1868 emi- 
grated with their six children from the parish 
of Vardahl, in the county of Christiania, 
Norway, to this county, and in 1869 com- 
menced pioneer life in Trempealeau county, 
on section 27, township 23, range 7 west. 
Mr. Skorstad died September 2, 1886, leav- 
ing his family in comfortable circumstances. 
Mrs. Skorstad is still living on the homestead 
with three of their children, — Andrew, Peter 
and Carrie, — while their oldest daughter, now 
Mrs. Olive Rye, lives at West Superior, Wis- 
consin; and Anton, the youngest member of 
the family holds a position as salesman with 
a mercantile firm at Osseo, Wisconsin. 

Mrs. Larson was born in Norway, August 
7, 1863, and came to this country with her 
parents at the age of live years. 

Mr. Larson is one of the representative 
men of his town. He is a gentleman of good 



C5G 



BIOORAPHIUAL HISTORY. 



attainments, and the various oflScial positions 
to wliich he has been called, and the ability 
with which he has discharged the duties per- 
taining thereto, is evidence of the esteem and 
confidence in which he is held by his fellow 
citizens. 



-^^i/T/Wy- 



-q/irio^^ 



?OHN A. STELLPFLUG, who resides on 
section 29, Gale township, is a repre- 
sentative of one of the pioneer families 
of Trempealeau county. His father, John 
Stellpfliig, was born in Prussia, in 1797, and 
was reared to the occupation of a farmer and 
shepherd, as is the custom in the agricultural 
regions of that country; he also served his 
time in the Prussian army. He was twice 
married, his first wife being Mary Rokus, 
who died in Germany, leaving three sons, the 
eldest of whom, Herman, came to America 
in 1845, the first of the family who came to 
the United States. Louis, the second son, 
came to this country with tlie father. He 
was married in Louisiana, after which he 
lived a number of years and died leaving a 
family, who removed after the father's death 
to Louisiana. The third of three sons. Chris- 
tian, learned the trade of a harness- maker in 
Germany, and came to America with his 
father. He also died in this county, leaving 
a family; liis widow is now also deceased. 
The father remarried in Germany, his second 
wife being Elizabeth Luoir, to whom three 
sons were born before the family left Ger- 
many. John A. was the eldest; Francis, now 
a merchant of the city of La Crosse; Clem- 
ents, a resident of Gale township, was born 
on the ocean in the passage to America. 

lu 1845 Mr. Stelljiling, Sr., emigrated to 
America with his family, their objective point 
being Milwaukee, VV^isconsin, which they 
reached in due time. There they coiitiiiued 



to reside until 1854, when, having sold the 
farm in Washington county, the family started 
Westward with the intention of settling in 
Minnesota. They traveled with o.\ teams 
and wagons, and on arriving in La Crosse the 
father left his family while he started out for 
a trip through Southern Minnesota to look 
for a desirable place of settlement. But 
learning that the Indians were somewhat 
troublesome, he was not willing to risk his 
family in that section of country, and conse- 
([uently decided to locate in Trempealeau 
county, and settled on the place where his son, 
John now lives. Here he and his boys 
erected a log cabin, which still stands on the 
place, and began at once to break the land 
and prepare for a crop. They sowed some 
winter wheat the first fall, but this did not 
produce a large crop, as they sowed too late, 
having not yet learned the character of tlie 
soil. The father first secured eighty acres of 
land, on which the old homestead now stands, 
and also obtained forty acres of timber. He 
and his sons improved the place and made a 
pleasant home, and here the father died, Au- 
gust 10, 1863, and lies buried on a l^eautiful 
rise of land near the old home. Besides the 
children already mentioned as born in Ger- 
Germany, and Clements, who was born on the 
way to America, was a little brother also 
named Jolui, who was born in Washington 
county, and died at the new home in Gale 
township, in August, 1854, in his fourth year, 
and lies buried by the side of his father. Mr. 
Stellptlug was a man of large experience and 
great energy of character, but on coming to a 
new country when well advanced in life, he 
did not become acclimated so readily as a 
younger man would have done, and the ex- 
posure incident to a pioneer life was very 
severe on him, dying, as has been before 
stated, in 1863. The young son and brother, 
who died soon after the arrival of the family 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



657 



in tliis county, was a victim to the exposure 
and excitement to the new life. 

John A. Stellpflng, who owns and occupies 
the homestead farm, was born in Germany, 
Septemljer 28, 1838, having been about six- 
teen years of age wlien he came witli his 
father to Trempealeau county. He helped 
clear up the homestead farm which the father 
bought in the name of the son, so that in 
reality he has always owned the place. In 
the early days he worked out and earned 
money foi' the benefit of the family. He 
was married to Sarah Shonat, who was born 
in Walworth county, New York, a daugliter 
of George Shonat, now deceased. She came 
to this county with her parents in 1855. 
They have ten children, three sons and seven 
daughters: Frederick J., Francis G., Joseph 
C, Julia A., Abigail E., Ellen S., Katherine 
A., Mary E., Florence C. and Laura A. The 
mother of Mr. Stellpflng lives with her son 
at the old homestead. She still continues in 
good health for one of her advanced years 
Our subject came to this county many years 
ago, when just verging into manhood, and 
has lived to witness the growtli and progress 
which a period of thirty-seven years has made. 
He is esteemed as a good neighbor, and as an 
honorable and progressive citizen. 



[LMER L. IMMELL, the present Post- 
master at Blair, received his appoint- 
ment April 23, 1889, his commission 
dating from May 20 of that year. He was 
born in Jackson county, Wisconsin, May 10, 
1863, a son of F. M. Immell, a pioneer of 
Western Wisconsin, having been a resident 
of Jackson county as early as 1852. He was 
born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1831, a son of 
Jacob Immell. The former came to La Crosse 
county as early as 1852, and was for many 



years employed on Black river, and is now a 
resident of Blair. The mother of our subject 
was Ann Storley. 

Elmer L., our subject, has passed the most 
of his life in Trempealeau county, and was 
educated in the public schools of Blair. He 
is an engineer by trade, and for many years 
has been engaged in operating steam thresh- 
ers, and since 1881 has been proprietor of the 
business. He is still engaged extensively in 
that occupation, owning and operating two 
engines and threshers, and does a large part 
of the work in this portion of the county. 

Mr. Immell was married to Miss Rose 
McKivergan, a daughter of James McKiver- 
gan. He and his wife have two sons, — Hugh 
E. and Russell Harrison. Mr. Immell is a 
representative of a well-known pioneer family 
of Western Wisconsin. In his business re- 
lations he is esteemed as an honorable and 
upright citizen, and in his official capacity he 
is both efficient and popular, and in all re- 
spects has the confidence of the community 
in which he lives. 

,UGUST F. HENSEL, a general mer- 
chant of Arcadia, was born in Prussia, 
October 17, 1834, a son of John Fred- 
erick Hensel. In the spring of 1839 the 
family, consisting of parents and five chil- 
dren, left their German home for America, 
sailing from the city of Hamburg on the 
vessel Alfred, and were three months making 
the passage to New York. A child was born 
to the parents on siiip board, which in honor 
of the event was called by the name of the 
vessel, John Alfred. After landing in the 
port of New York the family proceeded to 
Buffalo, where they resided two years, the 
father in the meantime engaging in work on 
the Erie Canal. In 18-41 they removed to 



658 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



Milwaukee, which was then but a hamlet, 
and altliongli but a lad the subject of this 
sketch remembers the names of all the resi- 
dents of that place. There the youngest of 
the family, Charles Albert, was born in 1847, 
and later the family settled on land in Gran- 
ville township, which, with the assistance of 
his sons, the father improved. He finally re- 
turned to Milwaukee, where he passed the 
last twenty-five years of his life. He was a 
well-known citizen of that town in the early 
days, and was for many years enj^aged in 
house-moving, being the second to engage in 
that business in Milwaukee. He died in that 
city May 29, 1886, at the age of eighty-three 
years, and his wife, who was born May 2, 
1801, died in February, 1881. Of their seven 
children, all are living but the eldest, Caro- 
line, who married and had quite a numerous 
family, and died in Oshkosh many years ago. 
Edward, the eldest son, is a resident of Buf- 
falo county; Julius is a resident of Ai-cadia; 
the subject of this sketch is the next in order 
of birth; Matilda is the wife of Charles 
Scott, of Milwaukee; John Alfred also re- 
sides in Milwaukee; and Charles A., the 
youngest of the family, resides in Jamestown, 
North Dakota. 

August F., our subject, remained in Mil- 
waukee until May 5, 1854, and in his youth 
was engaged in clerking in that city. He 
went to Madison, and continued a resident of 
Dane county until he came to this part of the 
State. While on a visit to his parents in 
Milwaukee he heard reports of Buifalo county 
as a desirable part of the State in which to 
locate, and by the advice of his father he re- 
solved to look for a location in this part of 
the State. The latter gave him $300 with 
which to purchase land, on condition that he 
expended it in IJuftalo county. Mr. Hensel 
accordingly set out for his destination, accom- 
panied by his ne.xt oldest brother. There were 



then no railroads or other public conveyances 
by means of which they could reach the 
western part of the State, and they accord- 
ingly went to Chicago, thence to Duiileitli, 
now East Dubuque, by train, then up the 
river by steamboat to La Crosse, where they 
secured the services of a surveyor and pro- 
ceeded to what is now Glencoe township, 
Bufi'alo county, whei'e they made locations. 
Soon afterward Mr. Hensel improved an op- 
portunity to purchase a pair of Cimadian 
ponies and a wagon of a Canadian, and with 
these he returned to Dane county, where he 
sold his team, went thence to Milwaukee, 
and returned to Buffalo the same fall with an 
ox team and wagon. He was accompanied 
on his return by his brother John, Thomas 
A. Simpson, William Johnson and two broth- 
ers named Piper, though the latter only ac- 
companied them as far as Sparta. The four 
companions who came on to Buffalo county 
were all single men, and all except John 
made locations, Mr. Simpson, however, 
locating in Trempealeau county, and John- 
son soon sold his claim in Trempealeau 
county and went elsewhere. These gentle- 
men were among the first settlers of this 
portion of Wisconsin, and endured all the 
privations incident to a jiioneer life. The 
winter of 1856-'57 is still remeTnbered by 
the pioneers as one of remarkable severity, 
and to add to their sufferings the stock of 
provisions of the settlers became entirely ex- 
hausted, and the question as to how they 
were to subsist became a serious one. Mr. 
Hensel finally decided to make an effort to 
reacli Fountain City and secure a supply of 
provisions, and he accordingly started out for 
that place with a sleigh and three yoke of 
oxen. He was accompanied by Henry Wer- 
tenberg and James Faulds, and they were 
compelled to break the crust of the snow all 
the way, the distance being sixteen miles. 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



659 



Starting on Monday morning, they were three 
days in reaching that city, and arrived home 
on Saturday night, after an absence of six 
days. To show the difficulty under which 
they labored it may be stated that Mr. Heii- 
sel wore three pairs of pants on this journey, 
all of which were worn and cut through at 
the knees before reaching their destination, 
and it was necessary that he should borrow a 
pair at Fountain City before returning home. 
The cattle had often to crawl on their knees; 
and after all his labor and sufferings Mr. 
Hensel secured for himself but one barrel of 
flour, which cost him $16 in money and a 
week's work with three yoke of cattle. He 
nearly perished on this trip, and succeeded 
in escaping with his life only by his great 
will and powers of endurance. In 1862 he 
sold out in Buffalo county, and in 1863 re- 
moved to Arcadia township, Trempealeau 
county, and settled on land he had purchased 
some time previously. There he lived with 
his family from 1863 to 1874, or until the 
village of Arcadia was started. He then re- 
moved to that place and erected his present 
store building, which was the finest on the 
west side of the track. In 1876 he engaged 
in merchandising, which he has since con- 
tinued. 

Mr. Hensel was married in August, 1860, 
to Miss Amelia Hensel, also a native of 
Prussia, and daughter of Ludwig Hensel. 
They have seven children, viz.: Ida, Alvah, 
Ayris, Eunice, Jesse, Ivan and Myrtle. They 
lost rix children, — Emma, who died at the 
age of twenty-six years; Dexter, in his fifth 
year, and the remainder died in early infancy. 
In Jiis political affiliations Mr. Hensel is a 
Kepublican, his father having been a Whig 
in the early times, and later a Republican. 
Mr. Hensel cast his first Presidential vote for 
John C. Fremont in 1856, and has voted for 
every Kepublican candidate for President 



since the organization of that party. We 
have thus endeavored to give a biography of 
August F. Hensel, who has been a resident 
of Buffalo and Trempealeau counties for the 
long period of thirty-five years, and has wit- 
nessed the conntry grow from a state of wil- 
derness to its present condition of wealth 
and importance. He is numbered among 
the well-known and esteemed citizens of 
Trempealeau county. 



fOHN CLA.RKE, of Fountain city, Wis- 
consin, one of the oldest settlers of Buf- 
falo county, was born in Manchester, 
England, October 20, 1824. His parents 
were George and Susanna Clarke, the former 
a son of William Clarke, and was born at 
Ripon, in 1802, and the latter born at Rip- 
ponden, near Halifax, Yorkshire, in 1804. 
They had two children, the subject of this 
sketch, and a daughter, who married James 
Cotton, of England. He is deceased and she 
is now a resident of Aurora, Missouri. 

John Clarke received his education in a 
private school, and subsequently learned his 
father's trade, that of mill-wright, working 
some at Manchester and a portion of the time 
at London. He was quite young when his 
mother died, her death having occurred in 
January, 1829. 

In 1850 his father emigrated to the United 
States, and located at Indianapolis, Indiana. 
He was actively employed in his business and 
took a number of contracts for putting up 
mills in that State. About a year after he 
came here, he decided to return to England 
for his family, and have his son, John, engage 
with him in business. On his way to New 
York he stopped at Cleveland, and while at 
the hotel there was robbed of all his money. 
Not long afterward he was found one morn- 



660 



BIOOBAPHWAL HISTORY. 



ing dead in his room, and it was reported that 
he died of apoplexy. There was a suspicion, 
however, that he had been foullj' dealt with, 
as one of the proprietors of tlie hotel soon 
left for California. About three months 
after his father's death John arrived in that 
citj', but nothing satisfactory regarding the 
untimely death of bis parent could be ascer- 
tained. 

From Cleveland Mr. Clarke went to lius- 
siaville, Indiana, and completed the contracts 
his father bad taken. He then went to Fond 
du Lac, Wisconsin, to erect a linseed-oil fac- 
tory, and remained at that place two years. 
Dr. Bishop, a member of tbe firm who put 
up the factory, was building a sawmill at 
Fountain City and engaged Mr. Clarke to 
come here and set up the machinery in it. 
Ttie latter, being so well pleased with this 
place, decided to locate permanently here. 
This was in the spring of 1855. His next 
construction was a flour mill which he built 
in connection with John Buehler, now of 
Alma. This mill was completed in 1858, and 
was the first one erected in the county. It 
stood about a half mile south of the site of 
the present mill. After operating it about 
two years, he turned his attention to farming, 
engineeriufT on the boats and working at 
machinery in the lumber country. In 1866 
lie erected his machine shop and plow factory 
at Fountain City, which he conducted up to 
January, 1892, when ho sold the manufactur- 
ing business While he was running the mill 
he and bis partner, Mr. Buehler, also carried 
on a general store. Soon after coming here 
he began looking around for a home place, 
found a location that eminently pleased him, 
made claim on it and at once began improve- 
ments. Leaving the banks of the Mississippi 
and going up a little caiion, now known as 
Cedar valley, one finds the attractive home 
and lieautiful surroundings where Mr. Clarke 



has passed so many years. As a business 
man he has been successful; owns an interest 
in the Fountain City Brewing Company, and 
has other property. 

He was married, in Manchester, England, 
June 17, 1847, to Elizabeth, daughter of 
Edward and Alice (Hindle) Waring, of Black- 
burne, England. Following is the issue from 
their union: Mary A., who died in infancy; 
Marion, who married Charles Hensel, now in 
Dakota; Fannie, wife of Martin Feuerhak; 
Lillian J., a young lady of acknowledged 
ability as an artist; Coralla St. V.; Grace 
Darling, who married John J. 1^'rye; George, 
who died at the age of twenty-one years; 
John S. died when four years old, and Sam- 
uel II. when only two. 

In politics Mr. Clarke was formerly a 
Republican, but now affiliates with the 
Democratic party. He was made Justice of 
the Peace in 1857, about the first justice in 
the county, and held the office six years. He 
was appointed District Attorney forGovernor 
Bashford in 1855, which position he occupied 
one teriii; was under-Sheriff lor one term 
some years ago; also Trustee of the village 
one term. He has held all the positions on 
the school board. Both he and his wife were 
reared in the Epi.-<copal Church, and are still 
consistent members of the same. In 1869 
they made a visit of three montlis' duration 
to their old home in England, and while they 
enjoyed their sojourn there, were glad to 
return to their adopted country. 

It should be further stated in connection 
with the family history of Mr. Clarke, that 
his father was married to a second wife, Mary 
Barlow, in 1830, near Manchester, England, 
and by her had four children: William, 
Samuel, Robert and George Henry, all born 
in England. Samuel and George Henry 
came to the United States in 1853 with their 
mothoi', and located at Fond dn Lac, where 




( ■G/^y/e/r^^-i-'Ly 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



661 



tlie mother died shortly after her arriv^al. 
Samuel is living at Arkansas City, Kansas, 
and is engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad 
Company. George Henry lives at Fairview, 
Kansas; is a member of the Baptist Church; 
married Jane Crawford, and has six children. 

-^-♦|*>^-*-'-~— 



LE O. PETERSON, of Arcadia, is one 
of the well-known citizens of Trem- 
peauleau county, of which he has been 
a resident since August, 1868. He was born 
in Sweden, July 17,1840, a son of Ole Peter- 
son. The parents never came to America, 
and still reside in Sweden. Our subject is 
one of a family of five children, two sons and 
three daughters, and his only brother resides 
in Burnside township, Trempealeau county. 
A sister also resides in Burnside township, 
and the others are still in Europe. 

i)\e O. was reared in his native country to 
the occupation of farming, and after attaining 
a proper age he entered the army, where he 
continued about two years. This was not, 
however, while his country was at war, but 
he entered the military service as other young 
men of his country do to receive a discipline 
which will fit them for a possible war. Mr. 
Peterson had for some time contemplated 
coming to America, and finally crossed the 
ocean to the United States on the City of 
Paris. His object in coming to America was 
that he might improve the superior oppor- 
tunities for advancement in life over those of 
the older countries of Europe. He ai-rived 
in La Crosse May 24, 1868, and his 
financial resources being about exhausted he 
began work on the construction of the 
Southern Minnesota railroad, where he con- 
tinued for a few months. He next went to 
Iowa and worked during the harvest season, 
and in the fall of the same year came to 



Trempealeau county. Mr. Peterson passed 
the winters of the two following seasons in 
the pineries of Wisconsin, and the summers 
were spent at work in Onalaska. Next he 
engaged in farming in Arcadia township, 
which occupation he continued until 1874, 
and in that year he began merchandising in 
what is known as the old town of Arcadia, 
under the firm name of Peterson & Thomp- 
son. In 1876 Mr. Peterson bought his 
j)artner's interest and continued alone until 
the latter part of 1877, when he sold out to 
his former partner and retired from active 
business. In 1883 he' re-engaged in business 
at the saiiie place, nnder the firm name of 
Peterson & Bear, and in 1884 Mr. Peterson 
retired from this firm and formed a partner- 
ship with W. P. Massuere, under the firm 
name of Peterson, Massuere & Co. In 1887 
he sold out to his partner, since which time 
he has been practically retired, though he has 
dealt somewhat in real estate. 

Mr. Peterson is a representative citizen of 
Trempealeau county. He came to America 
in 1868, a poor young man and totally un- 
acquainted with the language and customs of 
his adopted country, bat by industry and 
perseverance he has overcome all obstacles 
and has been successful in many ways. He 
has accumulated a fine property, owning 
about 1,000 acres of land in Trempealeau 
county, and has also owned valuable land in 
Minneapolis. Mr. Peterson has been called 
upon to serve in various official positions, 
including that of Supervisor and Town Treas- 
urer, holding the last mentioned position 
from 1876 to 1878, and is now a member of 
the board of trustees of the village of 
Arcadia. He began his political career as a 
Republican, voting for Grant, Garfield and 
Hayes, but has more recently affiliated with 
the Democratic party. In 1872 Mr. Peter- 
son was attacked with the disease known as 



663 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



asthma, which was the cause of his discon- 
tinuing the occupation of farming and en- 
gaging in merchandising. lie is still at 
times afflicted with the disease, though not 
so severely as formerly. 

He was married November 13, 1870, to 
Mrs. Martha Larsen, widow of Peter Larsen. 

^ENRY M. CROMBIE, who resides on 
section 2G, Gale township, was born in 
Oswego county. New York, November 
16, 1833, a son of "William Croinbie, who 
was born February 9, 1804. May 4, 1830, 
he married Katherine Hasbronck, who was 
born December 25, 1810. The paternal 
grandfatherof our subject, also named William 
Crombie, was born December 16, 1766. The 
early records of the Crombie family in Amer- 
ica state that John Crombie, who was the 
great-grandfatlier of Henry M., emigrated 
from the North of Ireland to Londonderry 
about 1720, and thence with his family to 
America. The parents of our subject re- 
sided in Oswego county for many years, and 
afterward went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 
locating on a farm in the Milwaukee woods 
about eight miles from that city, thence to 
Delafield, Waukesha county, later to Mil- 
waukee, four years later to La Crosse, and 
thence to the vicinity of Ulack Kiver Falls, 
where the parents lived until death, the father 
dying in Waukesha, where he had gone for 
medical treatment, December 17, 1868, and 
the mother December 26, 1876. They were 
the parents of four children, three of whom 
grew to mature years: Henry M., the eldest; 
Eliza Marvin, who became the wifeof Ephraim 
Darwin, of Madison, Wisconsin, and is now 
deceased; William Wallace, a resident of 
Jackson county. 

Henry M., our subject, assisted his father, 



who was a hotelkeeper, and after attaining 
to manhood he engaged in lumbering,, and 
for many years was head sawyer at the mills 
in the vicinity of Black River Falls and La 
Crosse. He now owns a tine farm and pleas- 
ant liome, on which he has made all the im- 
provements. He was married December 4, 
1861, to Miss Harriet W. Clark, a native of 
Ohio, who died at Black River Falls March 
9, 1869. May 27, 1873, Mr. Crombie was 
united in marriage to Mary E. Davis, a daugh- 
ter of S. P. Davis, a pioneer of Jackson 
county. Mrs. Crombie was born near Roch- 
ester, Monroe county, New York, in 1849, 
and came West witii her parents when nine 
years of age. Mr. Crombie had two daugh- 
ters by his first marriage: Khoda C, wife of 
William Baker, of La Crosse; and Stella H., 
wife of Edwin Ilouk, of Melrose. Five 
children have been born to the present union, 
four of whom survive, namely: Harrison A., 
Walter I., Letitia V. and Austin P. They 
lost their first child, Alta Eliza, at the age of 
tvvo years. Mr. Crombie is a well-known 
citizen of Trempealeau county, where he has 
lived for more than thirty years. He has 
been Postmaster at Glasgow, and also of this 
place since 1873. He always takes a com- 
mendable interest in promoting the moral 
religious and material growtli of the com- 
munity in which he lives. He and his wife 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at North Bend, Jackson county, Wis- 
consin. 

ILBERT N. GOODHUE, who owns and 
conducts the Trempealeau Herald., pur- 
chased the paper in 1889 of C. V. 
Stewart, who succeeded F. A. Brown as owner 
and proprietor; and still earlier the paper 
was owned and conducted by Frank Kribs. 



BIOGRAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



663 



The Herald is a weekly journal, Republican 
in politics, and has a circulation of 500. 

Elbert Goodhue is a native of Trempealeau, 
born November 23, 1860, a son of Francis 
A. Goodhue, who was an early settler of 
this city, where he still resides. He is a 
native of Vermont, a millwright and carpen- 
ter by trade, and came to Trempealeau in 
1856. Elbert N. was educated in the public 
schools, and afterward studied law for about 
two years, but on account of poor health he 
relinquished the study of law and learned the 
business of telegraphy. He was engaged as 
operator for the Chicago & Northwestern 
Kailroad Company, the Chicago, Milwaukee 
& St. Paul Railroad Company, and also the 
Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha 
road. He next pursued the study of stenog- 
raphy, intending to follow the business of 
court reporter, and with that end in view 
was for some time in the office of Cameron & 
Losey, of La Crosse. But delicate health re- 
quired more active exercise, and for a time he 
was amanuensis for tiie Minneapolis Elevator 
Company', for the Mazepa Mill Company, 
and later was assistant to the secretary of 
the general manager of tiie Northern Pacific 
railroad, being located at St. Paul. But, de- 
ciding to engage in the newspaper business, 
he purchased the Herald, of which he 
assumed charge in 1889. He is a gentleman 
of education and energy, and under his ad- 
ministration the Herald has made commend- 
able progress. 



►^Mj-i 



ITARK AND HIRAM BUTMAN are 
among the well-known pioneers of 
La Crosse and Trempealeau counties, 
the former residing on section 36, and the 
latter on section 27, Gale township. The 
brothers are descended from an early family 



in Colonial times and are the sons of Alexan- 
der P. Butman, a native of New York and of 
English ancestry. Their paternal grand- 
father was John Butman, an early settler of 
the State of New York, where he lived until 
death, after which the grandmother removed 
with her family to Erie county, Ohio, and 
settled in the town of Huron, in the Huron 
river valley. The family consisted of three 
brothers and two sisters: John, Benjamin, 
Alexander, Hannah and Nancy, all of whom 
have now passed away. Alexander, the lat- 
est survivor of the family, died November 
5 1888. The mother of the subjects of 
this sketch was Rebecca Smith, a daughter 
of Enoch Smith and wife, who were early 
settlers of Florence, Erie county, Ohio, 
where they resided until death. Alexander 
Butman was three times married, and by the 
first marriage there were three sons and a 
daughter, the latter of whom died early in 
life. Of the three sons Stark is the eldest, 
Hiram the second in order of birth, and Asa, 
the youngest, resided for some time in La 
Crosse county in an early day. He served in 
the Union army in the war of the Rebellion, 
after which he settled in Rock Island county, 
Illinois. He was married in Muscatine, 
Iowa, and now resides in the State cf 
Nebraska, engaged in farming. There were 
other children in the faniily by later raar- 
riaojes, Alexander Butman having been the 
father of eight who grew to mature years. 

Stark Butman was born in Erie county, 
Ohio, in 1832, and in the fall of 1852 he 
came with his father to La Crosse county 
and settled in the northern part of that 
county, but returned the same autumn to 
Ohio. In the fall of 1853 he returned to 
this State, accompanied by Hiram, and set- 
tled on the land tliat he and his father had 
located the previous year, and began at once 
to make improvements. June 18, 1855, 



664 



BIOGRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



Stark Butinaa was united in marriage, by 
Elder Slierwin, of La Crosse, to ilary Jane 
Lynn, a native of Ohio. Her parents were 
Uenry and Harriet Lynn, natives of New 
York, but early settlers of Huron county, 
Ohio, where they lived until death. Mrs. 
Butinan went to the city of La Crosse in the 
fall of 1854, where she remained until her 
marriacje. Mr. and Mrs. Butinan continued 
to reside on their farm in La Crosse county 
until 1859, when they settled where they 
now live, he having purchased the place in 
1856. He has a line farm of 200 acres, and 
still owns a small part of the place in La 
Crosse county. Mr. and Mrs. Butraan have 
eight children, three sons and five daughters, 
viz.: Eugene S., who was married to Lizzie 
Stellpflug and lives in Pipestone county, 
Minnesota; Emma, the wife of David G. 
Lonie, also resides in Pipestone county, near 
the city of that name; Eva 1., the wife of 
AUie Bartlett, resides in Kingsburg county 
South Dakota; Erie II., at home; Nancy M., 
the wife of Clinton Lovell, also in Kingsburg 
county; Nettie L., the wife of William E. 
McKown, of Pipestone county, Minnesota; 
Ernest H. and Frank Milton. They lost an 
infant daughter. Mr. Butman has been 
Postmaster at Decora Prairie since July, 
1873. 

Hiram Butman was born in Ohio, in 1836, 
and, as already stated, came with his brother 
Stark to Wisconsin in the autumn of 1853, 
and improved a farm in Ulack river valley, 
now in the town of Holland, La Crosse 
county. He was married September 1, 1859. 
to Mary M. Harrison, daughter of Thomas 
and Ruth Ann (Hine) Harrison, early settlers 
of Erie county, Ohio, and still reside on the 
old homestead where they first settled. The 
father was born in the State of New York, 
and the mother near wlien^ '''cy now reside 
in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Butman have a 



daughter, Alice R., born in Holland, La 
Crosse county, in 1862, and is now the wife 
of William Burton, of Chicago. They lost 
their oldest child and only son, Charles 
Hiram, also born in Holland, La Crosse 
county, in 1860, and died January 26, 
1865. They have an adopted daughter, 
Gertrude S., born March 1, 1871, and 
has been their child since she was an infant 
of seven months. Mr. and Mrs. Butraan 
have a pleasant home, beautifully located on 
an elevation, and surrounded by shade and 
ornamental trees. 

The brothers are among the well-known 
and representative citizens of Trempealeau 
county, and for almost forty years have been 
residents of this immediate vicinity, and 
have ever been known as men of integrity 
and public spirit. 



^ 



^(H)^ 



^ 



,ENIIY THOKSGAARD, one of the 
representative citizens of Blair, Trem- 
pealeau county, was born in the famous 
Gulbransdalen valley, Norway, in 1845, a 
son of Lars Erickson Thorsgraard. In the 
summer of 1854 the family emigrated to 
America, being thirteen weeks in making the 
passage from Cliristiania to the port of Que- 
bec. After arrival they came directly to 
Wisconsin, and settled on a farm on Coon 
Prairie, Vernon county, where they were 
among the early pioneers. There the parents 
lived until death, the father surviving the 
mother a number of years. 

When a young man the subject of this 
sketch learned the trade of milling with John 
Edmunds, on Squaw creek, near Black River 
Falls, where he remained five years. Mr. 
Thorsgaard followed the occupation of mil- 
ling about fourteen years. He came to Ulair 
from Ettrick in 1873, where he bad worked 



BIOGRAPBIGAL HISTORY. 



665 



at his trade for a considerable time. In 
partnership with John and Orrin Van Ness 
they erected a flouring mill, which Mr. Thors- 
gaard operated until 1883, when he sold out. 
In 1886 he was elected Treasurer of Trem- 
pealeau county, and served honorably and 
efficiently in that position four years, and has 
also held several local offices, including Chair- 
man of the Town Board. He is now devoting 
considerable attention to farming. 

He was married in 1880, to AgnetheEkern, 
a native of Norway, and they have four 
daughters: Pauline, Louise, Hannaand Chris- 
tina. Mr. Thorsgaard is esteemed as a pub- 
lic-spirited and enterprising citizen. In his 
political affiliations he is a Republican, and 
is devoted to the principles of that great na- 
tional party. Though not a prohibitionist in 
the modern acceptation of that term, yet he 
is an earnest advocate of the principles of 
temperance. He is liberal in his religious 
belief, and ever takes a prominent part in 
whatever tends to promote the moral and 
material growth of the community in which 
he lives. He has a pleasant home in the vil- 
lage of Blair, where he and his family are 
surrounded by the comforts of life, which 
have been acquired by his industry and en- 
terprise. 



OBERT S. OLIVER resides in section 
36, township 19, range 8 west, wiiere he 
settled in April, 1855. He bought this 
place of David J. Monroe, but nothing had been 
done on the place when he bought it except the 
building of a log cabin and the breaking of a 
few acres of land. He was born in Ayrshire, 
Scotland, January 10, 1822, tlie son of George 
and Sarah (Lainbie) Oliver, the latter having 
died when her son was a child. The father 
emigrated with his family to Nuva Scotia, 



where he and his son Robert engaged at work 
in the coal mines. In 1842 the family re- 
moved to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, but 
mining proving to be a dull business at that 
place, and the outlook for future work not 
being favorable, they remained there bat one 
month, when they returned to Nova Scotia. 
June 17, 1846, the family again left that 
country, their destination being the State cf 
Maryland. While passing down the coast on 
shipboard their vessel was wrecked off New- 
port, Rhode Island, and a number of the 
passengers were lost; but the Oliver family, 
after undergoing great danger and privation, 
escaped. They settled in Allegany county, 
Maryland, where father and son engaged in 
mining, and where the former died in Feb- 
ruary, 1848, leaving the mother with eight 
children, of whom Robert was the eldest. 

In the spring of 1849 our subject left 
home and went to Pottsville, Pennslyvania, 
where he remained some time. He was 
married in that city August 24, 1849, to 
Mary Scott, soon after which he returned 
to Maryland and worked in the coal mines 
until 1852. February 2, of the same year, 
he started for California, via the Isthmus, 
leaving his family in Maryland. The Cali- 
fornia gold fever was then raging violently, 
and Mr. Oliver, with thousands of others, 
became possessed of a desire to visit the 
" land of gol J." The party of which he was 
a member took passage in the steamer Ben 
Franklin for the Isthmus; thence they as- 
cended the Chagres river on a small steamer 
for about twenty-eight miles, and then on 
foot to Panama, intending there to take a 
steamer up the Pacific Coast. Here they 
were compelled to wait two weeks, and were 
then obliged to take a sail vessel for San 
Francisco. This proved a long and tedious 
passage, and they endured much suffering 
for want of food and water. On one occasion 



666 



BIOQRAPHWAL HISTORY. 



they stopped at a small island to secure water, 
when three men made their appearance wlio 
had I'ecently escaped from a whaler that had 
put in at the same place and for the same 
purpose, and these men had left the ship and 
crew with the intention of improving the first 
opportunity to take passage to California. 
The captain of the ship Cornelia took them 
aboard and sailed away, but soon the whaler 
hove in sight, and the runaway sailors were 
surrendered. In fact, the whole affair was a 
ruse on the part of the two captains to secure 
the runaways. Later the Cornelia put into 
the port of Acapiilco, Mexico, for provisions, 
and they finally reached San Francisco, after 
many trials and tribulations, on July 24, 
1852. 

Mr. Oliver at once proceeded to the mines, 
and continued to mine for gold until the fall 
of 1854, when he returned by the same 
route. In the spring of 1855 he came to 
Trempealeau county, and made his present 
location, and in June of the same year he 
returned for his family, and here he has since 
lived. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have thirteen 
children, five sons and eight daughters. Mr. 
Oliver is the only one of his father's family 
who ever settled in Trempealeau county. He 
is one of the substantial and respected citi- 
zens of Gale township. 



31'' 



|ILLIAM B. ARNOLD, of the town 
,i of Arcadia, resides on section 10, 
y^i^ township 21, range 9 west, where he 
located September 30, 1864, at which time 
no improvements whatever had been made on 
his place. He was born in Saratoga county. 
New York, June 20, 1831, a son of Benejah 
Douglas Arnold, also a native of the Empire 
State. According to the genealogy of the 
family three brothers by the name of Arnold 



emigrated from England at an early date, 
and from one of thecic brothers has the sub- 
ject of this sketch descended. B. D. Arnold 
married Maria Wilbur and continued to live 
in the State of New York until his decease, 
which occurred in Saratoga county, Septem- 
ber 28, 1886, at the advanced age of eighty- 
nine years. Ilis widow still survives, at tiie 
age of eighty-five years. Tliey were the 
parents of eight children who attained to ma- 
ture years, five sons and three daughters, of 
whom six survive, viz.: The eldest, Martha, 
widow of Isaac McCourtie, resides in Chicago; 
William B., our subject; Douglass, a resi- 
dent of Beloit, Wisconsin; Marvin resides on 
the old homestead in New York; Alfred also 
lives in that State, and Jennie is the wife of 
James G. Bentley, of Saratoga county. Will- 
iam B. Arnold was reared on the homestead 
farm and educated at Madison University, 
New York, and for many years followed the 
occupation of teaching. He was a teacher 
for a time in the Ballston Spa Academy, Sara- 
toga county, New York; and taught for five 
terras very successfully in the district where he 
now resides. He was married September 3, 
1802, to Miss Carrie Sawyer, daughter of 
Thomas and Eliza Jane (Hoag) Sawyer, both na- 
tives of the Empire State, where they contin ued 
to reside until their death. Eight children, 
three sons and five daughters, have been born 
to them, viz.: Ella M., who is now the wife 
of Jay I. Dewey, of Arcadia; Libbie M., who 
is the wife of S. P. Cook, of Independence; 
Wyman S., Bertha M., Jennie L. and Frank 
L., twins, and Clarice Viola and Elmer D. 
In September, 1864, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold 
came to Trempealeau county and -settled 
where they now live, since which time Mr. 
Arnold has taken an active interest in the 
cause of education and progress. He is a 
man of culture and nearly all of his children 
who have attained to mature years have been 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTOMY. 



667 



well qualified and successful teachers. In 
his political affiliations Mr. Arnold is a Dem- 
ocrat, but was a Republican in the early 
history of that party, voting for Presidents 
Lincoln and Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold 
have a pleasant home where peace, happiness 
and prosperity abound. 



I^ANIEL KENNEDY, one of the repre- 
sentative citizens of Trempealeau county, 
settled in this part of the State October 
26, 1854. He was born in Bombay, Frank- 
lin county, New York, February 24, 1835, 
and was reared to the occupation of farming. 
His father, also named Daniel Kennedy, was 
a native of Ireland, where he grew to man- 
hood and was married. After emigrating to 
this country the father made his first settle- 
ment in Franklin county, and in 1853 the 
family, consisting of parents and five chil- 
dren, came to Elkhorn, Walworth county, 
Wisconsin. In October, 1854, the subject 
of this sketch came to Trempealeau county 
and made a location for the family, entering 
400 acres of land in Gale and Ettrick town- 
ships. He began the improvement of this 
land the next year, and has the honor of 
doing the first breaking in Beaver creek val- 
ley, north of Galesville. In 1856 his father's 
family joined him, and there the father died 
June 28, 1878, at the age of seventy-seven 
years and eleven months. The mother died 
August 26, 1891, at the home of her daugh- 
ter near Chippewa Falls. Betsey, the eldest 
of the family, is the wife of W. W. Parker; 
Margaret married John McKeeth, and died a 
number of years ago; Daniel is the next of 
the family in order of birth; James continued 
to reside in Trempealeau county until the 
fall of 1884, when, his health failing, he re- 
moved with his family to Beaumont, South- 



ern California, where he is now engaged in 
tlie livery business. Pie has i-egained his 
health, and is doing well at his new place of 
residence. He still owns his farm in Trem- 
pealeau county, which constitutes the land 
that Daniel located in 1854. Cornelius, the 
youngest of the family, entered the army in 
the war of the Rebellion, as a member of 
the Thirtieth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry. He lost his health in the army, 
and died a number of years ago. 

Daniel Kennedy and his brothers improved 
the farm above mentioned and made of it a 
splendid place, and the three brothers, James, 
Daniel and Cornelius, each owned an interest 
in this farm. In 1862 Daniel sold his por- 
tion to his father, who later disposed of his 
interest to James, and the latter finally be- 
came possessed of all the land Daniel had 
entered in 1854. In 1862 our subject pur- 
chased his farm of 260 acres, located on sec 
tion 16, two and a half miles north of the 
village of Galesville, and known in the early 
days as the Parker place. This is one of the 
most valuable farms in Trempealeau county, 
and well adapted to both grain and stock 
raising, nearly all being under cultivation 
and in pasture. The farm is well watered, 
one part by a fine spring. He erected his 
fine brick residence in 1875. Mr. Kennedy 
has for many years been engaged in the live- 
stock business, and has always been largely 
interested in the raising of cattle, and for 
more than twenty years has been a buyer, 
feeder and shipper of stock. He was one of 
the organizers of the bank at Galesville, of 
which he has been a stockholder since its 
foundation. 

Mr. Kennedy was married in the tall of 
1862, to Miss Helen Bidwell, a native of 
New York, and daughter of Chester I. Bid- 
well, one uf the pioneers of this county, and 
who died many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. 



668 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTUIi V. 



Kennedy have tliree children, namely: Her- 
bert D., who is still at home; Edward B., a 
student at Wooster, Ohio; Edith, their only 
daughter, is a student at Galesville Univer- 
sity. They lost a daughter, (iertrude, at tlie 
age of fourteen years. No man, perhaps, is 
better known throughout the country than 
Mr. Kennedy, with whose growth and prog- 
ress he has been identified since the early 
pioneer days. Cordial and genial in his 
disposition, fair and honorable in his dealings, 
he possesses the respect and confidence of all 
who know him. 



JiAlTL HUEFNER, of Fountain City, 
Wisconsin, is one of the largest grain 
dealers in Buffalo county. He is a 
native of Germany, and possesses in a marked 
degree the thrift and energy which are so 
characteristic of his countrymen. A brief 
biography of him is as follows: 

Paul lluefner was born in Bavaria, Ger- 
many, June 29, 1839, son of Valentine and 
Elizabeth (Froehlich) Huefner, botli natives 
of that place. His father emigrated with his 
family to the United States, landing in New 
York, and from there went to Southbridge, 
Massachusetts, where lie was eiiifaged in the 
Hamilton Print Works. In 1860 he came 
West, locating first in Madison, Wisconsin, 
afterward in Jiuffalo City, Buffalo county, and 
still later in Fountain City. Both he and his 
wife are now deceased. They were the par- 
ents of four children, namely: Ferdinand, 
Paul, George, who died in infancy, and lle- 
gena. Paul was reared at Southbridge and 
there learned the trade of printer of prints. 
At the age of eighteen he went to Manches- 
ter, New Hampshire, and was engaged in 
work at his trade there about two years. At 
the end of that time he directed his course 



westward, took up his abode in Madison, 
AVisconsin, and became interested in the 
grain business. This was in 1860. He re- 
mained there, dealing in grain, about two 
years, after which he located at Hastings, 
Minnesota, where he lived eight years, also 
operating in grain there. After that he 
spent much of his time for a year at Buffalo 
City, Buffalo county, and from that tempo- 
rary abode came to Fountain City and located 
permanently. Here he opened the grain 
business with his brother Ferdinand and 
David and William Thompson, under the 
firm name of Huefner Bros., Thompson & 
Co. In 1875 the Thompsons withdrew, and 
the firm became Huefner Bros. They con- 
tinued to transact business together until 
1878, when P^ordinand retired, leaving our 
subject alone. Since that time Mr. Unefuor 
has carried on the business in his own name. 
He lias three warehouses at Fountain City, 
located along the track of the Chicago, Bur- 
lington & Northern railroad, where he re- 
ceives his grain. Besides these he has ware- 
houses at Cochrane, Alma, Nelson, Stockholm, 
Maiden Rock and Hajer, all on the Chicago, 
Burlington & Northern railroad. Mr. Huef- 
ner also deals in agricultural implements. 
He has a half interest in the Eagle Flouring 
Mill. Mention of this mill will he found in 
a sketch of George L. Huber, in this work. 
Mr. Huefner is a stockholder in the Fountain 
City Brewing Company. He has various 
real-estate interests here and elsev/here: owns 
a number of dwelline liouses and business 
blocks in Fountain City; has a farm of 120 
acres, all under cultivation, near the city; one 
of 140 acres in Trempealeau county, forty 
acres of which are improved; 120 acres in 
Buffalo county, twenty eight miles from 
Fountain City, forty acres of this under cul- 
tivation; and a farm of 120 acres (thirty 




^A 



/l/-eyy^ 



W-jZ OC^t-C^^'''L.^y^..-(-<^ 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



669 



acres improved) in Gilraantown township, 
thirty miles from Foiiiitain City. 

Mr. Huefner has never held any political 
or official poisition, his own personal affairs 
wholly occupying iiis time. He has been 
eminently successful in his business opera- 
tions, and has accumulated a handsome for- 
tune. He was married at Hastings, Minne- 
sota, in 1868, to Louise, daughter of Charles 
Dameral. Tiieir union was blessed with one 
son, Paul Ferdinand Louis. Mrs. Huefner 
died at Hastings in March, 1871. In 1887 
he was married at Lewiston, Minnesota, to 
Florence E. Cook, by whom he has liad two 
children, Clara being the only one living. 
He is a member of the Catholic Church, and 
in politics is a Democrat. 

Owing to his extensive business transac- 
tions in this portion of Wisconsin, Mr. Huef- 
ner is well known here, and his strict in- 
tegrity and other estimable qualities have 
won for him many friends among tlie people 
with whom he has come in contact, and he 
has the respect and esteem of all who know 
him. 






irVER FEDERSON,of Ettrick, Trempea- 
M lean county, is one of the representative 
•^ citizens and leading business men of this 
county. He located in what is now the vil- 
lage of Ettrick in 1870, and engaged at once 
in merchandising, and in 1877 he laid out 
the village. Whatever of importance at- 
taches to this small city is due to the enter- 
prise and business capacity of Mr. Pederson. 
He began business in a small way when he 
first came here, but by energy and persever- 
ance he rapidly enlarged the area of his oper- 
ations until he has established various 
branches of business and manufactures. He 
erected bis present line Houriiig mill in 1884, 

44 



which is operated by a large water-power, 
possesses a roller system of grinding, and has 
a capacity of seventy-tive barrels in twenty- 
four hours. Mr. Pederson has been largely 
instrumental in establishing other branches 
of manufacture, including the woolen mill 
and creamery at this place. 

He is a native of Norway, where he was 
born in 1842, but caii.e to America at the 
age of twenty years. He enlisted in Vernon 
comity, Wisconsin, in 1862, in Company K, 
Twenty-fifth liegiraent Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and served until the close of the 
war. For a time after its orsranization his 
regiment was located in Minnesota, operating 
against the Indians atNewUlra and vicinity. 
In 1863 they went to Columbus, Kentucky, 
and joined tlie expedition against Vicksburg, 
under the command of General Jeremiali 
Rusk, afterward Governor of Wisconsin and 
now occupying the Department of Agricult- 
ure in Washington, District of Columbia. 
After participating in the siege of Vicksburg 
the command to which Mr. Pederson was at- 
tached went to Jackson, Mississippi, but after 
returning to Vicksburg proceeded to Chat- 
tanooga, joined Sherman's army, and took 
part in the famous Atlantic campaign, par- 
ticipating in many noted and important 
battles. He had the honor, also, of march- 
ing with his regiment to the sea, under the 
command of General Rusk, and thence on to 
Washington, taking part in the grand review 
in that city. 

Mr. Pederson was married at Ettrick, to 
Mary Nelson, who came to Trempealeau 
county from Norway with her father in 1861. 
They have three children; Albert, Emma and 
Ida. They lost their eldest child, Peter. 
Mr. Pederson is a man of unusual business 
capacity, and a progressive, enterprising 
citizen. In politics he has always been a 
Republican, and has always possessed much 



670 



BIOORAPHICAL BISTORT. 



influence in tlie local councils of his party, 
lie was a gallant soldier in the war for the 
Union, and is a respected and valued citizen. 

fOIIN niBBY, one of the well-known 
citizens of Gale township, Trempealeau 
county, resides on section 27, where he 
settled in 1856. He made the first improve- 
ments on the place, having obtained his farm 
from the Government. He was born in 
Lanarkshire, Scotland, August 15, 1832, a 
son of Thomas Eiliby, a miner by occupation. 
In 1853 the family emigrated to the United 
States, locating in Allegany county, Mary- 
land, where the father and son were engaored 
in mining. In October, 1854, Thomas 
Bibby, accompanied by James Hardie, came 
to Trempealeau county, and made settle- 
ments, but Mr. Bibby did not long survive, 
passing away in December, 1856. His wife, 
the mother of our subject, died when her son 
was but a child of fifteen months. Thomas 
Bibby was the father of five sons and one 
daughter, four of whom were by his first 
marriage and two by the second: Margaret, 
the eldest, married James Hardie, and died 
December 6, 1888; Richard is a resident of 
Gale township; James died in Australia in 
1889; John, the subject of this sketch; 
Thomas was accidentally killed in the mines 
of Australia, in February, 1890; Joshua died 
in this county. May 15, 1889. 

John Bibby, the subject of this sketch, 
arrived in Trempealeau county October 25, 
1856, when all was yet new and wild. He 
was married March 28, 1856, to Mary Mc- 
Millan, who was born in Argyleshire, Scot- 
land, in 1830, a daughter of John and Isa- 
bella McMillan. Mr. Bibby and wife came 
to this county in the autumn following their 
marriage. They have six children, all of 



whom were born at the homestead in Gale 
township, namely: Isabella, Thomas, John, 
Margaret, James and Mary Ann. Mr. 
Bibby's farm contains 280 acres, and is in a 
fine state of cultivation. Here he has re- 
sided for the long period of thirty-five years, 
and has been closely identified with the 
growth and development of the country. 
When a postoltice was established in his 
neighborhood he suggested that it be called 
Glasgow, for the town in Scotland near which 
he was born. His suggestion was adopted, 
and 7iot only the postoffice but the neighbor- 
hood around is known as Glasgow. Mr. 
Bibby and his brother Richard, who lives 
near him, are numbered among the intelli- 
gent and well-known citizens of Gale town- 
ship, and have done their share toward 
developing the resources and promoting the 
growth of the county with which they have 
been so long identified. 

Isabella Bibby was married to Mr. C. E. 
Pynn, November 2, 1881, a farmer living 
near North Bend, Jackson connty, Wisconsin ; 
Jolin Bibby married Miss Eliza Emerson, of 
North Bend, Jackson county, November 29, 
1883, and is now buttermaker for the Gales- 
ville Arctic Spring Creamery Company, at 
Galesville, Trempealeau county, Wisconsin; 
and Margaret Bibby was married March 28, 
1888, to Mr. William Tibbitts, a farmer living 
near North Bend, Jackson county, Wiscon- 
sin. The other members of the family are 
still at the old home mentioned. 



'HOMAS HUNTER, of Gale township, 
Trempealeau county, owns and occu- 
pies the homestead farm of his father, 
John Hunter, who was one of the pioneers 
of this county. In the biography of William 
Dick, found elsewhere in this work, it is 




BlOQRAPniCAL HISTORY. 



671 



stated that the families of AV^illiam Dick, 
David Cook, John Irvine and John Hunter 
came to Trempealeau county, accompanied 
by a single man named Phillips. The com- 
ing of this little colony occurred in the 
autumn of 1853. John Hunter was born in 
Ayrshire, Scotland, June 11, 1798, and was 
reared to the occupation of coal-mining. He 
was the son of Peter Hunter, and was one of 
six children. After reaching manhood he 
married Agnes Ferguson, also born in 1798, 
and in 1842 he came to America, landing at 
Montreal, Canada, after which he went 
almost directly to Pottsville, Pennsylvania. 
In 1848 his family, who had remained in 
Scotland, joined the husband and father in 
the new world, and about a year afterward 
they removed to Maryland, and in 1853, as 
before stated, came to Trempealeau county. 
Tiie family that followed the husband and 
father to the new world consisted of the 
mother and six sons. 

When the little party of emigrants above 
mentioned started from Maryland to Wis- 
consin they had no definite object as to what 
part of the State they would settle, and on 
reaching La Crosse the families remained 
there while the men of the party looked about 
for a suitable place to make homes. They 
finally decided to settle on Decora prairie, 
Trempealeau county, which was so named 
for the celebrated chief Decora, and six weeks 
after arriving at La Crosse they settled at 
this place. Above the beautiful plain 
Decora's Peak, a lofty mountain, looks down 
upon tlie inhabitants below as if guarding 
them from the encroachment of enemies. 
This section of country is prolific of Indian 
relics, and is one oi the most beautiful local- 
ities in Wisconsin, and the little colony of 
Scotch settlers, who settled here in 1853, 
manifested much wisdom in selecting this 
spot for their home. Mr. Hunter secured a 



quarter section of land, and here he and his 
wife lived with their sons the remainder of 
their lives, the father dying in 1862, and the 
mother in August, 1887. They were the 
parents of ten sons, only three of whom are 
now living, viz.: Thomas, the subject of this 
sketch; Dugald is a resident of Texas; and 
Walter, who resides in Iowa. Of this family 
of ten sons six grew to mature years, the 
others having died in childhood. The father 
was a well-known and respected citizen, was 
a man of strong religious convictions, and 
was well informed on scriptural subjects, by 
which he endeavored to govern his daily 
walk. He possessed a cheerful disposition, 
casting sunshine about him wherever he 
went. He was the first Treasurer elected 
for Gale township, and was ever prominent 
in whatever tended to promote the best in- 
terests of the community in which he lived. 
Thomas Hunter, our subject, was born in 
Scotland, November 26, 1836, and was but 
twelve years old when he came to the United 
States. Thomas and Dugald came with 
their father and mother; the rest of the 
family two years after. He has a clear re- 
membrance of the wild appearance of the 
country in early days, and has resided on the 
homestead place where he now lives for the 
long period of thirty-six years. He married 
Miss Agnes Grant, who settled on Decora 
prairie in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have 
had eleven children, four sons and seven 
daughters, but lost two daughters in early 
life. The surviving children are: Walter, 
Elizabeth, Agnes, Thomas, John, Nellie, 
Robert, Ruth, Jennie, May and Isabel. Mr. 
Hunter is the only one of his father's family 
now residing in Trempealeau county. He is 
one of the representative men of Gale town- 
ship, and has been chairman of the town 
board two years, and a member of the side 
board a number of years. He was formerly 



673 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



a Republican in politics, later a Grcenbacker, 
and now affiliates with the People's party. 

Mrs. Thomas Hnnter was one of six chil- 
dren, four of whom are now living, viz.: 
Ellen, the wife of Walter Irvine, resides in 
Iowa; Mrs. Hunter is the next in order of 
birth; Kobert lives at the homestead in Gale 
township; Elizabeth is the wife of John 
Dick; two brothers, William and Duncan, 
died in early life. Mrs. Hunter was born in 
Scotland in 1842, and caine with her parents 
to America in 1852, going tirst to Kentucky, 
and thence to Trempealeau county. 

| ' 3 i ' t ' ^' 



?ESSE R. PENNY resides on section 3, 
township 20, range 9, Arcadia, where he 
settled in 1856, on land which he bought 
from the Government. He was born in Suf- 
folk county, Long Island, New York, January 
8, 1832. His father was also a native of 
Long Island, and with his family removed to 
Olrio, when Jesse was about seventeen years 
of age. 

The subject of this sketch was married 
September 20, 1854. at Warren, Ohio, to 
Miss Phoebe A. Ferguson, daughter of Moses 
S. and Amelia Ferguson, natives of Trum- 
bull county, Ohio, where they died, leaving 
two daughters. Sarah J. married David Bish- 
op, at Fountain City, and came to Arcadia, 
with her husband, in the spring of 1856, 
soon after her marriage. They settled in the 
town of Arcadia, then the town of Preston. 
She was the first white woman in the limits 
of the town at its organization, and had the 
honor of being called upon to name the town, 
and gave it the name of Arcadia. Her hus- 
band served in the Thirtieth Wisconsin, in 
the war of the Pebellion. Several years later 
he was struck by lightning and killed. Later 
she married Mr. Charles Mercer, and now 



lives in the town of Arcadia. In October, 
1854, soon after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. 
Penny went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and 
thence to Fountain City the following winter. 
There Mrs. Peniiy taught school during the 
winter of 1855-'56, which was the first 
school taught in that place. In the spring of 
1856 they located their present place, where 
they have resided most of the time since. In 
1860 Mr. Penny's father and mother came 
to Trempealeau county and settled on the 
land that he had located, and here the mother 
died in 1883, at the age of seventy-six years. 
Her husband still ^survives at the advanced 
age of ninety-five years. They were the 
parents of five children that grew to maturity, 
three sons and two daughters, all except the 
oldest daughter have been residents of Ar- 
cadia, and ail are now living except one son. 
Jesse R. Penny enlisted December 5, 1803, 
in Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry, 
Captain Arnold's company, in which he 
served nearly two years and was mustered 
out September 20, 1865. He and wife have 
four children, two boys and two girls: Eima, 
wife of Frank Gceslin, of South Dakota; 
Jessie, wife of Lee Mason, of Minneapolis; 
Lincoln E., of St. Paul, and David G., of 
Duluth. 



fAY I. DEWEY of the town of Arcadia, 
Trempealeau county, is a son of Daniel 
C. Dewey, who in 1859 settled on sec- 
tion 33, township 21, range 9 west, which 
place is still the homestead of the family. 
Daniel C. Dewey was born in Delaware 
county, New York, Aprikl6, 1828, of Eng- 
lish de-^cent, a son of Aaron Dewey. The 
original ancestor was Thomas Dewey, who 
emigrated from Sandwich, Kent county, Eng- 
land, and settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts, 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



673 



where lie died, April 27, 1648. When Daniel 
C. was but four years old the family removed 
to the State of Ohio, where he lived until he 
had attained his seventeenth year, when he 
returned to the State of New York. Aaron 
Dewey finally removed from Ohio to Dodge 
county, Wisconsin, where he resided until 
death. Mr. Daniel C. Dewey on his return 
West, went to Dodge county, where his 
father was then living, but later returned to 
the State of New York and was married to 
Josephine Trumbull, a native of Eastern New 
Y^ork. In 1854 he removed to Michigan, and 
in 1859, as already stated, removed to Trem- 
pealeau county, Wisconsin. He purchased 
the farm on which he located, of his father, 
George D. Dewey, who obtained it as Gov- 
ernment land, some two or three years previ- 
ously, but no improvements had l)een made on 
it. Here Mr. Dewey lived until his death, 
which occurred July 4, 1889. 

Daniel C. Dewey was a well-known and 
hiofhly esteemed 'citizen, and a man of more 
than average intelligence. He was a great 
reader and well informed on the political and 
other issues of the times, as well as an exten- 
sive reader of history and well informed on 
general subjects. He dealt considerably in 
real estate and possessed excellent judgment 
as a business man. In early life he was a 
Whig, and later, a Republican, though never 
a strong partisan, but was charitable in both 
his political and religious views. He entered 
the service of his Government in the war of 
the Rebellion, enlisting'in Company C, Thirti- 
eth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 
A-ugust 10, 1862, and served as Sergeant of 
his company, but a few months later he was 
discharged for disability, and never after fully 
recovered his former health. He left at death 
his wife, one son, and two daughters. Ida 
the elder daughter, is the wife of David L. 
Holcomb, of this town; Ada is the wife of 



Rev. J. G. Ilaight, of Yorkville, Kendall 
county, Illinois. Jay I. Dewey, the only son, 
is the second of the family in the order of 
birth. He was born in the town of Martin, 
Allegan county, Michigan, December 10, 
1858, havincr been about six months old when 
the family came to Trempealeau county. His 
literary education he received at Arcadia, and 
later took a course of studies at the commer- 
cial college at Winona, Minnesota, after 
which he engaged in teaching, and pursued 
that vocation for the greater part of ten years 
with great success. 

He was married to Miss Ella M. Arnold, 
daughter of William B. Arnold of the town 
of Arcadia, and their union has been blessed 
with one son, Theron A., who died September 
3, 1891, at the age of two years and one 
month. 



■ii > ' 3 i ' S * S "' " 




ILLIAM B. THOMPSON, a well 
known farmer and stock dealer 



*^ residing on section 31, Gale town- 



ship, Trempealeau county, is a son of Adol- 
phns Thompson, a pioneer of this county. 
The father was born in Coleraiu, Franklin 
county, Massachusetts, in 1808, and was de- 
scended from a Scotch-Irish family. His 
father emigrated from the town of Colerain, 
in the north of Ireland, with a colony of his 
countrymen to the then colony of Massachu- 
setts, calling the town where they settled 
Colerain, after the town in Ireland. Adolphus 
grew to manhood in his native State, and 
was engaged, while still a young man, in 
woolen manufacturing, and also learned the 
trade of a stone mason. Arriving at years 
of maturity he married, and soon afterward 
removed to the town of Locke, Cayuga 
county. New York, where he and his brother 
Joseph engaged in wool-carding and cloth- 



674 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



dressing. Not long alter his removal to the 
State of New Yoi-k his wife died, leaving her 
husband with a son, James I., who was three 
or four years of age at his mother's death. 
Soon afterward Mr. Thompson returned to 
Massachusetts and was married to Mrs. Per- 
nielia ]}urton, and soon afterward removed 
to Chautauqua county, New York. Mrs. 
Permelia Burton had one son. Allen, at the 
time she married Mr. Thompson, and he is a 
railroad engineer, living in Oakes, North 
Dakota. In the spring of 1855 the family 
emigrated to Galena, Illinois, by rail, and 
thence up the Mississippi river to Trempea- 
leau county. The eldest son, however, James 
I., drove a four-horse team from New York 
to this county, Ijringing the household goods 
of the family. Mr. Thompson first pur 
chased fifty acres of land in Trempealeau, 
which was partially improved. This he in- 
creased to 173 acres, of which he made a fine 
farm, and where he resided until his death in 
1870, at the age of sixty-one years. His 
second wife, the mother of our subject, sur- 
vived her husband many years, dying in the 
spring of 1855, at the advanced ageof eighty- 
two years. Adolpous Thompson was esteemed 
as an upright, honorable citizen, was some- 
what retiring in his manner and of but few 
words, but was a citizen of unquestioned 
integrity. lie was the father of one son by 
his first marriage, and of two children by his 
second marriage. James I., who has already 
been mentioned several times in this sketch, 
enlisted as a soldier in the war of the Rebel- 
lion, as a member of the Eighth Missouri 
Zouaves. He contracted a severe cold from 
exposure at the siege of Fort Donelson, and 
died while being transported with other sick 
and wounded soldiers to Louisville, Kentucky. 
He dieil on the boat, and his body now lies 
buried in the cemetery on his father's farm. 
This cemetery comprises laml which the 



father gave for a burial place, and there the 
son lies by the side of his father and mother. 
Ella, the eldest child by the second mar- 
riage, is the wife of O. A. Boyntou, of 
Jamestown, North Dakota. 

William B. Thompson was about nine 
years of age when he came with his parents 
to Trempealeau county, and here he has 
lived for the long period of thirty-five years. 
His wife was formerly Miss Allie Atwood, a 
daughter of Royal Atwood, a native of Ver- 
mont. The latter was married in his native 
State to Mary Brooks, after which they re- 
moved to Eond du Lac county, Wisconsin, 
where they were early settlers. They came 
to Trempealeau county in the spring of 1868, 
where the father died in 1879, at the age of 
fifty-four years, and the mother is still living. 
Mr. and Mrs. Atwood were tbe parents of 
three children, of whom Mrs. Thompson is 
the eldest. The second of the family, Erwin 
L., resides in the town of Caledonia, and 
Herman B. lives in Kingsbury county. South 
Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson liave 
seven children, three sons and four daughters: 
Lizzie B.; Grace M., the wife of William P. 
Veitch; Leiia A.; Mabel A.; Allan B.; Perry 
W. and Merton E. Mr. Thompson is one of 
the representative farmers and stock-raisers 
of Trempealeau county. He has a fine farm 
of 260 acres, and his improvements are 
among the best to he found in the connty. 
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have a pleasant 
home, and are numbered with the intelligent 
residents of this county. 

ILLIAM ULRICH,of Fountain City, 
Wisconsin, was born in the canton 
of Zurich, Switzerland, November 22, 
1854, and is the son of Conrad and Anna 
(Langhart) Ulricli. The eldcu- Mr. niricli 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



675 



was a son of George, and was a potter by 
trade. He and his family emigrated to the 
United States in the fall of 1855, and located 
in the town of Waumandee, Buffalo county, 
where he pre-empted and improved a piece of 
land. He had a family of eleven children: 
Anna, Louise, Conrad, Jacob, Mary, William, 
William (2), John, Charles, Paulina and 
Elizabeth. All are living e.xcept William, 
Mary, Jacob and Conrad, and all in Wiscon- 
sin but Elizabeth, now Mrs. Sexaner, who 
lives in Minnesota. The father died in Foun- 
tain City, December 5, 1890. He had moved 
to this place in 1876, and was engaged in the 
cultivation of grapes, his vineyard being one 
of the finest small ones in the county. His 
widow is still living. 

The subject of our sketch spent his youth- 
ful years on the farm, helping his father and 
attending the common schools. He remained 
at home until he was about twenty-two, when 
he found employment elsewhere. After the 
death of his brother, Jacob, in the fall of 
1879, lie returned to his father's farm and 
conducted it ten years. He also established 
a cheese factory, which he ran for some time. 
In the spring of 1891, being adminif trator of 
his father's estate, he leased the farm and 
moved to town. He purchased the Concordia 
liall property, which embraces a dwelling 
and saloon attached, and is now conducting 
the latter. 

Mr. Ulrich was married, at Waumandee, 
June 2, 1880, to Christiana, daughterof Clem- 
ent and Margaretta (Winkler) Hoffer, whose 
parents live in Winona. They have three 
children, viz.: Anna, born May 5, 1882; 
Darwin W., February 20, 1884, and George, 
June 23, 1888. 

He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Lodee 
No. 280, of Fountain City, and the Modern 
Woodmen, Waumandee Camp, No. 754. 
While living at Waumandee he held several 



local positions, among which were Town Trea- 
surer and chairman of the Town Board; was 
Justice of the Peace for a number of years. 
In politics he was formerly a KepuWican, but 
is now independent. He was the organizer 
of the Farmers' Alliance of Buffalo county, 
in 1889; was chosen its president, and was 
re-elected the following year. In the spring 
of 1891, having ceased to be a farmer, he 
tendered his resignation, which was accepted. 
During his connection with the organization 
he was lecturer. He still believes that the 
principles of the Alliance, if properly carried 
out, would be beneficial to the country. 



-s*^H 



:»^-*<»* 



l^EMUEL HARE, one of the well-known 
'wji citizens of Trempealeau, resides on sec- 
■^P^ tion 35, town 19, range 9, where he has 
lived since 1863. He was an early settler of 
La Crosse county, having located on a farm 
of Government land in the town of Holland 
in 1856, where he resided until 1863. He 
was born in Plattsburg, Clinton county. New 
York, in 1829, a son of Joseph Hare, also a 
native of Clinton county. The original ances- 
tor of the family was David Hare, the grand- 
father of the subject of this sketch. He 
appears to have been a soldier in the British 
army in the war of the Revolution, but, un- 
willing to tight against the American colonies 
in their war for independence, he deserted 
from the army and later settled in Clinton 
county, being one of its early pioneers. He 
married and reared a family of fourteen chil- 
dren, one of whom was Joseph, the father of 
Lemuel. Joseph Hare married Elsie Irish, 
a native of Vermont, and daughter of David 
Irish, who was also the father of fourteen 
children, having been twice married. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hare wei-e the parents of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters. 



676 



BIOQRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



Tliej coTitimied to live in Clinton county 
until 1857, when thej came to Wisconsin 
and settled in La Crosse county, and later 
they went to Pierce county, and still later to 
Trempealeau county, where they resided with 
their son. Lemuel, until death. All of their 
family eventually removed to La Crosse 
county, though at different times, except the 
eldest daughter, Mary Ann, who married 
Georffe Wilson and resides in Essex county, 
New York. Lemuel was the second of the 
family in order of birth; Avis married D. H. 
Baker, and now lives in Pierce county, Wis- 
consin; Decatur is a resident of this county; 
Huldah married H. McKiuny and removed 
to Montana, where she died several years ago; 
Merrill also died several years ago, in the State 
of Minnesota; he was twice married, having 
two children liy his tirst wife and three by 
the second; Franklin, a resident of Trempea- 
leau county, was a member of Company B, 
Sixth Wisconsin Voluiitet-r Infantry, in the 
war of the Rebellion. 

Lemuel Ilare was reared to the occupation 
of farming, which has been his principal 
business through life. While living in La 
Crosse county, besides attending to farm 
duties, he was quite actively engaged in well 
digging, having been one of the earliest 
operators in that occupation in La Crosse 
county. While thus engaged in excavating 
the earth at considerable distances below the 
surface he occasionally found objects of much 
interest which seemed to be of a pre- historic 
character. On one occasion, at the depth of 
forty-seven feet, he found bones resembling 
those of the human body, and also at the 
same depth an earthen vessel having some- 
what the shape of a bowl. He also found 
other relics of an interesting nature. Mr. 
Ilare was married, in New York, to Eliza 
Carey, a daughter of Ellis and Eliza (Scott) 
Carey; the latter was descended from the 



same ancestry as was General Winfield Scott. 
Her parents died when she was a child, and 
she was legally adopted into the family of 
John Cochran,^ whose wife was her maternal 
aunt. At her adoption she assumed the name 
of Cochran, and was the only child of her 
adopted parents. Her adopted mother is still 
living in the State of New York. Mrs. Hare 
is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and Mr. Hare, of 
Holland descent. They are the parents of 
eight children, live sons and three daughters, 
viz.: Freeman Scott, Emmett M., Lottie E., 
Willie P., Effie E., Alta Grant, Elizabeth L. 
and Lemuel W. They lost a daughter, Ella, 
at the age of about one year. Mr. Hare and 
family have a pleasant home, and are num- 
bered among the intelligent and progressive 
citizens of Trempealeau county. He has 220 
acres of land, and is quite extensively engaged 
in stock-raising and dairying. He also has 
quite an extensive apiary, taking great inter- 
est in the cultivation of his bees. 

Thirty-six years have passed since Mr. 
Hare and wife became residents of La Crosse 
county. The country was then new, and set- 
tlers were few and far between, but they have 
lived to witness the great advancement the 
country has made during the pioneer days. 
They are happily situated, and enjoying the 
fruits of an industrious and well spent life. 



(s 



S''^ 



fOIIN SCHMITZ was born in Cologne, 
Prussia, April 25, 184:3, son of William 
and Margaritta (Schmitz) Schmitz. Will- 
iam Schmitz was born at the same place, in 
1819, and died at Sheboj'gan, Wisconsin, in 
1885. His widow died in 1888, at the ase 
of seventy-one years. They emigrated to the 
United States in May, 1854, landed in New 
York, and thence direct to Sheboygan, where 
they spent the rest of their lives. The father 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



677 



was a farmer by occupation. The seven chil- 
dren born to them are all living, and are as 
follows: Mary, wife of Antone Felden, of 
Milwaukee; Otto, of Sheboygan; Sebilla, 
wife of Fritz Conrad, also of Sheboygan; 
Anna, who married Nick Felden, of Milwau- 
kee; John, the subject of our sketch; Eliza- 
beth, wife of Joe Schible, of Sheboygan; 
and Barbara, now Mrs. Merkle. 

John Schmitz was reared at home, and at 
the age of thirteen began to learn the trade 
of cabinet-making with a Mr. Crocker, of 
Sheboygan. He worked for him three years 
and a half, and then one year at Fond du 
Lac. He was working at his trade at She- 
boygan when the war broke out. 

August 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company 
H, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry. His 
war record is an honorable one. He risked 
his life to help save the country of his adop- 
tion, served with true bravery all through 
that sanguinary struggle so memorable in the 
annals of this free land of ours, and was one 
of the victors who participated in the grand 
review at Washington. At one time, while 
helping to storm a fort, he was wounded in 
the leg by a bayonet. Among the important 
engagements in which he took part were the 
battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Look- 
out Mountain, etc. He was mustered out of 
the service at Milwaukee, June 29, 1865. 

Returning to Sheboygan after the war was 
over, Mr. Schmitz again engaged in work at 
his trade. May 1, 1867, he moved to Foun- 
tain City. Here he established a cabinet- 
making business, and also engaged in con- 
tracting and building. He constructed the 
Trempealeau courthouse, the Concordia Hall 
at Alma, and a number of other large build- 
ings. He continued this business until 1889, 
when, in company with Paul Mueller, he 
purchased ihe Buffalo County Repuhlikaner. 
This partnership continued one year, after 



which Mr. Schmitz sold out to Mr. Mueller. 
Since then he has not been engaged in busi- 
ness. Mr. Schmitz is a man of ability, and 
in his various enterprises has been prospered, 
thereby accumulating a good property. He 
has held several positions of local prominence 
and trust; was Supervisor two terms, from 
1888 to 1890, and has also served twice as 
Town Trustee. 

Mr. Schmitz was united in marriage, Au- 
gust 15, 1865, at Sheboygan, to Sophia, 
daughter of John and Mary Prigge. Of the 
eight children born to them, six are living, 
namely: Ida, wife of Fritz Behlmer, Foun- 
tain City; Anna, wife of Robert Schilling, 
Sheboygan ; Mary, Lena, Johnmeda and Clara, 
at home. Mrs. Schmitz died December 10, 
1886, and March 20, 1889, Mr. Schmitz 
wedded Miss Louise Ganz, a native of Buf- 
falo county, by whom he has one daughter, 
Edna. 

Mr. Schmitz is a member of the I. O. O. 
F., the A. O. U. W., the Modern Woodmen, 
and the German Harmonia Society. He be- 
longs to the Fire Company. In politics he 
is Republican. 



ISENRY ROETTIGER, Mayor of Foun- 
tain City, Wisconsin, was born at this 
place, June 7, 1861. He is a public- 
spirited and enterprising young man, and 
thus far in life has met with more than ordi- 
nary success. 

His parents, Fritz and Dora Roettiger, are 
natives of Hanover, Germany. The former, 
a son of Fred Roettiger, was born October 4, 
1832, and the latter January 26, 1842. They 
were married in Fountain City, in 1858, and 
their union has been blessed with two children, 
Fred and Henry. The father is a tailor by 
trade. Pie and his wife are still livincr in 



678 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Fountain City, where lie is conducting a 
furniture store. 

Henry Koettiger was brought up in his 
native town, attended the public schools and 
learned the carpenter's trade. In 1879 he 
went to Milwaukee, where he studied archi- 
tecture. .Returning home, he engaged in 
work with his uncle, Henry Roettiger. In 
1883 he and his uncle formed a co-partnership, 
the firm name being Roettiger & Co. Since 
1889 Mr. Roettiger's brother, Fred, has been 
associated with them in business. They have 
a mill in which they manufacture almost 
everything in the wood Hue needed for their 
building operations. They have erected the 
principal buildings that have been constructed 
in this part of the country during their busi- 
ness career. Among these may be mentioned 
the courthouse and jail at Whitehall, Trem- 
pealeau county, and the courthouse at Alma, 
theflouring-mill there, and the Fountain City 
Brewery. In Clark county they built a Lu- 
theran Church; a bank building in Spring 
valley, Minnesota, and a church edifice in 
La Crosse. Besides these they have erected 
many residences in Fountain City and else- 
where. They carry on a furniture business, 
are stockholders in the Fountain City Milling 
Company, and also in the Fountain City 
Brewing Company. 

Mr. Roettiger has held several local po- 
sitions of trust, such as Clerk and Treasurer 
of the town; and in the spring of 1891 was 
almost unanimously chosen for Mayor, which 
office he is now filling to the entire satisfac- 
tion of his constituents. In politics he is a 
Republican. By his knowledge of architec- 
ture and the close attention given to his 
occupation, he has built up a large and con- 
stantly increasing business. He is a member 
of the Germania Club and of the Harmonia 
Society. 

He was married at Fountain City, Decem- 




ber 31, 1883, to Linda, daughter of Fritz 
Thuemmel. Three children have been born 
to them: Elsie, Alvin and Norraau. Alvin 
died in April, 1890. Mrs. Roettiger is a 
member of the Lutheran Church. 



ILLIAM II. BLODGETT,a furniture 
dealer and undertaker of Whitehall, 
has been engaged in l)usiness since 
1884, succeding L. H. Whitney, but which 
was established by Xelson Comstock in 1874. 
Mr. Blodgett w-as born in Beloit, Wisconsin, 
December 29, 1844, a son of Franklin 
Blodgett, who settled in that city in May of 
the same year. He was born in Maine, in 
1810, and was of English ancestry. Three 
brothers named Blodgett came to America 
previous to the Revolutionary war, two of 
whom settled in the colony of Massachusetts, 
but where the third brother settled is not 
known. The descendants of the first two 
became very numerous in Massachusetts and 
Maine. Franklin Blodgett married Martha 
Taylor, a native of Lowell, Massachusetts. 
After coming to Wisconsin, the family re- 
mained in Beloit but a short time, removinji 
thence to Bamboo, and later to the State of 
Iowa. But the family afterward returned to 
Wisconsin, and lived for a time at Angelo, 
Monroe county, whence they removed to 
Winona, but after returning aojaiu to Monroe 
county, they removed to Chattield, Minne- 
sota, in 1853. There the family lived thir- 
teen years, and in 1866 went to Dunn county, 
Wisconsin, settling near Menomoiiie, where 
the father died in 1887, the mother having 
died in Chatfield, in 1859. They were the 
parents of ten children, five sons and five 
daughters, but only four of the familj' are 
now living, two sons and two daughters. The 
surviving brother of our subject, Edwin, is a 



BIOGBAPHWAL HISTORY. 



679 



resident of Meiiomonie; Jane, the eldest of 
the family, is the wife of Joseph Wiggins, of 
Fall City, Dunn county; Nina is the wife of 
William liaprager, of Menomonie. 

William H., the subject of this sketch, en- 
listed in February, 1862, in Company B, 
Fifth Regiment, Minnesota Infantry. This 
was at a time when the Indians were trouble- 
some on the frontier, and his company was 
sent to Fort Ridgely, Minnesota, to garrison 
that fort and protect tiie inhabitants against 
the Indians. This fort was located but 
eighteen miles from New Ulm, the scene of 
the terrible massacre in 1862. As soon as 
information reached the fort that the massa- 
cre of the inhabitants had begun, a part of 
his company, including himsell', started at 
once for the scene of trouble. The soldiers 
left Fort Ridgley at about 9 o'clock, a. m., 
and marched at once to the lower agency of 
the Sioux, wliere they arrived at about 1:30 
p. M. They took no rations with them, but 
others followed from the fort with food, over- 
taking them in the vicinity of the agency. 
The Indians, aware of their coming, had re- 
solved to form an ambush for the soldiers. 
New Ulm and Redwood Agency, it will be 
remembei-ed, are located on the Minnesota 
river, and on arriving at the agency an Indian 
chief was seen on the opposite side of the 
river standing on a log, and his appearance 
would indicate that his intentions were 
friendly. He attempted by motions and 
broken English to induce the soldiers to go 
aboard the ferry-boat, which was stationed at 
that place, but the Indian interpreter who 
accompanied the soldiers immediately warned 
the Captain that their object was to get the 
soldiers all aboard the boat, and while they 
were passing to the other side the savages 
would have them at their mercy, so tiie re- 
quest was not complied with. Two or three 
soldiers, however, advanced to the river's edge 



and obtained water for their thirsty com- 
panions. While they were so doing, the 
Indian chief, who had evidently concluded 
tliat the soldiers were suspicious of their in- 
tentions, at once gave the signal for attack, 
and from all sides a furious and murderous 
tire was poured. A scene of confusion and 
slaughter at once followed, the soldiers at 
once discovering that they were surrounded by 
many times their number, and a desperate 
effort was made to fight their way clear of 
the Indians and get back to the fort. Of the 
forty-seven soldiers of which the detachment 
consisted, twenty-three were killed and three 
others badly wounded. Mr. Blodgett re- 
ceived a gunshot wound in the first tire, the 
ball entering his left side, between the two 
lower ribs, and passing through the body 
came out at the spine. 

The final escape of Mr. Blodgett and liis 
survival of the terrible wound that he received 
are among the most remarkable incidents in 
the history of Indian warfare. When the 
attack began it at once became evident that 
the soldiers were surrounded on all sides. 
Mr. Blodgett, on being shot, fell to the 
ground, but quickly got upon his feet and ran 
for shelter to the house of the ferryman; but 
the rattling of the bullets upon the building 
at once told him that his place of hiding was 
known to the savages, and it would be sure 
death to remain there. He immediately left 
the building and running back presently saw 
three men on diflerent sides of the same tree, 
endeavoring to dodge the bullets. The di- 
rection in which he was fleeing was toward 
these men, but before he reached them all 
were killed. Observing the direction from 
which the shot came that killed one of the 
three soldiers, he cast his eye in that direc- 
tion and saw an Indian hastily reloading his 
gun. Mr. Blodgett had thus far kept pos- 
session of his own gun, which he immediately 



BIOGRAPUICAL niSTUllY. 



brought to bear upon the savage and shot him 
dead. Quick as possible he reloaded his gun 
from a fallen comrade's ammunition and 
continued his retreat. He presently came 
upon a soldier who was retreating in the 
same direction and called him to run faster, 
l)ut in reply to the command he showed 
him his hand which had been badly in- 
jured. Their paths here slightly di- 
verged, Mr. Blodgett going' to the right 
and his comrade to the left, and hearing a 
noise as though pursued the former dropped 
down into the path and crawled into the 
bushes. Two Indians immediately passed in 
pursuit, almost stepping upon him as they 
passed in their eagerness, and soon overtook 
the soldier, whom they tomahawked. There 
Mr. Blodgett lay in the bushes in pain, and 
distinctly heard the voices of the Indians, who 
lit their pipes and sat down to smoke after 
the brutal murder of the soldier. 

This event occurred at about 2 o'clock p. 
M., and there he lay until dark, when he made 
an attempt to reach the fort. But the night 
was dark and the ground rough, and he made 
but little headway. He came, however, to a 
little pond or lake near by his place of con- 
cealment, where he slaked his thirst and lay 
down upon tho ground. The ne.xt morning 
he again started for the fort, but again made 
but little headway, as it was'necessary that he 
should keep concealed in the l)ushe8, as sav- 
ages might still be prowling about. At dark 
he had made but four miles, and he now 
ventured in the road, and at 2 o'clock at 
night succeeded in reaching the fort, and all 
this time he had been without food. 

His escape was certaitdy a most remark- 
able one, especially taking in consideration 
the severe nature of the wound. The bullet 
that entered his body, lacerated the outlet of 
the stoni&ch to the bowels, and for fourteen 
days nothing that was taken into his stomach 



passed this outlet but was expelled from the 
stomach through the opening the bullet had 
made through his body. It is said to have 
been the first case on record of a person so 
wounded recovering, and is regarded so im- 
portant that it is printed, and is on record in 
the Surgeon General's office, United States 
Army, at Washington, District of Columbia, 
and in the Medical and Surgical History of 
the Rebellion, part second, surgical volume, 
page 941. This, of course, ended the mili- 
tary career of Mr. Blodgett, which, though 
brief, was a most remarkable one. His 
recovery, which was thought to be impos- 
sible, was of course a very gradual one, 
and lie has never recovered liis former con- 
dition. In time he learned the trade of 
carpentry, which he followed until 1884, but 
owing to physical weakness he was obliged 
to give it up, engaging in his present occu- 
pation. 

Mr. Jilodgett \vas married in Eau Claire, 
January 22, 1873, to Miss Victoria A. Snoad, 
of Kilbourn City, and they have one son, 
Harry E., born November 27, 1873. They 
lost a son, Clair, born July 10, 1878, and died 
at the age of ten days. They have one 
daughter, Gracie M., born May 8, 1884. Mr. 
Blodgett is one of the enterprising and intel- 
gent citizens of Whitehall, and, notwithstand- 
ing the fearful experience and great sutfering 
he has endured from his army career, is one 
of the progressive business men of his town. 
Politically he was formerly a Republican, but 
is now a Prohibitionist. He is an honored 
member of Winfield Scott Post, at Whitehall. 

kEV. GEORGE P.DISSMORE,of Pigeon 
township, is one of the early settlers of 
West AVisconsin. He was born at Mar- 
blehead, Massachusetts, about fifteen miles 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



681 



from Boston, December 2, 1834, a son of 
Thomas Dissniore. The genealogy of the 
family in America is traced hack to two 
brothers who emigrated with their families 
from England in early colonial days. One 
of these brothers settled at Marblehead, and 
the other in what is now the State of JNew 
Hampshire, and our subject is descended 
from the former. The descendants of the 
latter, who are now scattered over various 
parts of the Union, spell their name Dens- 
more, but the original orthography of the 
name is Dissmore. The exact time of the 
coining from England of the two brothers 
above mentioned is not exactly known, though 
at least 200 years must have elapsed since 
then, as tlie name appears in the early colonial 
history of the New England colonies. The 
paternal ancestry of the subject of this sketch 
were seafaring men, his grandfather having 
followed the sea for fifty years, as did all his 
sons except Thomas, the father of our sub- 
ject. Thomas Dissmore married Mary Rey- 
nolds, also of Marblehead, and in the spring 
of 1857 he emigrated with his family to 
Wisconsin, settling in what is now Juneau 
county, where the family lived for about four- 
teen years. They then came to Trempealeau 
county and lived until 1890, when the father 
went to Barren county to reside with his 
youngest son. The mother died when our 
subject was l)ut five years old, and the father 
afterward remarried, and with his wife now 
lives in Barron county, both having' attained 
to advanced age. George P. is the only sur- 
viving child of his mother; a sister died in 
early life. Two sons and a daughter were 
born by the second marriage of the father, — 
Thomas, deceased ; Martha, the widow of 
Kev. E. D. Barbour, of Barron county, Wis- 
consin, and Benjamin, the youngest. 

Rev. George P. Dissmore was educated in 
his native State, and accompanied his father 



West in 1857. The latter was a shoemaker 
by trade, but engaged in farming after 
coming West. Our subject was engaged in 
teaching most of the time in early life, and 
at the age of fifteen years he united with the 
church, and has been engaged in the ministry 
since early manhood. He preached for three 
years in the village of Warner, Juneau 
county, and later in Yernon county for one 
and a half years, and has been pastor of the 
First Baptist Church of Whitehall for more 
than twenty-five years, though tJie church 
has had other pastors for short terms. Mr. 
Dissmore was ordained in the Baptist Church 
at Mauston in 1859. He now resides on 
section 8, township 22 north, range 7 west, 
where he has lived for nearly thirty years, 
having secured the land that comprises his 
fine farm of 160 acres under the homestead 
law. He is eminently a pioneer of Trem- 
pealeau county, having helped to organize 
Pigeon township, and was its first Town 
Clerk. 

He was married in 1859 in Juneau county, 
just before his ordination to the ministry, to 
Mary E. Rogers, a daughter of Reuben 
Rogers, who emigrated from Pennsylvania 
to Wisconsin when the latter was a Territory. 
His final settlement was at Mauston, where 
he lived until death. Mrs. Rogers is in 
the ninth generation of descent from John 
Rogers, who was burned at the stake at 
Smithfield, England. Mr. and Mrs. Diss- 
more have ten children, two sons and eight 
daughters. They have lost two sons, one by 
accidental drowning, and two died in in- 
fancy. Rev. Dissmore is one of the well- 
known citizens of Trempealeau county, where 
he has lived so many years. He is a man of 
great energy and force of character, and 
while he has been all his life successfully 
engaged in the ministry he has also cleared 
and developed a tine farm, on which he and 



683 



BIOGRAPHIGAL BISTORT. 



his family reside. As a minister he is 
earnest and impressive, and has labored 
faithfully all iiis life to make men and 
women both better through the influence of 
the gospel. He is respected and esteemed 
also as a progressive and enterprising citizen. 



^ENRY TECKEMBURG, one of the old 
pioneers and business men of Fountain 
City, Wisconsin, was born in the duke- 
dom of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Fel)- 
ruary 10, 1827. His father, Clans Teckemburg, 
■was a son of Frederick Teckemburg, and was a 
farmer by occupation, and his mother was nee 
Margaretta Schlichtiiig. They had a family 
of nine children, namely: Frederick, Ah- 
rand, Henrick F., Henry, William, Rudolph, 
Johannas, Eugene, Louise, now Mrs. IJter- 
raoehl, of Fountain City. All are living ex- 
cept Frederick, Ahrand, Rudolph, Johannas 
and Eugene. 

The subject of our sketch was reared at 
home, attended school until lie was fifteen, 
and then entered upon a five years' appren- 
ticeship to the mercantile business at Liibeck. 
After his term of appreuticesliip had e.\pired, 
he clerked for several years, thus acquiring a 
thorough knowledge of the business. He 
emigrated to the United States in the spring 
of 1852, landing in New York city and from 
thence coming West to Davenport, Iowa. In 
the spring of 1853 lie started for La Crosse, 
where he opened a store and conducted it 
until fall. Then he moved his business up 
to Holmes Landing, now Fountain City, and 
opened the tirst store in the place. On the 
first night after he landed with his goods he 
slept by them, and in the morning he was 
awakened by a great pow-wow from a num- 
ber of Indians who had gathered around him. 
He could not speak the Indian language, and 



naturally thougiit they meant him harm. He 
sent for Goerke, who iiad been with the In- 
dians and who explained matters to him. 
The red men only wanted to greet liim and 
buy goods. His trade was good from the 
first, and rapidly increased. In 1855 he 
erected a brick store, which was bnrued in 
1878. The same year he erected his present 
building. In 1857 he sold his goods to R. W. 
Feigle, and, in company with August Finkle- 
burg, started a sawmill near the river at the 
foot of Hill street. Tliis was the second 
sawmill in the county. They operated it one 
year. In 1859 he took the machinery further 
north and erected another mill, which he ran 
about a year, after which he sold out. This 
mill was burned down sometime in the 'SOs. 
He opened his mercantile business again, in 
1859, across the street from his old stand. 
He had traded his store property to Mr. 
Finkleburg for his interest in tlie sawmill at 
the time he moved it north. About 1870 he 
bought the building and moved his goods 
over into it. In 1872 he sold out to Carisch 
Bros. He then operated in wheat, and 
entrao-jd in farming on the land he had pur- 
chased just above the city in 1859. In 1879 
he again returned to the mercantile business. 
That year he also bought the Bishop sawmill 
below town, and ran it until 1885. He has 
carried on his mercantile business continu- 
ously since. 

Mr. Teckemburg is a stockiiolder in the 
Fountain City Brewing Company and also in 
the Fountain City Milling Company. At 
one time he held tiie position of County Clerk ; 
also served in other offices of local promin- 
ence and trust. Not at any time, however, 
has he sought office, and has only served 
when he thought it his duty to do so. 

He was married, June 27, 1854, at Foun- 
tain City, to Margaret, daugliter of Hans J. 
and Barbara (Meyer) Rahin, natives of Swit- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



zerland. A record of the eleven children 
born to them is as follows: Teckla, born Sep- 
tember 22, 1855, died January 2, 1856; Gus- 
tave A., born August 19, 1856, died August 
25, 1857; Gustave H., born March 13, 1858, 
died October 8, 1859; August, born October 
1, 1859, died October 9, 1859; Edwin, born 
December 3, 1860; Emma, born September 
5, 1862, is now the wife of Fred Voegeli; 
Matilda, born August 17, 1864, died Feb- 
ruary 1, 1891; Henry, l>orn September 28, 
1866, died July 19, 1868; Albert, born 
March 7, 1869; Laura, born January 25, 
1871, died December 17, 1872; Flora, born 
May 6, 1873. 

Mr. Teckemburg is a man who stands 
high in the community where he has so long 
resided. In politics he is Democratic. 

fOHN O. MELBY engaged in the bank- 
ing business at Whitehall, Wisconsin, in 
1888, with a capital of $10,000. The 
seventh semi-annual report made to the State 
Treasurer, January 4, 1892, is as follows: 
Resources: Loans and discounts, $60,679.56; 
tax certificates, $618.14; overdrafts, $73.02; 
specie, $2,486.55; cash items, $20.72; bank 
fixtures, $891.65; United States National 
Bank notes, $1,099.00; due from banks, $15,- 
911.91; total, $81,780.55. Liabilities: Cap- 
ital, $10,000.00; surplus, $4,700.00; deposits, 
$67,080.55; total, $81,780.55. The corre- 
spondents of this bank are: Second National 
Bank, Winona; La Crosse National Bank, La 
Crosse; Metropolitan National Bank, Chi- 
cago; National Bank of the Republic, New 
York, and N. A. Andresen & Co., Cliristi- 
ania. A hank was established at this place 
in 1878 by Messrs. Allen (Sr Son, but con- 
tinued only one year. 

Mr. Melhy was horn at Askim, Norway, 



October 15, 1845, was educated in his native 
land, and came to the United States in 1869. 
His father, now deceased, was never in this 
country, and the mother still lives aniontr the 
pine-clad hills of her own land. On coming 
to America Mr. Melby went to Omaha, Ne- 
braska, but a few months later to La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1870 he 
moved to Ettrick, Trempealeau county, Wis- 
consin. There he worked in the store of 
Iver Pederson for nearly live years, during 
which time he held the office of Town Treas- 
urer four years, and in company with his 
employer purchased the gristmill at that 
place. In the fall of 1874 he was elected 
Register of Deeds of Trempealeau county, 
and in the spring of 1875 he sold his milling 
interests to his partner, Mr. Peterson. He 
held the office of Registrar of Deeds continu- 
ously for twelve years, and on retiring from 
the office was succeeded by the present in- 
cumbent, Simon Olson. From July, 1887, 
to July, 1888, Mr. Melby was cashier of the 
Bank of Galesville, Wisconsin. 

In 1875 he was united in marriacre, at 
Ettrick, to Miss Jennie L. Beach, daughter 
of Charles G. Beach. The father came with 
his family from Vermont to Trempealeau 
county in 1866. The mother is now deceased, 
and the father resides with his daughter, 

try ' 

Mrs. Melby. After a year in the Bank of 
Galesville, as already stated, Mr Melby re- 
solved to make a visit to his native land, and 
spent three months of the summer of 1888 
in the land of his childhood, visiting the 
scenes of his earlier days and the friends and 
kindred whom he had left many years before. 
After a pleasant visit in Europe he re-joined 
his family in Vermont, whither he had 
accompanied them before starting on his 
journey abroad. 

Mr. Melliy and his brother Anton, em- 
ployed in the bank as cashier, are the only 



684 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



members of the family in America. Mr. 
and Mrs. Melby liave three children, two 
dangliters and a son: Tvittie, Charles and 
Mary. Onr subject is one of the successful 
business men of Trempealeau county, owns 
much valuable real estate, and has been a 
stockholder in the Bank of Galesville since 
its organization. He has a pleasant home at 
Whitehall, Wisconsin. Cordial and genial 
in his disposition, fair and honorable in his 
dealings, he commands the respect and esteem 
of his fellow cftizens. 



^ 



'^ 



ON. JOHN J. SENN, a resident of 
Fountain City, Wisconsin, and one of 
the old pioneers of Buffalo county, was 
born in Canton St. Callen, Switzerland, March 
28, 1828. His parents, John J. and Kathe- 
rina (Graesli) Senn, were natives of Switzer- 
land, the former born in May, 1798, and the 
latter January 1, 1800. Grandfather Senn 
was named Jacob. John J. Senn, Sr., was a 
farmer by occupation. He emigrated to the 
United States in 1854, two years subsequent 
to the coming of his son. 

Tlie subject of our sketch was reared be- 
neath the parental roof, receiving the advan- 
taoes of a common-school education. He 
learned the trade of weaving and dying, and 
followed that business up to the time of his 
emigration. He sailed from Havre de 
Grace for New Orlean8~on board the good 
ship Robert Kelley, landing in the latter city 
Novemlier 9, 1852, where he worked at his 
trade of dyeing. Three months later he went 
to St. Louis, where he worked at a branch of 
the dyeing trade three months. The next two 
years he spent at Galena, Illinois, working 
in the mines in winter and at the carpenter's 
trade in summer. His next move was to 
Fountain City, landing here May 19, 1855. 



It was about that time that the name was 
changed from Holmes Landing to Fountain 
City. Mr. Senn worked at whatever employ- 
ment he could obtain in the new town until 
the fall of 1858. He then engaged in teach- 
ing school at Eagle Mills, now known as Mil- 
ton, and taught there and in the towns of 
Beividere and Fountain City until the spring 
of 1863, when he took up painting and fol- 
lowed it until he entered the war. He enlisted 
September 3, 1861:, at Fountain City, in 
Company F., Ninth Wisconsin Infantry; 
spent three weeks at Camp Randall, Wiscon- 
sin, from whence they were ordered to Little 
Rock, Arkansas. He was placed in detached 
service in General Solomon's brigade band. 
He had had some experience in military serv- 
ice while he was a citizen of the republic of 
Switzerland, where he was a bugler. In the 
latter part of January, 1865, he went on an 
expedition with his command through 
Arkansas. 

After he was mustered out of the service, 
June 3, 1865, he returned home and again 
engaged in painting. In the fall of that 
year he was nominated by the Republicans 
and elected to the office of County Treasurer, 
which position he held for one term. He 
was a candidate in 1867, but was defeated. 
In 1869, however, he was again elected, 
serving one term. After his time ex- 
pired, he engaged in the insurance busi- 
ness, which he has since continued. In 
1874 he was one of the principal organizers 
of the Fountain City Mutual Farmers' Fire 
Insurance Company, which organization was 
perfected May 16, 1874. He was chosen 
secretary of the company, in which capacity 
he has since acted, also being the principal 
agent. Besides attending to their rapidly 
increasing business, he is also agent for some 
foreign companies. He has held various 
local offices; was a delegate to the State con- 





W/^ '^/^/2^^^-i-^- 



BIOGRAPUrCAL HISTORY. 



685 



ventions in 1872 and 1878; was elected a 
member of the General Assembly by the 
Republican party in 1876, and again in 1877. 

Mr. Senn was married at Belvidere, May 
8, 1861. to Elsbeth Weibel. The three chil- 
dren born to them are: Amanda, Laura, who 
died June 29, 1888, and Eniil, who died Sep- 
tember 23, 1871. 

He is a member of the A. O. LT. "W., 
Lodge No. 13, Fountain City; also of Peter 
Weber Post, No. 257, G-. A. R., of which he 
is adjutant. 

fOHN COMSTOCK GAVENEY, of 
Arcadia, attorney and counselor at law, 
is the only surviving son of James Gave- 
ney, deceased, who was one of the early, well- 
known settlers of Trempealeau county. 

James Gaveney was born at Bally Bay, 
county Monaghan, Ireland. He lost his 
parents in early life, and about the time he 
reached his majority he went to Dublin, and 
was for some time a member of the police 
force of that city. In 184:8 he came to the 
United States, going first to Mineral Point, 
Wisconsin, where he was for ,". time engao-ed 
in lead mining. In 1852, when tlie excite- 
ment attending the gold discovery in Cali- 
fornia was at its height, he joined Captain 
Sublette's company and crossed the plains to 
the Pacific coast. His first location in that 
State was at French Corral, where he re- 
mained one year, and was afterward at Forest 
City about four years. While at the former 
place Mr. Gaveney formed the acquaintance 
of Noah Comstock, another pioneer and 
prominent citizen of Trempealeau county, 
and the circumstance attending the making of 
this acquaintance was indeed peculiar. It 
appears that a dispute arose between them as 
to the title of a certain claim which grew so 

45 



violent in its character that revolvers were 
drawn, and the quarrel seemed likely to ter- 
minate seriously to one or both of the parties. 
But better counsels prevailed, and they 
agreed to work the claim in partnership. As 
these gentlemen came to know each other 
better, and to appreciate each other's better 
qualities, a friendship was formed which only 
ceased with death. Their attachment was 
ever a subject of remark. 

Mr. Gaveney returned from Caliornia via the 
Isthmus of Panama, and came to Trempealeau 
county from Mineral Point in 1857; he first 
purchased forty acres of land, which forms a 
part of the present homestead of the family, 
and he afterward increased his possesions un- 
til he owned many hundred acres. His life 
was devoted mainly to agricultural pursuits, 
and he was ever a well-known and influential 
citizen. In 1879, in company with Mr. 
Comstock, he bought the Independence Mill 
at Independence, where they did quite an e.x- 
tensive business; their output averaged about 
$60,000 per annum. They were also 
engao-ed in the lumber business at the 
same place. Personally Mr. Gaveney was a 
man of more than average physical .strength, 
and possessed great will power. He was 
prominent in whatever tended to promote the 
best interests of the community in which he 
lived, and pjssessed the respect and esteem 
of his fellow-citizens. In his political affilia- 
tions he was a Republican,, but not a seeker 
for official place, though he accepted a number 
of local offices, includin": that of chairman of 
his township. He was appointed Postmaster 
in June, 1876. and served until July, 1885, 
when -lie resigned. He was a successful busi- 
ness man, and at his death, which occurred 
June 21, 1889, the commnnity was bereft of 
one of its most worthy citizens. He left be- 
hind him a record worthy of preservation in 
the annals of his county. 



686 



BIOORAPUICAL HISTORY. 



He was married in Arcadia, to Maria 
Martha Briggs, a native of Vermont. Three 
children were born of this union, two sons 
and adanghter: Ciiarles, the eldest, was born 
May 27, 1861, and died December 5, 1889; 
John C. was tiie next in order of birth; and 
the only daughter, Mamie, died in 1879, at 
the age ot eleven years. The mother still re- 
sides at the pleasant homestead near the vil- 
lage of Arcadia. 

John Comstock Gaveney was born in 
Arcadia. June 30, 1863. lie graduated in 
the treneral science course of the Wisconsin 
State University at Madison, in 1885, and 
from the law department of the university in 
1888. He began the practice of his profes- 
sion in the city of Milwaukee, but a short 
time afterward accepted a position from J. O. 
Raymond, of Stevens' Point, to form a part- 
nership with that gentleman, at that place. 
After the death of his brother in 1889, cir- 
cumstances compelled Mr. Gaveney to with- 
draw from that partnership, and to return to 
Arcadia to manage tlie estate of his father, 
and at the same time engaged iu the 
practice of his profession. His wife was 
formerly Miss Isadore D. Webster, a step- 
daughter of Judge Keys, of Madison. Mr. 
Gaveney is a man of superior mental attain- 
ments, and possesses much ability as a lawyer. 



'>^g-3" S -g"— 



kEV. HERMANN JOSEPH UNTRAUT 
is the present pastor of the Catholic 
Church of Arcadia, which is designated 
as the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual 
Help. The first services of the Catholic 
Church in Arcadia or vicinity were con 
ducted Ijy the Rev. Florentine, and held 
at the residence of Nicholas Meyer, about 
one and a half miles southeast of the present 
church in Arcadia, in 1867. Father Floren- 



tine was a missionary, his home having l)een 
at Pine Creek. He officiated but a few 
times, and was succeeded by Rev. Klayber; 
next came Rev. Theodore, who resided at 
Pine Creek. He began the building of a 
church in Meyer's valley, which was finished 
in 1869, and in which Father Theodore held 
the first mass. Later Rev. Ludvvig Lay, of 
Waumandee, attended that church until 
1875; next Father Beau attended mass at 
this church; later, in 1875, Rev. Albert 
Mendl became resident pastor at Glencoe, 
Buffalo county, and attended Meyer's Valley 
Church monthly. January 1, 1885, the new 
church in the village of Arcadia was com- 
pleted, and the first mass was held by Rev. 
Bernhardt Klein, of Glencoe. At this time 
services were discontinued in Meyer's valley. 
Later Rev. William Weckes attended the 
Arcadian church until April, 1888, when the 
Rev. Hermann Joseph Untrant became the 
first resident priest. Under his auspices 
much progress has been made, the school 
house and parsonage having been erected and 
other improvements consummated. The 
congregation now numbers seventy-two fam- 
ilies, and 118 pupils were enrolled in the 
school during the last year, which is known 
as the school of St. Aloysins. 

Father Untraut was born in Germany July 
28, 1854-, and was educated at Eichstaedt, 
Bavaria. He came to America in June, 
1882, and was ordained at La Crosse in Sep- 
tember of that year. He was assistant priest 
at Chippewa Falls about five months after 
his ordination, to Father Goldsmith, and then 
became first resident priest at Edson, Chip- 
pewa county, where he remained five years, 
until he came to Arcadia. Among the early 
settlers who were prominent in promoting 
the interests of Arcadia, were Nicholas and 
Casper Meyer, and Frank and Charles Zeller; 
Peter Meyers came in 1864, and Christian 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



687 



and John Hoenes in 1867. The above men- 
tioned orentlemen are all still residents of 
Arcadia townsliip, and are active in promot- 
ing the interests of the church. 

fACOB CONRAD, one of the well-known 
citizens of Gale township, resides on 
on section 26, where he settled in 1867. 
He is one of the pioneers of this township, 
having resided here since 1854, having at 
that time settled on section 28, on a farm 
where no improvements had been made, 
There he made a pleasant home, and resided 
for thirteen years. He bought his present 
farm of George Brown, of Gale township. 

Mr. Conrad was born in Hessen- Darm- 
stadt, Germaiiy, in 1821, the son of Peter 
Conrad, who died in his native country 
many years ago. In 1849 Mr. Jacob Conrad 
came to America, and after landing in New 
York he went to Baltimore, Maryland, where 
he worked at his trade, that of a mason, 
which he had learned in his native country. 
In 1851 he was married to Miss Wilhelmina, 
daughter of William Niemaier. After mar- 
riage Mr. and Mrs. Conrad went to Fort 
Madison, Iowa, and in 1854 came to Trem- 
pealeau county, he having been the only one 
of his father's family who came to America. 
Mrs. Conrad's mother died in Germany, and 
in 1845 her father came to America with his 
only son. Christian. He remained in Mary- 
land about eight years, and then went to Lee 
county, Iowa, and in 1854 came to Trempea- 
leau county, locating on section 28, Gale 
township, on the farm above mentioned as 
having been the former residence of Mr. Con- 
rad. Mr. Niemaier died in this township, 
August 2, 1862. Mrs. Conrad, the only 
daughter of her parents, came to America 
two years after her father and brother, but 



the two families came to Trempealeau 
county together from Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. 
Conrad have seven children, one son and six- 
daughters, namely: Louisa, wife of William 
Young, of La Crosse county; Julia, wife of 
Thomas Hardie, of Gale township; Mary, wife 
of Harrison Young, of La Crosse county; 
Frank W., their only son; Augusta W., the 
wife of John L. Stellpflug, resides in La 
Crosse county; Anna M., the wife of Thomas 
Powell, of North La Crosse; Katherine, the 
youngest of the family, is the wife of Oscar 
Marshall, of Jackson county. Frank W. 
Conrad married A¥ilhelmina Genske, daugh- 
ter of Christian Genske, who came with his 
family to Walworth county in 1867, but is 
now a resident of La Crosse county. Wil- 
helmina was born on the ocean during the 
passage of the family to America, January 
28, 1867. They have one son, Hen.ry, born 
September 26, 1886. Frank and his family 
now reside on the old homestead. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Conrad are among the 
pioneers of Trempealeau county, and are 
numbered amoncr its most esteemed and sub- 
stantial citizens. They have a pleasant home, 
are possessed of a competency, which is the 
result of their industry and good manage- 
ment, and here they have resided for the long 
period of thirty-seven years, and expect to 
spend the remainder of their days in the en- 
joyment of the fruits of their labor and in- 
dustry. 



fIDELIS GEIIRLICH, one of the pro- 
prietors of the Eagle Hotel, Fountain 
City, Wisconsin, was born in Galena, 
Illinois, June 25, 1860. His parents, August 
arid Barbara (Apple) Gehrlich, were natives 
of Bavaria, the former born December 10, 
1829, and the latter, April 8, 1841. Mrs. 



BIOGRAPniGAL BISTORT. 



Gehrlich was first married to Joseph Gelir- 
lich, brother of August, wlio was drowned in 
the Yellow River some time in the fifties. 
August Gehrlich came to the United States 
■with hie parents when he was three years old. 
They settled on a farm near Cincinnati, Ohio, 
where he was reared. He learned the trade 
of tailor, and afterward that of painter. 
When a young man he located in Galena, 
Illinois, and was there married to Barbara 
Apple. At that place he was engaged in 
painting. In 1866 he moved to Fountain 
City, and was employed in the same business 
there for a number of years, or until 1880. 
After that he lived successively in Wanman- 
dee, Alma, St. Paul, New Orleans, Dubuque, 
and again in Fountain City, much of the 
time being engaged in the hotel and saloon 
business. While at St. Paul he had the 
misfortune to lose his wife, who died January 
27, 1887. In March, 1891, Mr. Gehrlich 
went to New York city, where he is now 
livinw. lie and his wife had a large family 
of children, as follows: Fred August, born 
July 3, 1856; Carrie, May 10, 1858; Fidelis, 
June 25, 1861; Lud. WilJiebald, June 15, 
1862; George Henry, May 10, 1866; Emma 
Elizabeth, May 10, 1868; Lena, August 26, 
1870; John Elmer, September 28, 1874; 
Alfred Isadore, September 25, 1876; Elenora, 
September, 1878; John Henry, September 
30, 1880. 

Fidelis left home when he was tive years 
old, went to Dubuque and lived with his 
uncle about six years. He then returned to 
Fountain City, and attended school and 
assisted his father until he was seventeen. 
At that time he apprenticed himself to the 
blacksmith trade with Martin Feuerhuk, and 
remained with him four years. After finish- 
ing his trade, he went into the lumber district 
and was employed in smithing for lumbermen, 
In 1881 he went to Chicago; was in the em- 



ploy of Reid, Murdock &, Fisher, wholesale 
grocers, about nine months; and worked in 
Hiram Sibley's seed store eight months. In 
1883 he returned to Fountain City, and in 
1889, in partnership with Christopher Nei- 
mann, took charge of the Eagle Hotel, which 
they have since conducted. In connection 
with it they also do a livery business. This 
hotel is a popular resort. Guests receive 
prompt and kind attention, and always have 
a good table and fine service. 

Mr. Gehrlich was married, May 12, 1884, 
to Anna, daughter of Martin and Dora 
(Pfosi) Nick. Her parents are residents of 
Fountain City. Three children have been 
born to Mr. and Mrs. Gehrlich, namely: Ma- 
bel, born October 23, 1885, died October 23, 
1887; George, born January 12, 1887, died 
January 27, 1887; and Myrtle Matilda, horn 
April 19, 1889. 

He is a member of the Sharpshooter 
Rifle Club, the Harmonia Society, the Foun- 
tain City Fire Comany, Liberty No. 1, and 
the Gun Club. Politically, he is a Democrat. 



-^^LO/l/b-^'^—^i 



inyx^^ 



EORGE BROWN resides on section 
31, Gale townsiiip, whicii place he pur- 
chased in 1867 of Walter Irvine, who 
made the first improvements. Mr. Brown 
was born in Orange county, Vermont, April 
21, 1831, the son of Benjamin Brown, a 
native of the Green Mountain State, as was 
])robably the grandfather also. Benjamin 
Brown married Bessie Huntley, a native of 
Vermont, and daughter of Dr. Huntley, who 
was born in the State of New York. Mr. 
and Mrs. Brown continued to live in Vermont 
until their death. They were the parents of 
four children, three sons and a daughter, the 
eldest of whom, Harris, resides in Boston. 
The second son, Oramel, was a soldier in the 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



689 



Union army in the war of the Rebellion, and 
died in the service. Adeline, the only daugh- 
ter, never married, and when last heard from 
was residing in Lowell, Massachusetts. 

George Brown, the youngest of the family, 
came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1854, 
where he remained one year, and then came 
to Trempealeau county, where he has since 
resided. 

He was married October 7, 1859, to Miss 
Ellen Irvine, a daughter of John Irvine, a 
pioneer of this county, a sketch of whom 
is found elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Brown 
was born in Scotland, in 1839. They have 
three children, two daughters and a son, viz.: 
Bessie, a teacher by occupation; Alice, now 
Mrs. Dick; and George I., born January 3, 
1873. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are among the 
well-known eai-ly settlers of Gale township, 
and have a pleasant home on the beautiful 
Decora Prairie, where they are surrounded 
by the comforts of life, the result of their 
own industry. They have lived on this place 
since 1867, having formerly resided on sec- 
tion 26, on the farm now owned by Jacob 
Conrad. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are amoncr the 
well-kuown and esteemed citizens of Gale 
township, where they have lived so long. 



fOSHUA RHODES, one of the pioneers 
of Wisconsin, resides on section 12, in 
the town of Caledonia, Trempealeau 
county, where he settled in 1854. But he 
came to the Territory of Wisconsin in the 
spring of 1842. He was born in Yorkshire, 
England, March 21, 1827. 

In 1842 the family, consisting of parents 
and eight children, emigrated to America 
and at once located in the town of Brighton, 
ill wiiat is now Kenosha county, but then a 
part of Racine county, on Government land. 



which they improved and made of it a home, 
and there the parents passed the remainder 
of their lives. The father was born Septem- 
ber 20, 1798, and died February 3, 1861. The 
mother was born April 1, 1800, and died 
February 29, 1872. Of the nine children of 
Abraham Rhodes and wife five are living. 
The eldest, John, came to Racine county 
from the State of New York with the rest of 
the family in 1842, and to Trempealeau 
county in 1855. 

At about twenty-three years of age, Mr. 
Joshua Rhodes left the homestead and made 
a settlement near Montello in Marquette 
county, where he lived till 1853, when he 
sold and purchased his present place in 1854. 

He was married February 1, 1857, to Miss 
Susan E. Stevens, born in Newburg, Ver- 
mont, . November 11, 1834, a daughter of 
Samuel and Elizabeth Stevens, early settlers 
of North Bend, Jackson county, Wisconsin, 
where they lived until death. Mr. Rhodes 
was bereft of his wife by death January 14, 
1890. He has six children: Mary A., Ida 
J., Henry A., Albert J., Willie and Charles 
C. He lost two children: Byron S., at the 
age of nineteen years, and Cora, at the age of 
three years. 

iPitsflLSON DAVIS, proprietor of the 

\Wv//l ^""""'"g "'^ill ^t Galesville, was born 
1^4(^1 in St. Genevieve county, Missouri, 
in 1827. His father, Timothy Davis, was a 
native of the State of New Jersey. In 1838 
he removed with his family to Dubuque, 
Iowa. He was a lawyer by profession, dealt 
largely in real estate, milling interests and 
merchandising. He iinally removed to Elka- 
der, Iowa, where he erected a fine mill and 
where he resided until his death. He was a 



090 



BIOORAPUIGAL HISTORY. 



man ot" inucli ability iuid well known in the 
early history of Iowa, lie and wife were the 
parents of two eons and two daughters. The 
subject of this notice and a sister are the only 
surviving members of the family. Mr. 
Davis' principal occupation through life has 
been milling. He erected and operated a 
number of mills before coming to Trempea- 
leau county; has been very successful as a 
business man. 



t ESTER DEWEY PARSONS, who re- 
sides on section 22, range 7 west, Lin- 
coln township, settled on this place in 
1870. He originally had but forty acres of 
his present farm, but which he has increased 
to 170 acres. He has a good farm, a pleas- 
ant home, has made all the improvements on 
his place, and has also sold thirty acres of 
improved land. He was born in Jefferson 
county, Wisconsin, July 16, 1845, the son of 
Samuel Lincoln Parsons, who died when our 
subject was but seven years of age. He de- 
scended from an early New England family, 
and his father was Simon Parsons. The 
maiden name of the mother of our subject 
was Sai'ah Maria Sherwood, who, after the 
death of Mr. Parsons, became Mrs. Alvah 
Wood, and now resides at the Wood home-, 
stead in Lincoln township, Mr. Wood being 
also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Parsons 
had two children, — Mrs. David Wood, of this 
township, and the subject of this sketch. 

When Lester D. was quite young the fam- 
ily removed from Jefferson county to Dane 
county, and in 1850 came to Trempealeau 
county, Mr. Parsons being at that time about 
twelve years of age. He can remember the 
appearance of the country thirty-tive years 
ago, when all was new and comparatively 
wild, and the first land he owned was eighty 



acres in this township, which was ])artly im- 
proved, and which he e.xchanged for the first 
forty acres of his present farm. 

Mr. Parsons was married in 1870, to Miss 
Belle G. Ervin, a daughter of James Erviu, 
an early settler of Lincoln township. He 
emigrated with his family from New Jersey 
to Rock county, Wisconsin, and thence to 
Trempealeau county, where his death occurred 
October 26, 1888, and his wife died July 3, 
1890. Mr. and Mrs. Parsons have five chil- 
dren: Mary A., Fannie M., Ruby I., Amy 
Estelle and Archie. They lost their second 
child, Ervin, who died at the age of four and 
a half. Mr. Parsons is one of the represent- 
ative citizens of Lincoln township, where he 
has lived so many years. In his political 
principles he was formerly a Republican, but 
now endorses the principles of Prohibition. 
He and his wife are members of the Uaptist 
Church. 

~^Wj|..-Smj*|».-* . 

,LLEN H. DE GROFF, general mer- 
chant at Mislia Mokwa, Buffalo county, 
is a representative of one of the pioneer 
families of that part of Wisconsin, llis 
father, John S. De GrofF, also a resident of 
Misha Mokwa, was born in the town of Wes- 
ton, Oneida county. New York, May 6, 1818. 
When twelve years of age be removed with 
his father's family to the town of Mentz, 
Cayuga county. His father, Garrett De 
Groff, was also a native of the Empire State. 
John S. De Groff grew to manhood in 
Cayuga county, and married Eliza Barnei-, a 
native of Ulster county, New York, born 
August 17, 1820, and a daughter of John 
and Jane (Frayer) Bariier. Tiiey removed 
to Dodge county, Wisconsin, from the State 
of New York, and were pioneers of that 
county. In 1857 they came to l>ufFalo 



BIOQRAPEIGAL EI8T0BT. 



691 



county and settled in the town of Nelson. 
In the fall of 1889 Mr. De Groff sold his 
farm and removed to the village of Misha 
Mokwa, where he and his wife now reside. 
They have had eight children, live of whom, 
four sons and a daughter, were living in 
1891, viz.: John W., Margaret J., Allen H., 
George W. and Charles F. The deceased 
members of the family were: Eliza, Harriet 
A. and Samuel D. 

Allen H. De Groff, whose name stands at 
the head of this sketch, was born in Dodge 
county, Wisconsin, September 12, 1848, and 
was but nine years of age when he came to 
Buffalo county with his parents. Mr. De 
Groff has the distinction of having entered 
the army in the war of the Rebellion as one 
of the youngest soldiers furnished by the 
State of VYisconsin. The date of his enroll- 
ment was January 3, 1864, in Company G, 
Twenty-lifth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and served in that company until 
the expiration of the term of service of the 
Twenty-liftli Regiment, in June, 1865, when 
he was transferred to Company F, Twelfth 
Wisconsin, and was discharged July 15, 
1865. On entering the army he joined the 
Twenty-lifth Regiment at Mooresville, Ala- 
bama. His regiment joined General Sher- 
man's army at Chattanooga, and took part in 
all the battles in the Atlanta campaign, in- 
cluding Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, 
and those in front of Atlanta. Following 
the battle of Kenesaw Mountain he was sick 
and in the hospital at Rome, Georgia, for 
about two months, and rejoined the regiment 
when Sherman went back after Hood, and 
was in the reserve when Hood attacked Corse 
at Altoona Pass. Mr. De Groff, with his 
regiment, njarched with Sherman to the sea, 
and took part in the attack on Savannah; 
thence across to Beaufort, and marched 
through the Carolinas. At Rocotaligo he 



was engaged in a hard fight, the regiment 
losing heavily in a charge on the Confederate 
forces. His regiment was a part of the 
Seventeenth Army Corps, and with this corps 
marched on to Washington, taking part in 
the grand review in that city. Mr. De Groff 
was doubtless the youngest soldier who carried 
a musket in the service, from the three coun- 
ties represented in this work. 

On the expiration of his term of service 
he returned to his father's home in Buffalo 
county, and attended school during the two 
following winters. He taught during the 
winter season and farmed during the suiumer 
for a number of years. In 1880 he engaged 
in merchandising, which he has since con- 
tinued. Mr. De Groff is one of the repre- 
sentative men of Buffalo county, and has 
held various official positions. He was chair- 
man of the Town Board of Nelson for six 
years, and for two years was chairman of the 
County Board, and is at present (1891) 
Treasurer of the town of Nelson. He is a 
member of General Warren Post, No. 252, 
G. A. R., at Nelson; has been Commander 
of this post two terms, and has assisted in 
organizing three posts, at as many different 
places. He was elected Department Junior 
Vice-Commander of the G. A. R. of the 
State of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, March 12, 
1891. In his political affiliations Mr. De 
Groff is a Republican, and was chairman of 
the Republican County Committee from 
1888 to 1890. He is also a member of tiie 
K. of P., and has been Postmaster of Misha 
Mokwa since 1883, with the exception of 
two years during Cleveland's administration. 
Mrs. De Groff was formerly Miss Anna 
Walker, daughter of Paul Walker. The latter 
came to Buffalo county about 1870, and met 
his death by accident in 1882. The mother 
of Mrs. De Groff resides at Wabasha, Min- 
nesota. The only son. Grant H. Walker, 



6oa 



BIOGRAPHICAL UlSl'ORT. 



lives at tlie homestead. A sister of Mrs. 
De Groff, Mrs. Josie Feck, lives at Argyle, 
Minnesota. The suhject of this sketch was 
previously married, his first wife having been 
Miss Mary Evans, wiio died in 1880. He 
has one son, Arthur, a young man twenty 
years of age, who graduated at the village 
t^chool one year ago. lie is at present help- 
ing his father in the store. Mr. De Groff 
takes an active interest in promoting the 
general welfare of the community in which 
he lives, and is numbered among the pro- 
gressive citizens of Buffalo county. 



fOHN SCHEITZ, one of the prominent 
merchants of Alma, Wisconsin, was born 
May 18, 1851, at the village of Goisern, 
in the archdukedom of Upper Austria, and is 
the son of l^eopold and Maria (Wintersauer) 
Scheitz. The elder Scheitz was born in 
1808; was employed in the government salt 
mines of his native land; died at the old 
home in 1886. His wife, Maria, was born 
in December, 1812, and is still living at the 
old homestead. To them were born four 
children, of whom the subject of this sketch 
is the youngest and the only one who emi- 
grated to this country. The others are 
Martin, Leopold and Mary, now Mrs. Wall- 
man. John spent his early life at home, 
attending the parochial schools from the 
time he was si.x until he was thirteen years 
old. 

June 10, 1867, Mr. Sciieitz landed at New 
York city, and for a number of years he was 
variously employed at different places. Going 
from New York to Parkersburg, West Vir- 
ginia, he was engaged in farming about one 
year; engaged in railroading on the Baltimore 
tte Ohio railroad a few months; spent the 
I'ullowiiig winttT ill runii work; sojourned in 



Cumberland, Maryland, about six months; 
thence to Pennsylvania, where lie was em- 
ployed on the construction of the Pittsburg 
& Cannelsville railroad, remaining there from 
1870 until the branch was completed in 
1872. He then went to Pittsburg and en- 
gaged with a glass manufacturing company. 
In 1873 he went to Toledo, Ohio, and ob- 
tained employment on the water works for a 
few months. Ne.xt we find him at Defiance, 
Ohio, first engaged in railroading and after- 
ward in a brick yard. After being there 
about a year he suffered from an attack of 
fever and ague, and before he recovered — in 
the fall of 1875 — he went to Kentucky, re- 
maining there only a short time, however. 
Arriving in Pittsburg in January, 1S70, in 
such poor health that he was unfit for hard 
work, he purchased some goods and started 
out on a peddling tour. While engaged in 
peddling he started toward Philadelphia, in- 
tending to visit the Centennial, but sto[)ped 
on the way with a farmer and was employed 
by him, remaining there till iail. He theii 
began peddling again. In the spring he 
went to Defiance, Ohio, and obtained work 
in a brick yard for the summer. In the 
winter he resumed peddling again. He con- 
tinued this line of business two summers and 
one winter, when he was taken again with 
ague and concluded he would go West, which 
he did, continuing his business. He soon 
afterward purchased a horse and wagon, and 
from the winter of 1878 till October, 1886, 
did a successful business throughout the 
counties of Dunn, Buffalo and Trempealeau, 
Witconsiu. In October, 1886, he opened a 
general store at Alma, which he has since 
conducted with marked success. He has 
built up an extensive trade, the result of his 
own industry and strict attention to business. 
l!y his coiiscieiitiuiis j)i'iiiciples and his fair 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



dealing he has secured the confidence of the 
community in which he dwells. 

Mr. Scheitz was married near Buffalo City, 
Wisconsin, March 22, 1886, to Louise, daugh- 
ter of John J. and Anna (Matzingei') Miller, 
natives of Switzerland. Her father was born 
in the canton and city of Schaffhausen, May 
14, 1814, and died at Alma, Wisconsin, Oc- 
tober 25, 1891. Her mother was born iii the 
parish of Rudlingen, in 1821, and died near 
Buffalo City, Wisconsin, October 30, 1879. 
For many years her father was extensively 
engaged in farming operations. Mr. and 
Mrs. Miller had twelve children, namely: 
Simon, Lizzie, Anna, Jacob, Lena, Margaret, 
Alexander, Mary, Louisa, Barbara, Alexander 
(2), and Caroline. All are living with the 
exception of Lizzie, who died in May, 1886, 
and the first Alexander. 

Mr. Scheitz was formerly a Republican, 
but since he settled in Wisconsin has affili- 
ated with the Democratic party. He and his 
wife are members of the Lutheran Church. 



lLVIN chamberlain has been 
'jjyWt a well-known resident of the town of 
^^^ Hale,Trempealeau county, since 1882, 
when he settled on his present farm on sec- 
tion 12. He -was born in Wyoming county. 
New York, May 5, 1846, a son of James L. 
Chamberlain, a native of Cattaraugus county, 
New York. In 1859, James L. Chamber- 
lain emigrated with his family to Rock county, 
Wisconsin, where he now lives. Melvin 
Chamberlain is one of a family of eight 
children, four sons and four daughters, he 
being the eldest of the four sons. His boy- 
hood and early manhood were spent in Wis- 
consin, and in 1861, at the age of fifteen, he 
enlisted in Company F, Thirteenth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, in which command he 



served three years. After the expiration of 
his term he re-enlisted — becoming a member 
of Company K, United States Volunteers. 
He was in active service all the time he was 
in the army and his health was very much 
broken during his long service. His final 
discharge from the army took placeat Elmira, 
New York, after which he continued for some 
time in that State and then went to Michigan, 
where he had relatives living. Returning 
finally, however, to Wisconsin, he went to the 
Territory of Dakota in the fail of 1880, re- 
sidingjthere about a year and a half and then 
returned to Madison, Wisconsin, and thence 
to his present location. 

While living in Dakota he was married to 
Mrs. Congdon, nee Olive Woodworth, and 
they have three interesting children: Maud, 
Pearl and Melvin, to brighten their home. 
He and family are connected with the United 
Brethren Church, of which he is a minister, 
and are honored and esteemed by all who 
know them. In his political views he is a 
Republican. Mr. Chamberlain's farm, which 
is one of the finest in this section, contains 
eighty acres of choice land, which he has 
brought to an excellent state of cultivation. 



SRANK REUTER, of Waumaudee, Wis- 
consin, is one of the prosperous young 
farmers of Buffalo county. 
Mr. Renter was born in Floyd county, Indi- 
ana, March 25, 1860, son of Michael and Eva 
(Seipel) Renter. The elder Mr. Renter was 
born in Bavaria, in 1817, and his wife, also a 
native of that country, was born October 8, 
1828. A farmer by occupation, he came to 
this country in 1846, located in Floyd county, 
Indiana, and there engaged in agricultural 
pursuits. He made his home at that place 
until 1865, when he sold out, came to Buffalo 



604 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOR Y 



county, Wisconsin, and purchased a farm of 
Louis Weivers in Waumandee township, 160 
acres on sections 14 and 15, and eighty acres 
on sections 17 and 18. This was partially 
improved. In 1871 he bought another eighty 
on section 15, making 320 acres in one body. 
He built his barn in 1867, and his dwelling 
in 1874. He continued to reside there and 
cultivate his farm up to the time of his 
death, making his property one of the finest 
in the valley. To him and his wife eleven 
children were born, whose names are as fol- 
lows: Matilda, who married Charles Kuppert; 
Magdaline, wife of Adam Kline; Mary, wife 
of Charles Schmitkencht; Katherine, wife of 
Robert Grunewald; John, who married Anna 
Giesen; Frank; Joseph, who married Therisa 
Gass; Rosa, wife of Adam Snyder; Jose- 
phine, wife of George Brenner; Elizabeth, 
wife of John Beisang; and Louise, who died 
young. Mr. Renter was in politics a Demo- 
crat. Both he and his wife were devout 
members of the Catholic Church. His death 
occurred May 30, 1878. Mrs. Reuter is still 
livin"-, and makes her home at West Superior 
with her daughters, Rosa and Elizabeth. 

Frank Reuter, the subject of our sketch, 
was reared on the farm, assisting his father 
and attending the district schools as oppor- 
tunity offered. From the time of his father's 
death until 1890, lie and his brothers con- 
ducted the farm, under the administration of 
his mother. At that time he purchased the 
farm and has since been conducting the same, 
having now under cultivation 240 acres. 
Among his stock are some fine specimens of 
half-breed shortliorns and some Clydesdale 
horses. He conducts a small dairy. Among 
other improvements he has made since buy- 
ing the home place, is an addition to the 
barn. 

Mr. Reuter was married at Glencoe, June 
12, 1883, to Lena, oldest daughter of Adam 



and Anna (Prunk) Ziegweid. Her parents 
were born in Prussia. Her father, a shoe- 
maker by trade, came to this country in 1845, 
and her mother came in 184S. 

They were married in Sauk county, Wis- 
consin, in 1855, and are now living at Glen- 
coe. Other members of their large family 
are Frank, Anna, now Mrs. R. Wochusack; 
Adam, Leonard, Mary, wife of Louis Barth; 
William, Amelia, Bertha, Seceliaand Anthon. 
Mr. Ziegweid is engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits. 

Mr. and Mrs. Renter's union has been 
blessed with four children: Adelade, born 
April 3, 1884; Ignatius, August 30, 1885; 
Matilda, November 19, 1886; and Elsie, 
March 17, 1890. 



,ON. ROBERT A. ODELL, the present 
Judge of Trempealeau county, was born 
in Essex county, New York, October 11, 
1835, a son of Robert Ferris Odell, who was 
born in the same county in 1805. Mr. Odell's 
ancestors were among the early settlers of 
the colony of iSlew York, and were of Scotch 
origin. The great-grandfather of our subject 
came to this country from Scotland previous 
to the Revolutionary war, and fought in the 
Continental army in the struggle of the colo- 
nies for freedom. This original ancestor the 
genealogy of the family says was twice mar- 
ried, having one son by his first wife, and 
several by his second. The son by the first 
marriasje was the grandfather of Judge Odell, 
and was also named Robert A. He removed 
from the vicinity of Albany and settled in 
Essex county. He was a soldier in the war 
of 1812, and fought in the celebrated battle 
of Plattsburg. He removed to Essex county 
about 1800, settling on what was known as 
Morgan's Patent, which comprised about 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



4,000 acres. He was the father of four sons, 
tlie eldest of whom was Robert Ferris Odell, 
tlie father of onr subject. The latter was a 
carpenter and builder by trade, but about the 
time he reached middle age he became an 
iron manufacturer, an occupation he followed 
many years. The mother of Judge Odell, 
Harriet (Lobdell) Odell, daughter of Levi 
Lobdell, of Cherry valley, New York, was of 
Dutch ancestry, and died when her son was 
in his seventh year. Later the father re- 
married, by which union he had twelve chil- 
dren, seven sons and five daughters. He is 
still living at this writing, a resident of Cedar 
Falls, Iowa. The children are all living but 
two. 

The subject of this sketch, the fourth child 
and third son, spent his early life in attend- 
ing school, and in assisting his father in his 
iron manufactory. In the spring of 1858 he 
came West, going tirst to Le Claire, Scott 
county, Iowa, where he engaged in teaching. 
In October, 1859, he came to Galesville, 
Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, for the 
purpose of settling the business of a mercan- 
tile concern at that place. He did not then 
e.xpect to remain permanently, intending to 
return to Iowa when his mission should be 
accomplished, but in the meantime was in- 
duced to purchase an interest in the store, 
and continued in trade until 1865. After an 
interval of two years, in 1867, he again en- 
gaged in business, taking charge of the mer- 
cantile house of Wilson Davis, at Galesville, 
in which capacity he continued about eight 
years, after which he engaged in merchandis- 
ing with A. H. Kneeland. In the fall of 1876 
Judge Odell was elected to the ofKce of Clerk 
of the Circuit Court of Trempealeau county 
in which he continued for the period of ten 
years, and since then he has been in the ofKce 
of (-ounty Judge. In 1888 he was appointed 
to the ofJice to succeed Judge M. Mulligan, 



and was elected to the ottice in the spring of 
1889, and is now serving his fourth year. 

Judge Odell was married at Galesville, in 
September, 1863, to Miss Emma Frances 
Clark, daughter of William P. Clark, one of 
the well known pioneers of the county, who 
has the honor of '^erecting its first flouring- 
mill. He was a native of Vermont, and emi- 
grated from near St. Albans, in that State, to 
Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and thence to 
Trempealeau county. His death occurred in 
1873. Mrs. Odell was born in Waukesha 
county, and they have one son, Ross Clark, 
born in Galesville in 1867. He has been for 
a number of years engaged with Mons An- 
derson, one of the leading merchants of La 
Crosse, Wisconsin. Judge Odell was be- 
reaved of his wife by death in the spring of 
1878, and in August, 1882, he was married 
to Mrs. Lovisa Newton Boardman, a native 
of Chautauqua county, New York. She was 
married in La Crosse, in 1863, to Arthur 
Boardman, also a native of that county, and 
1873 they went to California, where he died. 
Several years later Mrs. Boardman returned 
to Wisconsin, and her father, Albion Board- 
man, is now a resident of La Crosse. Judee 
Odell is one of the leading citizens of White- 
hall, and is well known throughout Trempea- 
leau and adjoining counties as an enterprising 
and progressive citizen. Politically, he is a 
Republican, and ever takes a commendable 
interest in whatever tends to promote the 
moral and intellectual growth of the commu- 
nity in which he lives. 

EMIL G. BUCHHOLZ, a harness man- 
ufacturer and boot and shoe dealer of 
Whitehall, was born in West Prussia, 
Germany, January 13, 1851, where he was 
reared and learned the trade of harness-mak- 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



ing. His father, Williain Buchholz, still 
lives in his native land. The subject of this 
sketch came to America in 1868, and after 
landing in New York went directly to Hack- 
ensack, Kew York, and worked at farming 
for a few months; next he went to Port Jar- 
vis, New York, where he was engaged in 
harness-making and railroading; in 1871 he 
went to Scraiitun, Pennsylvania, and engaged 
in working at his trade; then to Oliphant 
and worked at coal mining, after which he 
traveled through New York, Pennsylvania 
and elsewhere. From the latter State he 
went to Chicago, thence to Prairie du Chien, 
Wisconsin, and in 1870 came to Trempealeau 
county, and worked at his trade as a journey- 
man in a harness shop at Whitehall. After 
working at this place for a time he went to 
Ilale township, where he married Miss Cath- 
erine Malony, a native of Massachusetts, and 
of Irish parentage. She came with lier par- 
ents to Adams county, Wisconsin, when a 
child, and to Trempealeau county when twelve 
years of age. Soon after his marriage Mr. 
Buchholz went to the village of Osseo and 
started a harness shop, but after remaining 
there two and a half years he returned to 
Hale township and pnrchased a farm and 
engaged in farming. In 1882 he again 
moved to Whitehall and established his 
present business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Buchholz have five children, 
three sons and two daughters: William, 
Maggie, James, Mary and Francis. The 
father is numbered among the intelligent 
and progressive citizens of Whitehall, and 
though of foreign birth he believes emphat- 
ically in American institutions. He is a 
friend of education, and takes a commend- 
able interest in whatever tends to promote 
the best interests of the community in which 
he lives. Politically, he was formerly a 
Uepublican, but now differs from that party 



in many of the issues of the day, and may 
now be regarded as an independent politi- 
cian. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, being 
a member of Trempealeau Valley Lodge, No. 
249, in which he has occupied all the chairs. 
He also belongs to Colfax Encampment, No. 
776, Oliphant, Pennsylvania; is a member 
of the Grand Lodge of the State, and has 
occupied the offices of District Deputy Grand 
Master. Mr. Buchholz is a successful busi- 
ness man, and a worthy and respected citi- 
zen. 



•ir^,^;lLLlAM G. MacLACHLAN, A. B., 
w \/| M. D., is the physician and surgeon 

i^stei of the village of Ettrick, Trempealeau 
county, where he located Semtember 5, 1890. 
He was born in Ontario, Canada, and re- 
ceived his literary education at Toronto Uni- 
versity, graduating in 1879. In his literary 
course he took honors in the natural sciences, 
having in view the study of medicine, but 
his eyes became weakened by close applica- 
tion to st\idy, and he was compelled to 
modify his plans for the future to some ex- 
tent. He accordingly became head master 
of a high school, preparing students for teach- 
ing law, medicine, engineering and the arts. 
But in the meantime he gave such attention to 
the study of anatomy as his somewhat im- 
paired eyesight permitted. Recovering his 
health he renewed his medical studies, and 
in 1886 entered the medical department of 
the Michigan LTniversity at Ann Arbor, at 
which he graduated in 1890. The last year 
of his course at the university he did hospi- 
tal work, and also practiced for a shore time 
near the city of Detroit before coming to 
Wisconsin. 

Dr. MacLachlan was married in Canada, to 
Miss Christina Forrester, university under- 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



697 



graduate. He was deprived of his wife by 
death, leaving one daugliter. 

The father of the subject of this sketch, 
Hugh MacLachlan, a native of Canada, is 
now living at Gary, South Dakota, where he 
owns a large farm. The Doctor's paternal 
grandfather was a native of Scotland, as was 
also his wife. They emigrated to the State 
of New York where all their children were 
born except 'Hugh. On his mother's side 
the Doctor is descended from an early Vir- 
ginia family: the original American ancestor 
emigrated from England and became a Vir- 
ginia planter. Later the Virginia branch of 
the family took up their residence in Canada. 
The subject of this sketch, the only son of 
his parents, has a sister, married and living 
in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Another sister 
died in Dakota, at the age of twenty-two 
years, soon after the family removed there 
from Canada. The Doctor is a well educated 
gentleman, both his literary and medical 
attainments being of a high order. Though 
but a short time established at Ettrick, he 
has gained the confidence of the people by 
his intelligence and upright bearing, and is 
highly esteemed by all, both socially and 
professionally. 

jEV. JO HAN HELSEM has been the 
t^ efficient pastor of St. Pauly (Lutheran) 
Church at Struin, Trempealeau county, 
since 1877. The church building was partial- 
ly built and enclosed, and services had been 
held in it for a time when he came. Under 
his administration the church was completed, 
and he also built the present fine parsonage 
in 1880. The congregation of this church 
now numbers about 100 faniiles, and every- 
thing pertaining to the church is in a pros 
perous condition. Sunday-school is held at 



the church and at various schoolhouses 
within the limits of his congregation. Paro- 
chial schools are also held at the various 
schoolhouses between the terms of public 
schools. Born in Norway, October 7, 1841, 
Mr. Helsem was educated in his native coun- 
try and came to the United States in 1868; 
was a student at the Augsburg Theological 
Seminary at Marshall in Dane county for a 
time, and was ordained in 1870. His first 
church was at Colfax, in Dunn county, going 
thence to Cliippewa Falls, where he was pas- 
tor for five years, coming to Strum from the 
latter place. But the immediate charge of 
his present church by no means includes all 
the labor and responsilnlity that rests upon 
the pastor, Mr. Helsem. He has also charges 
at Pigeon Falls, in Trempealeau county; 
Pleasant valley, in Eau Claire, and also one 
in the town of Dramnian, in the same county 
and one at Northfield, Jackson county, and 
another at Fairchild. He also has charge of 
the Eau Clairie district, which includes about 
sixty churches and twenty pastors. He, being 
chairman of this district and " visitator," is 
expected to visit each congregation once in 
three years at least. The religious body to 
which Mr. Helsem belongs is known as the 
United Norwegian (Lutheran) Church of the 
United States, wliich includes over 900 con- 
gregations and about 300 ministers. 

Mr. Helsem was married at Red Wins 
Minnesota, in 1868, and has three children, 
one daughter and two sons, viz.: Laudrik 
Palmer Edvin, Hersleb Amp and Louise 
Helene. 

" ♦-"■I ? ♦S u g i'-^fri.- m - 



ij^jUSSELL BOWERS, the popular Post- 
master at Hamlin. Trempealeau county, 
is one of the pioneers of this county. 
He settled where he now lives June 22, 



698 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



1857. He was bom in the town of Line, Jeflfer- 
8011 county, New York, in 1825, son of 
Zachariah Bowers (also a native of the State 
of New Yori{)and Adeline (Hubbard) Bowers. 
They were tlie parents of live children, two 
suns and three daughters. Russell Bowers 
lived in his native State until he was about 
eighteen years of age when the family moved 
to Wisconsin and located in Waukesha county. 
From Waukesha county they went to Dane 
county, and in 1849 Mr. Bowers, Sr., started 
with a company overland for California and 
reached that country safely, but lost his life 
in San Francisco in 1857. The manner of 
his death was never known, his body having 
been found on the street. The mother died 
in Dane county in 1888. Russell Bowers 
was married to Rebecca Chase, who was bora 
in the town of Stowe, Summit county, Ohio; 
they removed from Ohio to Illinois and thence 
to Dane county, Wisconsin, and when Mr. 
and Mrs. Bowers came to Trempealeau county 
they were accompanied by the parents of 
Mrs. Bowers, who settled on an adjoining 
farm. The parents of Mrs. Bowers removed 
to Barron county from Trempealeau county, 
where the father died, and the mother is still 
living, making her home with her youngest 
son, Joy II. Chase, near Traverse City, Michi- 
gan, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. 

Mrs. Bovvers is one of four children, two 
boys and two girls, viz.: Salome, wife of John 
Warner, of Indiana; David, the eldest son, 
was in the Twenty-tifth Wisconsin Regiment, 
and was killed at a battle in Georgia; Joy H. 
also served all through the war, and now 
lives in Michigan; Mrs. Bowers is the ne.xt 
in age. 

Russell Bowers enlisted in 1864 in Com- 
pany K, Thirty-si.xth Wisconsin Regiment, 
and served his country loyally and well until 
the close of the war. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have eight children, 



four boys and four girls, viz.: James, wlio is 
now in Dakota; Fred. Adeline, and George, 
all at home; Jennie, wife of Prank Loller,.a 
i-esident of Sumner; Loretta, the wife of 
James Donahue, a prominent lumberman of 
Eau Claire; Charles and Elsie. The}' lost 
four children in early life. During their 
long residence in Trempealeau county, Mr. 
and Mrs. Bowers have ever possessed the 
respect and confidence of their fellow-citizens. 
Mr. Russell Bowers has had the postofRce 
where he now resides for the past thirty-five 
years. 

AMUEL S. LUCE, of Galesville, a 
pioneer of Trempealeau county, was 
born at Stowe, La Moille county, Ver- 
mont, in 1819, where be was reared to the 
occupation of farming. His father was 
Chester Luce and his paternal grandfather 
was Ziniri Luce, a native of Martha's Vine- 
yard and an early settler of Stowe. The sub- 
ject of this sketch in early life learned the 
trade of builder and architect, which he fol- 
lowed for many years, and superintended the 
construction of many important buildings, 
both in the East and the West. 

He was married December 7, 1847, to 
Miss Hannah Gale, a daughter of Peter 
Gale. Her paternal grandfather, also named 
Peter Gale, was an early settler of Barre, 
Vermont. Mrs. Luce is a sister of the Hon. 
George Gale, the founder of Galesville. In 
the fall of 1857 Mr. Luce came to Galesville 
and was followed by his family to the same 
place in the fall of the same year. He fol- 
lowed the occupation of architect and builder 
for a considerable length of time, planning 
and erectinir the residence of Judge Gale and 
also the university, which he began in 1859. 
He established the Galesville Transcript in 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



1860, — one of the first newspapers published 
in Trempealeau county, — which he conducted 
till 1865. In the fall of that year lie was 
elected County Superintendent of Schools, a 
position he held four years. He was also 
connected with the publication of the Inde- 
pendent for a long tinae, and owned this 
paper in connection with his son, Walter S., 
for ten years. In 1876, in connection with 
his wife, he published a volume of poems, 
and in 1881 he published another volume, 
called "Echoes of the Past;" and six years 
later appeared "The Woodman." 

Mr. and Mrs. Luce have two sons and a 
daughter: Flora F. is the wife of William V. 
Darwin, of Durand; George S. is a publisher, 
as is Walter S., their younger son, the latter 
being publisher and proprietor of the La 
Crosse Daily Press. 

WILLIAM McDONAII resides on sec- 
tion 27, in the town of Trempealeau, 
where he settled in 1853. He 
entered, two years previous to that time, 160 
acres of land, which includes the site of the 
present village of Centerville. On that land 
he located and lived for a number of years, 
when he settled where he now resides. He 
was born in the town of Derby, Orleans 
county, Vermont. The subject of this sketch 
came to La Crosse county, Wisconsin, and 
worked for James Giltillan for some time. 
Tlie first land he owned was that which he 
entered as above mentioned. He has always 
been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has 
550 acres of land, being one of the larger 
farmers of the town of Trempealeau. 

He was married in Oshkosh, to Sarah A. 
Cnsick, who died May 14, 1885. His second 
wife was Clara Sanders, who died in 1889. By 
his first marriage five children were born, three 




sons and two daughters. The former are 
William, Robert S. and Elmer. Jennie, the 
eldest daughter, is the wife of Marshall Snell, 
of Tacoma, Washington. Mr. Snell is a 
lawyer by profession. The second daughter 
is Gracie. 



R. MOSES W. WATERMAN, of Foun- 
tain City, Wisconsin, was born in JSIew 
York city, September 12, 1850. He is 
a son of Sigismnnd Waterman, an eminent 
physician of New York, and Helena (Wolf) 
Waterman. His father was born February 
22, 1814, at Bruck, Bavaria, and came to the 
United States some time in the '30s. He 
studied in Germany, and after coming to 
this country entered Yale College and grad- 
uated in that institution. He subsequently 
became a professor of languages there and 
remained as such for eight or ten years. He 
then removed to New York city and estab- 
lished a medical practice, which he has since 
continued. He is one of the most dis- 
tinguished physicians of tiiat city. He served 
as police surgeon for thirty years, at the end 
of wiiich time he was retired on half pay. 
He was one of the founders of the home for 
the aged and infirm of the order of B'nai 
B'rith at Yonkers. During the war he was 
draft surgeon, and also held other local posi- 
tions. He was a personal friend of Presi- 
dent Arthur, and is intimately associated 
with many of the leading public men of our 
country, including Vice-President Morton. 
He is still actively engaged in his pro- 
fessional duties, and says he "wants to die in 
the harness." He is noted for his researches 
in spectroscopic analysis, and has written 
extensively on that science. His wife died 
in New York in 1884. They were the parents 
of seven children, namely: Kate, who was 



700 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



the wife of G. Bergman, is now deceased; 
Moses W., B. Frank, Rosa, who married 
Louis Bock, a merchant of New York; 
Beulah, now Mrs. Henry Meisel; and Nehem 
and Jennie, who died in infancy. Tlie Doc- 
tor is an entlmsiastic Republican, and has 
taken an active part in political matters, but 
has never consented to he a candidate for 
office. 

Dr. Moses W. Waterman was reared in 
New York, where he received his primary 
education. He entered Bellevue Hospital 
Medical College of New York in 1865, and 
graduated in 1871, receiving his diploma two 
months before he was of age. After his 
graduation he went to the State Hospital, 
then under Dr. Hammond, and studied 
nervous diseases, remaining there two years 
and a half. At the end of that time he came 
West and was appointed surgeon for tiie 
Northern Pacific Railroad, and while on his 
trip was taken sick at Buffalo with typhoid 
fever. Before he recovered his place was 
filled by another appointment. After wan- 
dering about for a time he finally located in 
Fountain City, February 5, 1873, and here 
opened an office for the practice of his pro- 
fession. He has lived here ever since, with 
the exception of the years from 1879 to 1885. 
During that time he was Deputy Coroner of 
New York three years, and for two years had 
charge of the Aged Infirmary Home at Yon- 
kers. Pie then made a tour of the West, 
visiting the Pacific States and Territories, 
accompanied by his family, and after a sojourn 
of five months again took up his abode in 
Fountain City, and here resumed his prac- 
tice, which he has since continued with flat- 
tering success. He has been Health Officer 
since he located here, with the exception of 
one term, and is at present a member of the 
Board of Aldermen. 

Dr. Waterman was married May 9, 1875, 



at Fountain City, to Susanna, daughter of 
Lutzi and Barbara Weiwers. To them have 
been born seven children, viz.: Louis, who 
died September 4, 1876; Helena, Sigesraund, 
Martha, Natallie and Augusta (twins), and 
Nathaniel L. Augusta died at the age of 
three months. 

The Doctor is a member of the following 
named fraternities: Modern Woodmen, Wau- 
mandee Camp, No. 754, of which he is the 
presiding officer; an I. O. O. F. lodge of 
New York; the Grand Lodge of A. O. U. W.; 
is a member of the Head Camp, M. W. A., 
of the State, and is Deputy Head Counsel of 
the Eighth Congressional District. He is a 
public-spirited man and takes a deep interest 
in the development of his town. He pos- 
sesses many amiable traits of character, and 
is a man whose friendship can always be re- 
lied upon. 



AVID L. HOLCOMB, the present 
chairman of the town of Arcadia, was 
born in Greenlnish, Sheboygan county, 
Wisconsin, April 26, 1848, while Wisconsin 
was yet a Territory, but only a few weeks be- 
fore it was admitted as a State. His father, 
AVilliam Ilolcomb, was born near Albany, in 
the State of New York, in 1809, where he 
grew to manhood and married Miss Julia N. 
Rogers. They became early settlers of She- 
boygan county. In 1857 the family emi- 
grated to Floyd county, Iowa, where the 
father died in 1868, the mother liaving 
passed away a year previous to the death of 
her husband. They were the parents of 
seven children, five sons and two daughters, 
who grew to mature years, all of whom are 
still living. David L. was about nine years 
old when he removed with his parents to 
Iowa, and there his boyhood was passed. In 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



701 



1867, at the age of nineteen years, he came 
to Arcadia, and here lie has since made his 
home, having bought liis present farm in 
1872. He was for some time a student of 
Galesville University, and afterwards engaged 
in teaching in Trempealeau county, which 
occupation he carried on successfully for 
nine or ten years. In 1879 he settled on his 
present farm, since which time he has de- 
voted all bis attention to agricultural pur- 
suits and stock-raising. Besides liis home 
farm of 140 acres, Mr. Holcomh owns land 
elsewhere. Mr. Holcomh began life, finan- 
cially speaking, at the lowest round of the 
ladder. Oil first coming to Arcadia, and he- 
fore he had qualified himself for teaching, he 
engaged as a farm laborer, by means of which 
he earned the means of paying his way at 
school at Galesville. He married Miss Ida 
A. Dewey, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 
C. Dewey, and have two children, a son and 
a daughter, viz.: AUie A. and Archie Pierre. 
In his political aflfiliations Mr. Holcomb is a 
Kepublicau. He is prominent in the promo- 
tion of the moral and educational interests of 
the community in which he lives; was largely 
instrumental in establishing the high school 
at Arcadia, and served six years on the school 
board. The paternal ancestry of Mr. Hol- 
comb were English, but on his mother's side 
were of Mohawk Dutch ancestry. 



-'-^x/xn/b- 



^^l/in/^^^ 



PSON. NOAH DURHAM COMSTOCK, 
a pioneer of Trempealeau county, and a 
representative citizen of Wisconsin, was 
born at Lowville, New York, November 22, 
1832, and died at his home in Arcadia, this 
county, June 6, 1890. His parents were 
Adam and Electa (Durham) Comstock. The 
early American ancestry of the Comstock 
family settled in Rhode Island in early 



colonial times, but the Durhauis belonged to 
the Connecticut colony. Both the paternal 
and maternal ancestry of Mr. Comstock took 
an active part in the war of the Revolution, 
representatives of both families having served 
in the American army in the war for inde- 
pendence. For several generations the direct 
ancestry of our subject have been residents of 
Saratoga county, New York. Noah D. lose 
his mother by death when he was but four 
years of age, and his father continued a resi- 
dent of the State of New York until his 
death, though he died in Minnesota in 1867, 
while on a visit with friends there. 

The subject of this sketch received a good 
English education, and when eighteen years 
of age he went to Calhoun county, Michi- 
gan, and a year later to Indiana, where he 
engaged in teaching until 1853. The excite- 
ment attending the discovery of gold in Cali- 
fornia was still at its height, and Mr. Com- 
stock decided to try his fortunes in the land 
of gold, and accordingly crossed the plains 
to the Pacific coast, where for two years he 
was engaged in gold-mining. On his return 
he decided to locate in Wisconsin, and in 
1855 became one of the first settlers of Ar- 
cadia, and for thirty-five years was promi- 
nently identified with the growth and de- 
velopment of Trempealeau county. He held 
many positions of honor and trust, the duties 
of which he discharged with ability and fidel- 
ity. He was town Assessor in 1858; County 
Treasurer in 1860, and re-elected in 1862 
and in 1864; a member of the County Board 
in 1868; of the Assembly branch of the 
Legislature of Wisconsin in 1872, 1874, 
1875 and 1876; was elected State Senator in 
1882, and also filled various other local 
oliices. 

In 1868 Mr. Comstock was married to 
Miss Ellen Comstock, a native of West 
Wrentham, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, 



703 



BIOGRAPUIVAL BISTORT. 



and daugliter of Nathan and Betsey (Cook) 
Comstock. Mr. Oomstock was the father of 
three children: Adam, Nathan and Elizabeth. 
He was a man of more than average ability, 
and the various and important official posi- 
tions which he was called upon to till is indic- 
ative of the esteem and confidence extended 
to him l)j his fellow- citizens. His character 
is well illustrated in an article written of 
him at the lime of his decease, which is as 
follows: "He was of modest and retiring 
manner, possessing rare ability, great inde- 
pendence of character, a stern integrity and 
a warm heart, and all the characteristics of a 
true and noble gentleman. He was remark- 
ably unselfish and self-sacrificing, ever ready 
to lend his counsel or render assistance to 
those in need. His great aim in life was to 
learn how to live and not how to die. With 
him the fear of death faded before the 
brighter dawn of reason. During his sick- 
ness he was gentle and patient, and grate- 
fully appreciated all that was done for him. 
He suffered much, but never complained. 
He was conscious to the last, and death 
finally came as a peaceful sleep." 

Mrs. Comstock continues to reside at their 
pleasant home near the village of Arcadia, 
where she and her husband passed so many 
happy years of their lives. 

.UGUST WAGNER resides on section 
17, Caledonia towship, where he settled 
in the spring of 18G1. He has a fine 
farm of 350 acres, on which he has made all 
the improvements. He was born in Prussia, 
Germany in 1830, a son of Frederick Wag- 
ner, who died when August was but fourteen 
years of age. In 1852, at the age of twenty 
years, our subject came to America. He 
had learned the trade of a mason in Germany, 



and followed that occupation many years 
after coming to America. As he had more 
than attained his majority when he left his 
native land he would have been called upon 
to serve in the German army, but having 
severely injured his left hand he was ex- 
empted from military duty. In the spring 
of 1850 Mr. Wagner was married to Miss 
Christina Eustone Ehlert, and the following 
October they left Hamburg in the sailing 
vessel Esperania for New York, landing in 
that city on Christmas day. He went at 
once to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked 
for a time at his trade, then to Dubuque, 
Iowa, next to Pickwick, Minnesota, and in 
1861 to Trempealeau county. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wagner have eleven children, 
five boys and six girls. For many years Mr- 
Wagner worked at the mason's trade, and at 
the same time carried on farming. Here he 
and his wife have lived for the long period of 
thirty years, and by industry and economy 
have acquired a competence, and are now 
numbered among the respected and esteemed 
citizens of Trempealeau county. Mr. Wag- 
ner is a Republican in his political views, 
and religiously he and his family are mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. 

^*^^ 



OBIAS VOEGELI.— Among the oldest 
and most respected citizens of Buffalo 
county, AVisconsin, is the gentleman 
whose name heads this sketch. He dates his 
birth in Linthal, Canton Glarus, Switzerland, 
December 0, 1832. His father, Thomas 
Voegeli, son of Belenhard Voegeli, wedded 
Elizabeth Elmer, both husband and wife 
being natives of the same canton. Thomas 
Voegeli was a cabinet-maker by trade, and was 
a man much respected by his fellow citizens. 
To him and his wife eight children were born, 



BIOGRAPDIGAL HIHTORY. 



703 



whose names are Henry, Thomas, Jacob, To- 
bias, Gabriel, Flidolen, Anna and Elizabeth- 
All are now living except Henry, Jacob, 
Eiizabetli and Flidolen. Tlie motlier died in 
her native land, at the age of thirty-nine 
years. 

Tobias was reared at home, attended the 
district schools and received some private 
tuition. When of sufficient aije he was tautrht 
the cabinet-making trade, and also that of 
painting. In January, 1855, he sailed in the 
ship Frances Palmer, for the United States 
and landed in New Orleans April 1. A few 
weeks later he went to .New York, worked at 
liis trade for a while in that State, and from 
there came to Wisconsin. After following 
liis trade two years and a half in New Glaras, 
he came, in October, 1857, to Fountain City. 
In company with John Schmitz he opened a 
cabinet and furniture store, and a year later 
sold out to his partner. The following year 
he worked at cabinet-making, and after that 
turned his attention to contracting and build- 
ing, having learned the carpenter's trade after 
coming to this country. 

The war at this time continuing to rage, 
he tendered his services to the Union, enlist- 
ing at Fountain City, Deceml)er 1, 1864, in 
Company D, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry. He 
went with his command to Little Rock, Ar- 
kansas, which place was headquarters for the 
regiment most of the time he was in the ser- 
vice. They were chiefly engaged in guard 
duty. June 8, 1865, Mr. Voegeli was mus- 
tered out at Little Rock. 

Returning home after the war, he again 
engaged in carpentering for a time. His 
health, however, was so much impaired tliat 
he was unable to continue it long- Novein- 
ber 9, 1874, he was commissioned Postmaster 
of Fountain City, and held this position until 
February 1, 1885, when he resigned on ac- 
count of change of administration. He was 



Trustee of the town for two years — 1887-'88; 
served as Treasurer one term in 1870, and 
again from 1875 to 1881. During the time 
he was Postmaster he also acted as insurance 
agent. 

Mr. Voegeli was married in Switzerland. 
April 4, 1854, to Avina Rosina Wichser. By 
her he had nine children, namely: Elizabeth, 
who died young; Thomas; Anna, who also 
died young; Fred, Kate, now Mrs. Charles 
Baertsch, Dakota; Albert and Albertina, who 
both died in infancy, and Henry. Mrs. 
Voegeli's death occurred June 6, 1883. No- 
vember 10, 1883, he was united in marriage 
to Mi-s. Kuingunda KloeiHier (Englehardt), 
his present companion. 

Ever since he became a citizen of the Uni- 
ted States, Mr. Voegeli has voted with the 
Republican party. He is a member of the 
A. O. U. W.. Fountain City Lodge, No. 18, 
and of Peter Weber Post, No. 254, G. A. R., 
Fountain City. He receives a pension from 
the Government. His wife is a Catholic, 
while he holds to the faith of the Evangelical 
Church, having helped to establish the one at 
Fountain City. 

Mr. Voageli lias been successful in busi- 
ness, always giving his close attention to 
whatever duty he had in hand. During his 
residence here he has contributed largely 
toward the development of the town. He is 
now retired from active business, and, sur- 
rounded by his kindred and hosts of friends, 
he is quietly enjoying the fruits of his in- 
dustry. 

— -^^wf^lH— 



,R. WILLIAM M. YOUNG, of Gales- 
ville, is a pioneer physician of Trem- 
pealeau county, having come here at the 
time Judge Gale came, assisted the latter in 
surveying the original plat of Galesville and 



704 



BlOaiiAPHICAL HISTORY. 



liHfl charge of the sale of lots. When Dr. 
Young came to Trempealeau county there 
was but one family residing on the present 
plat of the village. This was the family of a 
Mr. Armstj'ony. 

Dr. Young was born in Schenectady county, 
Wew Y'ork. He began- studying medicine 
when eighteen years of age, with his brother, 
Dr. George II. Young, at Elkliorn, Walwoi-th 
county, Wisconsin, and graduated at Rush 
Medical College, Chicago, in 1855. He then 
went to La Crosse and practiced for a time, 
but soon after came to Galesville. He was 
induced to locate here by his brother-in-law, 
Judge Gale, and was prominently identified 
with the early history of the town, and has 
the honor of being its first Postmaster. He 
has spent several winters in the State of 
Florida, where he owns valuable property- 
He is a great lover of the works of nature 
and has a fine collection of rare specimens of 
tropical and semi-tropical plants, which he 
has brouufht from the land of flowers. He 
has also a rare collection of minerals, etc. 
Has no family. 

IDWIN ELKINS, Postmaster at Trem. 
pealeau, was born in Kennedy, Chau- 
tauqua county, New York, November 
26, 1835, twin of Edward Elkins, now resid- 
ing at the place where he was born. The 
parents were Abiel and Mary Elkins. 

Edwin Elkins was reared in Warren county, 
Pennsylvania. In 1854 he came West and 
resided for a number of years in the State of 
Iowa. He went tj Winona county, Minne- 
sota, and came to Trempealeau in the spring 
of 1857, which has since l)een his home. 

He enlisted November 14, 1861, in Com- 
pany D, Fourteenth Regiment Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry; was made company cook 



in 1862, and Sergeant January 1, 1863, and 
Second Sergeant February 18, 1864; and was 
commissioned First Lieutenant December 14 
of the same year by Governor Lewis. In 
the Seventeenth Army Corps, under Major- 
General McPherson, he participated in many 
of the severest battles of the war, including 
Shiloh, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Atlanta 
campaign, and the battle of Nashville Decem- 
ber 15 and 16, 1864; also in the siege of 
Spanish Fort from March 27 to April 9, 
1865. Was mustered out at Mobile, Ala- 
bama, October 9\)f the same year. Of tlie 
original 100 men that composed the company, 
but thirteen were numbered in the muster 
out. 

After the war he was elected Sheriff of the 
county. He has served in many local posi- 
tions, including that of Town Treasurer for 
fifteen terms. He is a carpenter and builder 
by trade, and was done much in that occupa- 
tion since the war. 

He was married, in Trenjpealeau, in the 
spring of 1867, to Miss Maria Brandenberg, 
a daughter of Alfred M. Brandenberg, of 
Trempealeau. They have no children. Mr. 
Elkins is a member of Charles II. Ford Post, 
of Trempealeau. 

Politically he is a Republican. He cast his 
first Presidential vote for iVbraham Lincoln 
in 1860. 

«»-4->^-«- —- 



lETER V. REBHAHN, who resides in 
Rose Valley, Waumandce township, is 
one of th& old pioneers of Buffalo 
county, Wisconsin. He was born in Bavaria, 
February 14, 1826, son of Lucas and Mary 
(Loch) Rebhahn. His father was a farmer 
by occupation. Both his parents were born, 
passed their lives and died in that country, 
the father's death occurring in 1856. Their 



BIOGRAPHICAL EI8T0RT. 



705 



four children were Maggie M., Teter V., 
Mary and Barbara. By bis second wife, 
Francisca, the father had three children, — 
Francisca, Cannmnda and Emelie. Fran- 
cisca is living in Wisconsin, and the other 
two reside in Minnesota. 

Mr. Rebhahn lived at home and attended 
the public schools until he was twenty-one. 
He then entered the Bavarian army and 
served si.x j-ears, during that time partici- 
pating in the revolution of 1848. He re- 
ceived his discharge May 18, 1854. He at 
once went home, and a few days later, May 
28, emigrated to the United States, landing 
in New York. From there he came to Wis- 
consin, and tor three years was at Milwaukee, 
in the employ of the Milwaukee, St. Paul & 
La Crosse Railroad Company. Going to La 
Crosse, October 1, 1858, he worked for the 
same company five years longer. At the end 
of that time he came to Buffalo county and 
located on the farm of 120 acres, which he 
had bought in 1861. His brother- in-law had 
lived on the place and had made some im- 
provements, including a house, etc. In 1863, 
when he moved here, Mr. Rebhahn pu; chased 
an eighty-acre tract in the same section. He 
continued to cultivate his farm with success, 
and in 1880 made another addition to his 
landed estate by the purchase of 120 acres, 
also in section 1. It had a good house on it 
and was fairly improved, and he has since 
erected a barn. Mr. Rebhahn now has about 
300 acres under cultivation, and his farm is 
i-egarded as one of the finest in the county. 
He also owns 120 acres in Glencoe township, 
section 6, chiefly timber and pasture land; 
has sold forty acres of his first purchase. On 
his farms aie found some fine specimens of 
cattle and horses. For the last nine years he 
has been raising shorthorn lialf- breeds. In 
lior.ses bis stock is mixed with Norman and 
Clydesdale. 



Mr. Relibahn was married in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, August 25, 1856, to Katherine, 
daughter of Nick and Maggie (Schuester) 
Wallinger. To them nine children have been 
born, as follows: Maggie, who is now in a 
convent; Nicholas, who died young; Adolph, 
Mary, wife of Michael Gass; Amali, wife of 
Martin Zeller; Peter, who is now in the State 
of Washington; Anna, in the convent at La 
Crosse; and Katherine and Frederick at 
home. 

Politically Mr. Rebhahn affiliates with the 
Democratic party. He has held the ofiice of 
Assessor two terms, of Supervisor three 
terms, and several times has been Road- 
master. He and his family are members of 
the Catholic Church, and be has been trustee 
of the church most of the time since he came 
to the valley. He is regarded as one of the 
substantial citizens of the community in 
which he resides, and is held in high esteem 
by all who know him. 



tYMAN H. WHITNEY, the present 
County Clerk of Trempealeau county, 
was elected to his present office Novem- 
ber 4, 1890, succeeding E. N. Trowbridge. 
He has been a resident of this county since 
July, 1872, at which time he settled at Cor- 
ral City and engaged in general merchandis- 
ing. He continued there until 1874, when 
he came to Whitehall and also established a 
mercantile business, from which he retired in 
1883, purchasing the mill property at Corral 
City, which he has since owned and operated. 
This mill was built by B. G. Wright, in 1877, 
and is a custom flour-mill, located on Pigeon 
creek. 

Mr. Whitney was born in Des Moines 
county, Iowa, in 1840, a son of Clark Whitney 
a pioneer of that county, having emigrated 



706 



BIOGRAPHICAL UISTORT. 



there from the State oP New York. In 1848 
tlie lamily removed to Texas, and to Racine 
county, "Wisconsin, in 1850, where the father 
died in 1855, and the tnotlier is now a resi- 
dent of Merrillon, Jackson county. After the 
death of the father the mother removed to 
Jackson county with her family of three sons 
and two daughters, all of wiiom are now liv- 
ing. Clark Whitney was a millwright by 
trade, which fact led to his son engaging in 
the same businees, which has been his chief 
occupation since the age of seventeen years. 

Lyman H. Whitney was married in Jack- 
son county, Wisconsin, January 1, 1861, to 
Miss Zilpha Wright, a daughter of Benjamin 
ir. Wright, an early settler of that county, 
where he is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Whit- 
ney have four children: Cora, Phelie, Fred 
and Winnie. Mr. Whitney is a well-known 
and esteemed citizen of Trempealeau county. 
Politically, he is a Democrat, and the fact 
that he was elected to a responsible and im- 
portant position by the suffrages of his fellow 
citizens and by a large majority in a county 
that is strongly liepublican, is an evidence of 
the confidence and esteem in which he is re- 
garded by the citizens of this county. In his 
early voting days he was a Republican, cast- 
ing his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 
1860, and again for Lincoln in 1864, hut as 
new issues arose he saw his duty elsewhere, 
and in more recent years has affiliated with 
the Democratic party. 

(YRUS II. CUTTER, M. D., is the phy 
sician and surgeon at Trempealeau, 
where he located in April, 1881, suc- 
ceeding Dr. A. Atwood. The Doctor was 
born in Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, in 
1857, and received his literary education at 
Jennings Seminary, Aurora, and at the Uni- 



versity of Illinois at Champaign. He began 
the study of medicine in 1876, at Oswego, 
under the preceptorship of Dr. G. B. Lester. 
He graduated at Rush Medical College, Chi- 
cago, in March, 1881, and located at Trem- 
pealeau in the year of his graduation. The 
Doctor is a son of Henry C. and Mary (Fox) 
Cutter, the latter a native of the State of 
New York. The parents have lived all their 
married life at Oswego. In November, 1881, 
Dr. Cutter was united in marriage with Miss 
Ilattie Billings, of Oswego, and they have 
three children: Blanche, Cyra, Olga, and 
Marion. 

Dr. Cutter is a gentleman of culture, and 
his professional career has thus far, nearly 
all of which has been passed in Trempealeau 
county, been attended with a marked de- 
gree of success. He is thoroughly educated 
in his profession, for which he possesses a 
natural adaptation. Genial and affable in 
disposition, and of a sympathetic nature, 
qualities essential to the successful physician, 
he has attained to more than ordinary popu- 
larity in his profession. As a citizen he is 
esteemed and respected for his enterprising 
and progressive spirit. 



AUL F. MUELLER, publisher of the 
Buffalo County Republikaner, of Foun- 
tain City, Wisconsin, was born in Han- 
over, Germany. His parents. Otto and 
Einilie (Elkaii) Mueller, were both natives of 
Hanover, the former born August 12, 1822, 
and the latter March 18, 1833, and both are 
deceased. They had three children, Robert, 
Edward and Paul. Robert is consul at Bour- 
deaux, France. Edward died in Chicago in 
1889. Paul F., the youngest, attended school 
in Germany \intil he was seventeen years of 
age, at which time he entered the navy as a 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



707 



soldier, intending to follow that service for 
life. He, however, remained only about two 
years and a lialf, during that period making 
trips to India and China. On account of his 
eyes failing he was obliged to leave the navy, 
and had the choice of going into the army or 
leaving the Government service. He cliose 
tlie latter, and decided to emigrate to the 
United States. He landed at New York 
October 15, 1879, and after remaining there 
awhile went to Chicago, where he lived sev- 
eral years and was for a time employed on 
German newspapers. Leaving Chicago he 
went to Madison, Wisconsin, and secured a 
position in the State Insane Asylum. While 
living there he made a visit to Fountain City, 
and was so ranch pleased with this place that 
he decided to locate here, which he subse- 
quently did. The editor of the Butfalo County 
Republikaner being sick, he assisted him on 
the paper, and after the editor's death Mr. 
Mueller and Mr. John Schmitz purchased the 
plant. They operated it together for a time, 
and then Mr. Mueller purchased his partner's 
interest and has since been its sole proprietor. 
He purchased this interest in October, 1890. 
When Messrs. Mueller & Schmitz became 
proprietors the paper was in a depressed 
financial condition, and it is through Mr. Muel- 
ler's energy and ability that it is in its present 
flourishing condition. The first improvement 
he made was to issue a second edition, called 
the Alma Blaetter. The Bej}ublikanermnkes 
its appearance each Monday, and has a circu- 
lation of about 2,200. It is devoted to the 
interests of its patronage and to the advance- 
ment of the country; in politics it is Demo- 
cratic, but is conservative. In connection 
with the publication of this paper, Mr. Muel- 
ler has established a first-class job ofiice, in 
which department he is securing a liberal 
patronage, extending his business to adjacent 
cities. 



Mr. Mueller was married July 18, 1889, 
at Buffalo City, to Adelheid, daughter of 
William and Charlotte (Koch) Ivan, of Wi- 
nona, Minnesota. They have one child, 
Arthur, born June 4, 1890. 

Mr. Mueller is peculiarly adapted for the 
work of a journalist. He is keen-sighted, 
energetic, and ever alive to the wants of the 
people. He believes in progress and works 
to that end. Thoroughly educated, he is 
cosmopolitan in thought, magnetic in person- 
ality and genial in companionship It is 
fortunate for the people in Buffalo county 
that they liave a man so well versed and able 
to conduct their journal. The advantages of 
such a man to the community can hardly be 
estimated. Mr. Mueller is a member of the 
Lutheran Church. 



=^ 



jjjHINEAS A. WILLIAMS, attorney and 
counselor at law, Whitehall, has been 
engaged in the practice of his profession 
since 1878, or since the county seat was 
established. The attorneys here at that time, 
besides himself, were Otis J. Allen, Samuel 
S. Miller and Carroll Atwood. Mr. Allen 
died here in 1885; Miller was District At- 
torney eight years, a ioember of the Assem- 
bly, and now resides at Rhiiielander, Oneida 
county, Wisconsin; and Atwood was a grad- 
uate of the law school at Madison, and now 
resides at Aberdeen, South Dakota. The 
present attorneys of Whitehall are the sub- 
ject of this sketch and H. A. Anderson. Mr. 
Williams, a representative of one of the early 
families of Trempealeau county, was born in 
Cravvford county, Pennsylvania, November 
22, 1847, a son of Charles Williams, a native 
of New York. He was of Welsii ancestry, 
but the original ancestor of his family came 
to this country previous to the Kevolntionary 



708 



BIOGRAPnWAL HISTORY. 



war. Charles Williams removed with his 
parents to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, 
when twelve years of age. He was three 
times married, his first wife being Prudence 
Randall, a native of Pennsylvania. In 1848 
he removed with his family to Wisconsin 
and settled in Fond du Lac county, where he 
conducted a hoot and shoe store in Rosendale, 
and also owned and opei-ated a farm. In the 
fall of 1856 he removed with his family to 
Trempealeau county, settling on a farm in 
Caledonia township, which he improved. He 
next went to the village of Trempealeau, in 
18G1, where he lived until 1868, and in that 
year returned to Caledonia township and pur- 
chased another farm, where he died in 1888. 
His first wife died in Fond du Lac county in 
1852, after which he returned to Pennsyl- 
vania, where he married his second wife, who 
died in 1865. In 1867 he was again mar- 
ried, in Pennsylvania, and it is a remarkable 
coincidence that he was three times married 
in the village of Haylield, and each time by 
the same Justice of the Peace. The third 
wife still survives her Inishand. 

Mr. Williams was a well-known early set- 
tier of the county, was a quiet man and much 
respected. He had two children by his first 
wife, Phineas A., our subject, and James, 
who resides with his brother in Whitehall. 
The eldest child by the second marriage was 
Eli, who was drowned from the steamer 
Tiber, in a trip up the Mississippi river, in 
1884, at the age of twenty- three years. A 
daughter, Clara, also by the second marriage, 
is now the wife of Richard Clark, of Flan- 
derean. Minnesota. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
the common and graded schools of Trempea- 
leau, and was for some time a student at 
Ripon College. Ho began the study of law 
in 1875, and was for some time a student in 
the ofhce of O. J. Allen, with whom he 



formed a partnership in 1878, which con- 
tinued until 1883, since which time he has 
been alone. He was married to Miss Frances 
Southworth, a daughter of Joseph D. South- 
worth, who came to Trempealeau county in 
1858 and settled at Coral City. Mr. and 
Mrs. Williams have one son, Ray R.. born at 
Coral City. August 13, 1876. Politically 
Mr. Williams is a Republican, casting his 
first presidential vote for Grant in 1872. He 
is a man of fine ability as a lawyer, and well- 
known throughout Trempealeau county, of 
which he has been so long a resident. 

APTAIN JOHN D. LEWIS, of the 
town of Arcadia, deserves prominent 
mentioti in this work as one of the 
well-known citizens of Trempealeau county. 
His residence and farm are on sections 7 and 
8, town 21, range 9 west, where he settled in 
1866. Captain Lewis was borri in Madison 
county, New York, February 19. 1828, a son 
of Morgan Lewis. The family in America 
is of Welsh ancestry, the ancestors of the 
family having been among the early settlers 
of the Connecticut colony. Two brothers of 
the Lewis family emigrated from Connecticut 
at an early day and settled in the State of 
New York. The paternal grandfather (for 
whom our subject was named), was a soldier 
in the war of 1812 and was mortally wounded 
at the battle of Sackett's Harbor. Morgan 
Lewis was born June 29, 1805, married 
Lydia Comstock, and died at the place of his 
birth July 1, 1855, having just passed his 
fiftieth year. The mother, who was born 
July 17, 1805, now lives with her son in the 
town of Arcadia. Captain Lewis was the 
eldest of a family of five children, which con- 
sisted of three sons and two daujihters, all of 
whom arc living. The second of the family, 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



709 



Alonzo, is a resident of Minnesota; Josephine 
is the wife of Edward Elkin, of Watertown, 
South Dakota; Theodore is also a resident of 
Minnesota; Frances is the widow of Daniel 
Searight and resides in Arcadia. The subject 
of this sketch grew to manhood in his native 
place and passed the years 1847 and 1848 
near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but returnino; to 
the Empire State was married to Charlotte 
Mayberry, sister of C. G. Mayberry, a prom- 
inent architect of Winona. On the 8tli of 
July, 1854, Captain Lewis started West for 
the purpose of founding a permaennt loca- 
tion, his destination being Minnesota On 
reaching Downer's Grove, Illinois, he re- 
mained for a few days with a friend named 
Linus Randall, a blacksmith by occupation, 
who accompanied him to Winona. There 
Captain Lewis remained during that fall, 
engaged at his trade, that of carpentry. 
Late in the season he went to Fountain City, 
Buffalo county, for the purpose of securing 
work. At that place he met Edward Lees, 
and together they went up to Waumandee 
valley for the purpose of locating land. Cap- 
tain Lewis making a selection about four 
miles from Fountain City. Soon after he 
was engaged by Bishop & Carpenter to plan 
and erect a sawmill at Fountain City and 
took up his residence at that place in Janu- 
ary, 1855, and his wife having arrived in 
Winona soon after his arrival at that place 
they now took up their residence near Foun- 
tain City, for a time occupying a shanty 
which he erected. Mr. Lewis superintended 
the construction of the mill above referred 
to, which he completed the following July, 
and also operated the mill until it got into 
good working order, and he built a dwelling 
from the first lumber sawed by the mill. 
Captain Lewis was appointed Sheriff of Buf- 
falo county, September 2, 1856, by Governor 
Coles Bashford, to fill the unexpired term of 



Jesse Trueman, deceased. In 1858 he was 
elected Clerk of the county, and filling that 
position very acceptably was re-elected, hold- 
ing the office five years. He was largely 
instrumental in raising the Buffalo Rifle 
Company (which was one of the earliest 
organizations for service in the civil war 
raised in this State) and on its organization 
was elected First Lieutenant, his commission 
from Governor Randall bearing the date of 
April 30, 1861. He served on the Potomac 
in that command until the last of December 
of that year, when he received a recruiting 
commission from Governor Randall and was 
for some time engaged in the recruiting ser- 
vice. Later he received a commissi(jn from 
Governor Lewis which authorized him to 
recruit for the Forty-eighth Regiment Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and he accord- 
ingly raised a company which became Com- 
pany H of that regiment, of which he was 
placed in command, his commisssion bearing 
the date of March 29, 1865, and his dis- 
charge March 24, 1866. His duty was a 
laborious and responsible one, and his health 
was much broken by his service in the army. 
During the summer of 1865 he marched 
with his command over 1,400 miles, his field 
of operations being in Kansas, and in the 
fall of that year the command took up quar- 
ters at Fort Lyon, Colorado. Returning to 
Fountain City at the close of his term of 
military service, he soon after went to Trem- 
pealeau county, and took up from the Gov- 
ernment the land where he now i-esides, which 
was then wild and new, and erected the first 
house in this valley and made the first road. 
Captain Lewis and wife have nine children, 
six sons and three daughters: Louis Kossuth, 
the eldest son, is engaged in the insurance 
business at Huron, South Dakota; Clive, the 
second son, is at home; De Los is in Mon- 
tana; Adelbert resides in the town of Arcadia, 



710 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



and Archie is still at home. The eldest 
daughter, Inez, is the wife of John Burt, of 
Iron Kiver, Michirran; Blanche is the wife of 
Frank Ducker, of Iron River, Michigan; and 
Gertrude is the wife of John Busby, of 
Arcadia. Captain Lewis is one of the best 
known citizens of West Wisconsin, where he 
lias lived so long and honorably, and has 
ever been identified with the growth and 
development of the county. Besides the 
offices of County Clerk and Sheriff which he 
held in the early days, he has held many 
local offices, having been chairman of the 
town board of Arcadia for three terms and 
its Assessor for six years. In his earliest 
voting days Captain Lewis was a Democrat, 
but voted for Fremont, the first Republican 
candidate for President, and continued a 
Republican until the Garfield campaign of 
1880, since which time he has been inde- 
pendent in his political sentiments. He is a 
man of large and varied reading and possesses 
much general information. He has for many 
years given much attention to the study of 
geology and is an acknowledged authority on 
the geological formation of Wisconsin. He 
was employed for two years in the United 
States Geological Survey in the Lake Supe- 
rior regions, and has a large and valuable 
collection of geological specimens. 

l - l ' ^ ' l^ "" 



jLEXANDER McGILVRAY, deceased, 
one of the early and well-known set- 
tlers of the town of Gale, was born in 
Inverness, Scotland, July 15, 1804. He emi- 
grated to Nova Scotia and thence to Canada, 
and thence to Portage, Wisconsin, in 1851. 
In 1852 he came to Trempealeau county, and 
was followed in June, 1853, by his family. 
He entered the land now owned and occupied 
liy his son, Gilbert I. McGiJvray, and estab- 



lished a ferry across Black river, which he 
operated until his death, June 17, 1887. 

He married, in Canada, Catherine Rankin, 
and had five sons and a daughter. The sons 
are all living. Gilbert I. McGilvray has 
operated the ferry since his father's death. 



ENJAMIN FRANKLIN GIPPLE is a 
descendant of the Palantine Mennonites, 
exiles from Canton Aargau, Switzerland. 
The family, with many others, to escape a re- 
lentless persecution, fled from Aargau to 
Offenbiirg, Middle Baden, and on the revo- 
cation in 1685 of the Edict of Nantes by 
Louis XIV of France they removed to Alsace 
for the same cause. Again, on the cession of 
Alsace to France upon the treaty of Ryswick 
in 1697, they went to Holland for protection 
and a refuge under the mild rule of William 
of Orange, where they enjoyed religious 
freedom. From Rotterdam they emigrated 
to the Province of Pennsylvania, North 
America, by way of Plymouth, England, on 
the brigantine Richmond and Elizabeth, 
Christopher Ciymeii, master, and arrived at 
Philadelphia in 1733. The name was for- 
merly spelled Geibbel: the reason for the 
change is not apparent, unless it is one of 
those Americanisms that so often have their 
origin in the transit from one language to 
another. The family settled in the locality 
of what is now the village of Manheim, Lan- 
caster county, I'ennsylvania. 

Th'i father of the subject of this sketch, 
Conrad L. Gipple, of the sixth generation 
from the advent of the family in Pennsyl- 
vania, married Elizabeth Summy, eldest 
daughter of Jacol> Summy. In 1825 they 
moved to Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, 
where Benjamin F. was born, April 26, 1828. 
A year or two later the father moved his 



BIOGRAPHICAL EI STOUT. 



711 



family to Lancaster, Erie county, where five 
years afterward be met bis death while assist- 
ing to raise the Presbyterian church in the 
village of Lancaster. His yountr wife, with 
five small children, was thus suddenly left to 
fight the battle of life alone. The members 
of the church made little if indeed any effort 
to assist, even in the matter of harvesting 
her meager crops. Winter came on to find 
her with but a few bushels of buckwheat 
to serve as bread for herself and children, 
and suffering from the want of the com- 
mon necessaries of life followed This in- 
difference on the part of professed Chris- 
tians claiming to be governed by a Di\ ine 
law, which defines religion pure and undetiled 
before God the Father, to visit the widow and 
the fatherless in their affliction, made a pro- 
found impression on the sou in after and 
maturer years. The Pennsylvanians in those 
early times adhered with great tenacity to the 
mother tongue, and for many years they 
would not permit a child to address its par- 
ents in the English language. When, there- 
fore, our subject at an early age was sent to 
the common district school, he was as igno- 
rant of this language as a new-born babe, and 
the want of this important accomplishment 
seemed to him to impress his teacher with the 
brilliant idea that 

Wer sprecht nur deutsch, 
Braucht gewiss die peitsche. 

At all events the teacher proceeded to enrich 
his tender German mind in rudi mental Eng- 
lish by a vigorous use of the inductive 
method, from behind, posteriori. Common 
schools in those primitive times were indeed 
common enough, and the teachers employed 
were usually large, muscular fellows, noted 
more from their pugilistic attaiiiments than 
intellectual culture. They were equipped 
with a brawny pair of fists, a birchen gad, 
i'errule, and a two-bladed knife, — the former 



to sharpen the wits of the pupil, and the 
latter to sharpen their goose-quill pens. The 
state of affairs between teacher and the "big 
boys," when not in actual confiict, was that of 
an armed neutrality, each constantly on the 
alert, and when the conflict came, as it often 
did, the floor would be overlaid with books, 
ferrules, broken gads, tufts of hair, overturned 
benches and table, "like autumnal leaves that 
strew the brooks of Vallambrosa." The in- 
junction of that wisest of men. King Solo- 
mon, "spare the rod and spoil the child," was 
burned as it were into their very souls. They 
believed that by a vigorous use of brute 
force, the young mind could be compelled to 
accomplish anything. The Bible had a place 
on the desk of the teacher, from which a 
chapter was daily read, but it coming to his 
knowledge that some of the precocious boys 
were calling the attention of the girls to 
portions of the inspired volume, which re- 
cited the adventures of calculating Tamar, 
the acts of sportive David, or the odoriferous 
menu vouchsafed to turbulent Ezekiel, they 
(the boys) were soundly flogged, and the Bible 
placed under lock and key, to be brought out 
again next term. Notwithstanding what is 
here said touching the crudeness of the dis- 
trict schools in tliose early days, they were, 
nevertheless, a potent factor in our civiliza- 
tion, and under the spur of a progressive age 
and scientific attainments in the art of teach- 
ing they have gradually attained a higher 
standard. 

At the age of len years Benjamin F. was 
hired out to work on a farm, which was re- 
peated yearly thereafter until he attained the 
age of seventeen years, when he was given in 
charge of a Mr. Stephen Buck, to learn the 
carpenter's trade. After serving an appren- 
ticeship of three years, he followed the voca- 
tion of a carpenter fifteen or twenty years. 
At the tender age of ten years, while in the 



712 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOHY. 



employ of a zealous deacon, who with others 
of his kind, takino- advanta<je of a revival 
then in progress, bringing to bear those 
questionable high-pressure methods so often 
employed, he was persuaded to unite with the 
Christian church, from which, in riper years, 
after a thorough investigation of the origin 
and history of the various religions of the 
world, he withdrew. In his twenty. second 
year he was married to Mary Ann Snure, a 
daughter of John Snure, Esq., of I'elham, 
Canada AVest: he then settled on his farm in 
Lancaster, New York. In the tall of 1853 
he wa? employed by the Erie Company, who 
had purchased real estate on Seventh street, 
near the Soldiers' Home, Washington, Dis- 
trict of ('olumbia, to take charge in the 
building of a number of residences which 
the company were about to erect. In the 
fall of 1856 he sold his farm in Lancaster, 
and moved his family to Houston county, 
Minnesota, where he pursued his trade, act- 
ing meantime in the capacity of Justice of 
the Peace, to whicli office he was elected the 
year following. 

In the summer of 1859 a well, which was 
being dug by his friend and neighbor, J. B. 
Ames, after going through clay to the depth 
of fifty feet and then striking sand, began to 
cave, the clay part above remaining in place. 
The laborers becoming frightened abandoned 
the well. Mr. Gipple, desiring to assist his 
friend, went down for the purpose of curbing 
it: while at work several tons of clay broke 
loose and came down with a crash. A large 
crowil of people soon gathered about the well, 
but no one had the courage to descend, as it 
was supposed to be an extremely hazardous 
undertaking. At this juncture appeared 
Norman "Webster, a brother Mason, and in 
after years an officer of the celebrated Foster 
Ratter}', who, without hesitating a moment 
and at the risk of his life, let himself down 



into the well, and vigorously commenced the 
work of removing the clay from the impris- 
oned victim. This done, the rope was fas- 
tened around the body under the arms, word 
was given by Webster to hoist away. Mr. 
Gipple was laid upon an improvised door. 
Investigation developed a compound fracture 
of the right leg at the knee, a fracture of the 
right arm, and dislocation of the wrist of 
the same, besides other injuries of a minor 
nature. This accident rendered all manual 
labor impossible for a year, and forever dis- 
abled him from the pursuit of his trade. 

When he had sufficiently recovered, his 
friend Ames started a store in- the village of 
Iliceford, Houston county, Minnesota, and 
placed him in charge of the same. A year 
later Mr. Ames moved his business to Browns- 
ville, the river town of Houston county, 
where, August 6, 1862, after a short illness, 
Mrs. Gipple died, leaving him alone with 
dve children, viz.: John L., George W., Etta 
E., Ella E. and Charles. After this sad event, 
he secured a situation as salesman with Mons 
Anderson, at La Crosse, Wisconsin, whei-e he 
remained eleven years, receiving a salary 
ranging from $6 to $18. The position of 
salesman in a large concern like that of Mons 
Anderson, where each is numbered, and his 
value depends on general ability and the 
amount of his sales, is by no means a sine- 
cure. Thousands of boys desert the farm to 
seek what in their ignorance they believe to 
be an easy life behind the counter. Vain 
delusion! the road to success as a salesman is 
arduous and dotted with failures. An accu- 
rate account is kept of the work of each, which 
leads to a constant struggle for sales, and this 
causes strife, contention, and sometimes 
blows. Years before, foreseeing that the 
Scandinavians were coming to be an import- 
ant factor in the population of our new 
Western States, Mr. Gipple had taken ])aiQS 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



713 



to learn their language, and this, with his 
mother tongue, and a limited knowledge of 
French, gave him great advantage over puch 
of his fellows as could speak but English. 
This, coupled with a vigorous deteruiiuation 
to get to the front, assured success. It is, he 
trusts, with pardonable pride that he looks 
back upon a record of eleven years which 
show that after the first month the amount of 
his sales were never excelled by his fellows. 
As an illustration of the enormous sales at 
about the close of the civil war, in the year 
1865, his sales were $27,750. 

After coming to La Crosse he was twice 
drafted and twice attempted to enlist in the 
late war, but was rejected on account of the 
injuries received in the well. 

June 2, 1865, he was married to Emily R. 
Eradshaw, of Delphi, Indiana. From this 
union there are four children: Benjamin F., 
Jr., Albert A., William B. and Mary A. In 
1872, Mr. Gipple commenced business in the 
dry-goods line, on his own account, in La 
Crosse, and soon afterward formed a partner- 
ship with Mr. C. Curtis, and a year later 
Gipple &, Curtis formed a co-partnership with 
the Montello Woolen Mills Company, Mon- 
tello, Wisconsin, under the name of 13. F. 
Gipple & Co., with a capital of $30,000. 
This venture proved unfortunate; in less than 
six months Mr. Gipple was left penniless, 
having to borrow money to get his family 
back to La Crosse. In 1878, through the 
generosity of business men of this city, he 
was again placed on his feet, and opened a 
general store at North Bend, Jackson county, 
Wisconsin, where he was soon afterward ap- 
pointed Postmaster by President Grant, which 
office he tilled for ten years, at the same time 
acting also as Justice of the Peace. lie was 
instrumental in starting an Odd Fellows 
lodge at that place, known as North Bend 
Lodge, No. 291, I. O. O. F., and was Noble 



Grand of this lodge several terms, often rep- 
resenting the same at the Grand Lodge. In 
1866-'67 he served as one of the committee 
On legislation in the Grand Lodge, of the 
State of Wisconsin, and afterward served two 
terms as District Deputy Grand Master. In 
February, 1888, he resigned the oti^ce of 
Postmaster, and for the purpose of better 
school facilities moved his family to Gales- 
ville, Wisconsin, where, in the spring follow- 
ing, he was elected Police Justice, and still 
holds this office. 

This sketch would be incomplete without 
mention of one between whom and himself 
there existed for some years the most inti- 
mate social relations. While at North Bend 
he became acquainted with a most remarkable 
man, in the person of James M. Pryse, a 
Presbyterian clergyman, a profound scholar, 
possessed with a wonderful fund of general 
knowledge, liberal in his theological views 
and a genial companion. This acquaintance 
ripened into a warm friendship, which con- 
tinued to the hour of his death, March 13, 
1891. In the death of this excellent man, 
who had stamped him.self on his mind and 
affections, Mr. Gipple sustained an irrepar- 
able loss. How wonderful events crowd 
apace in sixty four short years! At the 
date of the birth of the subject of this sketch, 
John Quincy Adams was in the middle of 
his presidential term, and since that time 
twenty-four of his successors have exercised 
their executive functions, meantime eighteen 
States have been added to the Union, and the 
population of tiie United States has grown 
from 12,000,000 to 65,000,000. 



la 



TEPHEN RICHMOND, a prominent 
representative of the bar of Trempea- 
leau county, has been engaged in the 
practice of law at Arcadia since September, 



714 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



1879. He was born at Louisville, St. Law- 
rence county. New York, in 1848, a son of 
John Richmond, who was born in the city of 
York, Eiif^land, in 1811, and came to America 
at the age of sixteen years. He settled at 
Madrid, New York, and later at Louisville, 
in the same State. He was married at the 
former place to Margaret Hoy, who was born 
in Dublin, Ireland, in 18 13, and who came to 
America when fourteen years of age. The 
father died in 1867, and the mother is still 
living. They were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, eight sons and one daughter, and seven 
of the former and the daughter are still living, 
viz.: Francis is the eldest surviving brother 
of the family; William II. was Second Lieu- 
tenant in the war of the Rebellion, in the 
One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment 
New York Volunteer Infantry; John also 
served in the war of the Rebellion, in the 
same regiment; P. E. Richmond, M. D., 
graduated at the Magill College, Montreal, 
and now resides at Mount Pleasant, Michi- 
gan, as do all the brothers mentioned above; 
Henry is a merchant tailor at the same place; 
Hannah, the wife of Charles Rutherford, re- 
sides at the old home in St. Lawrence county. 
New York; and the youngest, Dr. James 
Richmond, graduated at the College of Phy- 
sicians and Surgeons, Chicago, and is now a 
practicing physician of Black River Falls. 

Stephen Richmond, our subject, received 
his early education at the public schools, and 
his later literary instruction was obtained at 
Waddington liigh school, at Lawrence 
Academy, Potsdam, New York, and at the 
Normal School at the same place. He taught 
several terms of scl^ool in the State of New 
York, and in September, 1870, he came to 
Trempealeau county. He was for a number 
of years engaged in the same occupation in 
Steele county, Minnesota, but afterward re- 
turned to Wisconsin and taught a select 



school on Trempealeau Prairie. From 1873 
to 1878 he was Principal of the Galesville 
public school, and in the latter year he came 
to Arcadia and engaged in the same capacity. 
Mr. Richmond had began the study of law in 
1871, which he pursued at intervals during 
his teaching career, and in 1879 he was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and in September of that 
year l)egan practice. The schools of Arcadia 
being at that time without a principal, Mr. 
Richmond was induced to resume that po- 
sition, and in November, 1879, he was elected 
Superintendent of the Schools in Trempealeau 
county, but two years later he resumed the 
practice of law. 

He was married at Centerville in 1871, to 
Miss Ida Merwin, a sister of William, George 
and James Merwin of Trempealeau county, 
and they have three sons and two daughters. 
Mr. Richmond is a prominent member of 
tlie bar, and his career as an educator. School 
Superintendent and lawyer have rendered 
him well known throughout Trempealeau 
and other counties. Politically, he is a Demo- 
crat, and is the present Chairman of the Demo- 
cratic County Committee, a position he has 
tilled since 1882, and has also been a member 
of the State Central Committee for a number 
of years, and is Chairman of the Congres- 
sional Committee of the Seventh district. He 
is well known in political circles, and in the 
fall of 1890 he visited various parts of the 
State in the interests of the party that he 
represents. Mr. Richmond has an extensive 
and increasing professional practice. 

,USTIN O. WHITE, of Alma, and at 
present Registrar of Deeds, was born 
in Modena township, Buffalo county, 
Wisconsin, January 6, 1861, and is the son 
of David and Mary (Ettle) White. His 



BIOGRAPHICAL HTSTORF. 



715 



father was born in Allegheny connty, Penn- 
sylvania, August 15, 1820, and bis mother 
was a native of Germany, born January 1, 
1827. Wlien a child she came to the United 
States with her parents. David White is a 
farmer by occupation, and is still living at 
the old homestead in Modena township. To 
this worthy couple were born fourteen chil- 
dren, viz.: George, Mary Ann, who was the 
wife of John De Bois, and is now deceased; 
Martha, now Mrs. Von Wald, of Dakota; 
Matilda, now Mrs. Ephraim Butler; Samuel, 
William M., John H.. Richard M., Austin 
O., Charles, Ettie, now Mrs. Malcora McGil- 
frey; Marcellus, Daniel, and David, Jr. All 
are living except George, Mary Ann, Samuel 
and Charles. George was a member of the 
Twenty-filth Wisconsin Infantry. 

Austin O. was the second white child born 
in Modena township. He was reared on the 
farm, assisting his father and attending the 
public schools. His father is a Republican 
in politics and an influential citizen of his 
township, though be has never sought public 
place.s. After he was twenty-one years of 
age Mr. Wiiite began to learn the carpenter's 
trade, and worked at that trade two years. 
He was subsequently engaged as agent for 
Rockwell & Hufling in selling agricultural 
machinery fur one season. He then returned 
to farming, which business he continued up 
to the spring of 1891. He was nominated 
in the fall of 1890, by the Democratic con- 
vention, as a candidate for Registrar of 
Deeds, and was elected, being installed Janu- 
ary 5, 1891. Previous to this he was Clerk 
of his township for three years, and was 
clerk of the school board for seven years. 

He was married June 10, 1883, at Alma, 
to Miss Ida, daiigliter of Oren and Mary E. 
(Benedict) Rockwell. They are of New 
England stock, coming to Wisconsin from 
Massachusetts some time in the '60s and 




locating at Modena, where they now live. 
To Mr. and Mrs. White have been given two 
children, Harry B. and Hugh. The latter 
died in infancy. 

Through his own exertions and by the 
faithful discharge of the duties intrusted to 
him, Mr. White has won his way to the 
front. He is thoroughly qualified for the 
honorable position he holds among the peo- 
ple of his native county, and is highly re- 
garded by them. He is one of the rising 
young men of tiie county, whose future is 
assured. 



ILLIAM J. FARBER, of Arcadia, 
was born in Clinton county. New 
York, February 17, 1834. His father, 
John Farber, a native of Nova Scotia, moved 
to New York when a boy, and there he grew 
to manhood and married Mary Buck, a native 
of Connecticut. He died in 1890, but the 
mother is still living. William J. Farber is 
one of a family of seven children, three s<ms 
and four daughters, and is the eldest of the 
family. The second in order of birth, John 
L. Farber, was at one time president of Gales- 
ville University, but is now in the ministry, 
being located at Renville, Minnesota. Well- 
ington Farber is a resident of the Empire 
State. The sisters are Jane, Mary, Nancy 
and Lydia. The subject of this biographical 
sketch received a good education in his native 
State, and at the age of seventeen years com- 
menced to teach, following that occupation in 
the winter season. For six years previous to 
the breaking out of the war he was engaged 
in a starch factory, which he assisted in build- 
ing, but when the war broke out he left his 
home and occupation and enlisted, August 
31, 1862, in Company C, Second New York 
Cavalry, then in conrmand of Colonel Kil- 



71f. 



BIOORAPHIUAL HISTORY. 



patrick, who afterwards becjyne the famous 
General Kilpatrick. Mr. Farher acted as 
Chaplain for about six weeks, owing to the 
death of the regular chaplain, and was fol- 
lowed in that capacity by the celebrated writer 
E. P. Roe, and soon after was appointed to 
the dangerous and responsible position of dis- 
patch-hearer. Near the old Arlington Place 
in Virginia, while conveying dispatches, Mr. 
Farber was so severely injured by a fall of 
his liorse, which, becoming scared, reared and 
fell over upon him, that he was totally in- 
capacitated for further service and received 
his discharge, soon after which he came to 
Trempealeau county, where he had friends 
living, and as soon as sufficiently recovered 
he engaged in teaching, which occupation he 
followed very successfully for twenty-one 
years. He discontinued teaching in 1886, 
after having spent the greater part of his life 
as student and teacher. He has ever taken a 
deep interest in the cause of education and 
progress of schools in this part of the State, 
and they owe much of their excellence to him 
who spent the best years of his life as an 
educator. Pie is a well-educated and refined 
gentleman, and merits the esteem of all. 



^1- 



^ANS ALFRED ANDERSON, of White- 
hall, attorney and counselor at law, 
came to Trempealeau county in 1868. 
He was born in Norway, March 4, 1855. 
His father, Andrew Olseii, died when his 
son, the subject of this sketch, was yuung. 
The mother remarried and in 1868 came to 
America with her husband and children- 
The family came at once to the town of 
Pigeon, Trempealeau county, but soon after 
moved to Jackson county. Being of a studi- 
ous turn of mind and ambitious to obtain a 
knowledge of English studies, he had in his 



leisure hours succeeded in obtaining a very 
limited knowledge, and at the age of twenty- 
one years obtained a certificate to teach. 
This privilege was granted by the superin- 
tendent of schools without an examination, 
the ofdcial basing his opinion of the ability 
of the young man to teach on a general con- 
versation he had with him. Mr. Anderson 
at this time had never studied English gram- 
mar, and was very deficient in other branches 
taught in the schools, but he now set about 
studying in earnest and for seven 3'ear8 was 
both teacher and student. In the meantime, 
however, he had visited other portions of the 
country, having spent two summers in Ne- 
braska and one in Dakota. 

Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Oline 
Frestad, a native of Norway, who came to 
America at the age of eighteen years with 
her parents. 

In the spring of 1884 he came to White- 
hall for the purpose of studying law, but by 
an interruption he was variously engaged for 
about three years. He graduated, liowever, 
at the State University at Madison, in June, 
1888. In the fall of that year he was elected 
District Attorney of that county, in which 
position he served very acceptably for two 
years, when he was succeeded by G. T. Free- 
man, of Galesville. He now devotes his 
attention exclusively to law. 

There were also three children by the sec- 
ond marriage of the mother, when the family 
came to America. There are now five of the 
latter. 

In his political afhliations Mr. Anderson 
is a Prohibitionist, being an enemy to the 
saloon system in all its forms. He takes a 
deep interest in educational matters, is an 
extensive and varied reader and has one of 
the finest private libraries in Trempealeau 
county. The family of Mr. Andersen, while 
residents of Norway, were in very poor cir- 





^ ^ ^/j^^w<^^ 



/^?w 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



717 



cumstances financially, but the motlier was a 
woman of much energy and force of charac- 
ter, and was desirous of taking lier children 
to America where better advantages micrht be 
secured. She had no money to consiiminate 
this object, but succeeded in borrowing 
enough of a relative to pay the passage of the 
family to the United States. When they ar- 
rived at Milwaukee the money was entirely 
exhausted and they were strangers in a strange 
land. Their destination was Trempealeau, 
and they succeeded, by leaving their goods as 
security, to secure passage to Trempealeau. 
The family were accordingly forwarded to 
La Crosse, where they took the steamer War 
Eagle to Winona. They were entirely desti- 
tute of food, but a colored man on the boat 
learned of their condition and furnished them 
with food. They should have stopped at 
Trempealeau, but by mistake were taken on 
to Winona. There they received food and 
several dollars in money from the citizens 
and finally reached their destination. There 
was one man in Trempealeau county whom 
the family knew and he resided in the town 
of Pigeon, and to that place they went on 
foot, two of the children being so young that 
they were carried by older members of the 
family. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have six 
children, two boys and four girls: Lillie, 
Rosa, George, Myrtle, Olive and William. 
They lost two children: Willie at four and a 
half years, and another boy in early infancy. 



^-^i/xn/h- 



-^ifiru^^^ 



IHARLES RICHARD BECHMANN, 
a member of the firm of Bechmann & 
Son. Fountain City, Wisconsin, was 
born in Weltwitz, Saxony, February 17, 
1857, eldest son of Henry and Wilhelmina 
Bechmann. He was quite young when he 
came to this country, and was reared and 

47 



educated in Fountain City. In 1872 he 
was apprenticed to G. G. Oppliger to learn 
the drug business, remaining with him until 
1876. He then went to Chicago and entered 
the Chicago College of Pharmacy, where he 
graduated in 1879. After completing his 
course of study he spent two years in that 
city, the first with Professor Garrison, and 
the other with Professor Bartlett, having 
charge of the latter's store. He then re- 
turned home, and, in partnership with his 
father, purchased the drug business of G. G. 
Oppliger, which he still conducts. He served 
one year as village clerk, and has the distinc- 
tion of having been the first Mayor of 
Fountain City. He was again nominated for 
Mayor in the spring of 1892, contrary to his 
wishes, and was elected without opposition. 
He is a member of the Wisconsin State 
Board of Pharmacy, and occupies the honor- 
able position of pi-esident of the same. 

Mr. Bechmann was married at Fountain 
City, April 15, 1882, to Ottilia, daughter of 
Fred and Sophia Hepp, pioneers of this place. 
To them were born three children: Leonora 
A., Flora W. and Charles F. Mrs. Bech- 
mann died November 22, 1890. She was a 
consistent member of the Catliolic Cliurch, 
and Mr. Bechmann is a member of the 
Lutheran Church. 

-^'■♦§*>»f^'-~ 



if^ O N. G E O RG E H. MARKHAM, of 
Independence, was born in Yorkshire, 
England, in 1837, a son of John Mark- 
ham. The latter was a commander in the 
English navy for many years, from which 
lie retired, on half pay, in 1883, on account 
of declining health. He was a Lieutenant in 
the navy when Napoleon was confined at St. 
Helena, and his vessel was stationed there, 
guarding the island, when that famous pris- 



718 



BIOOliAPHlCAL BISTORT. 



oner was confined there. He was born in 
1797, and entered the navy at the aj^e of 
thirteen years as a cadet, rising gradually to 
the position of Commodore. About 1838 
the family removed to France, thence to the 
island of Guernsey in 1846, and ten years 
later to the United States, coming directly to 
Columbia, Wisconsin, where they remained 
while George H. came to Trempealeau county 
and located land, on which the family settled 
in 1857. The family that caine to this county 
consisted of the parents and two sons. The 
father's health was poor, and after coming to 
Wisconsin he lived a retired life until his 
death, which occurred in October, 1870. In 
his earlier life he was a man of great energy 
and ability, and as has already been seen rose 
to a high rank in tlie British navy. About 
1833 he received a sunstroke while at Vera 
Cruz, Mexico, and was never afterward able 
to do active duty. The children of Commo- 
dore Markham and wife consisted of four 
brothers who grew to mature years: John, 
the eldest, was in the consular service in Eng- 
land for many year.<, and died at Shanghai, 
China, while consul in that place, in 1871; 
George II. is the next in order of birth; 
Arthur A., whose farm adjoins that of his 
brother, was the ne.\t in order of age; and 
the youngest, Albert Hastings, is in the Brit- 
ish navy. He entered the navy at the age 
of thirteen years, and has risen by virtue of 
ability and faithfulness to duty to his present 
high position. He has seen much important 
service, and had tiie honor of being com- 
mander of the Alert in the famous Sir George 
Wares' exjtedition to the Arctic regions in 
1875-'76. In that famous exploration he 
commanded the sledge expedition which 
penetrated the latitude 83% 20', 26", or 
within 399^ miles of the North Pole, the 
farthest point North which at that time 
had ever been attained, and has never 



been exceeded except by Lockwood, of the 
Greely expedition. Previous to this time 
Admiral Markham accompanied a whaling 
expedition on the Artie, commanded by Cap- 
tain Adams, his object' being to study ice and 
navigation. In this expedition he discovered 
and rescued the crew of the Polaris. He has 
made many other important voyages, and 
has written books descriptive of them. They 
include the following: " Cruise of the Rosa- 
rio;" '-A Whaling Cruise to Baffin's Bay 
and the Gulf of Boothia, and an Account of 
the Rescue of the Crew of the Polaris;" "The 
Great Frozen Sea;" "Northward, Ho!" "A 
Polar Reconnoissance." His last and one of 
his most important works is the " Life of Sir 
John Franklin." 

George H. Markham and his brother 
Arthur improved the land that the former 
located in 1856, and continued to reside 
together at the homestead until quite re- 
cently, when the land was divided, and they 
are now living separately. George H. has a 
fine farm of 480 acres, his home is beautifully 
situated, and he and his wife are surrounded 
by the comforts and blessings of life, the fruit 
of their own industry. Mr. Markham has 
ever taken an active part in the growth and 
prosperity of Trempealeau county, has served 
in the Legislature of Wisconsin in 1879, 
during which time he was Chairman of the 
Committee on Engrossed Bills, was the first 
Clerk of Burnside township, has been Chair- 
man of the township a number of times, was 
Town Treasui-er fourteen consecutive years, 
and has been Village Treasurer since Inde- 
pendence was incorporated. Politically he is 
a Republican, and has voted for every Repub- 
lican candidate since the organization of that 
party. 

Mr. Markham was married, October 8, 
1862, to Miss Fannie M. Bishop, a daughter 
of Dr. Edmund Bishop, who was born in 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



riy 



Ohio, January 9, 1818. He removed to In- 
diana early in life, and in 1840 was married to 
Miss Minerva Shelby. From Indiana he 
went to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, in 
1854, tiience to Fountain City, where he was 
one of the first settlers, and then to Portao-e 
City. He practiced medicine in early life, 
but subsequently left the profession and 
engaged in other business. Deciding to 
again enter the profession he went from 
Fountain City to Chicago, took a course of 
lectures at the Rush Medical College, and 
then located at Portage City, where he 
resumed practice. That place was his home 
until his death, altliough he died at Galva, 
Illinois, while on a visit, September 20, 1865. 
Mrs. Markham's mother died when she was 
but eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mark- 
ham have one son, George A., who was born 
May 7, 1865. He was educated at the State 
Normal School at Winona and at Galesville 
University, and is now editor of the Independ- 
ence News and The Wave. Mr. Markham 
is one of the representative citizens of Trem- 
pealeau county, has ever taken a deep interest 
in promoting the growth and prosperity of 
of the comuiu»ity in which he lives, and is 
esteemed as an enterprising citizen. 



^ 



[ERA ATWOOD is an early settler of 
the town of Trempealeau, the date 
of his arrival being June 3, 1856. He 
entered 120 acres of land. His present farm 
is located on sections 1, 18 and 10. Mr. 
Atwood is a native of Vermont, being born 
in the town of Leicester, Addison county, in 
1829. His father, Seba Atwood, Sr., was a 
native of Warwick, Franklin county, Massa- 
chusetts. He was a soldier of the war of 
1812, and his father, Isaac Atwood, the pa- 
ternal grandfather of the subject of this 



sketch, fought for the independence of the 
colonies in the \yar of the Revolution. The 
mother of Mr. Atwood was Eliza (Benjamin) 
Atwood. In 1852 Seba Atwood, Sr., re- 
moved from the State of New York to Dodge 
county, Wisconsin, where the wife and mother 
died, and later the father removed to Fond 
du Lac county, where he spent the remainder 
of his life. They were the parents of seven 
children who grew to mature years, six sons 
and a daughter. All are living except the 
daughter. The subject of this notice resided 
in Dodge county for about two years, tlien 
went to Marquette count}', coming to Trem- 
pealeau county as stated in 1856. He married 
in the State of New York, Caroline Bugbee. 
They have a daughter, Carrie M., and an 
adopted son, George Edward. 



--^■uxn/i,- 



-^Ifinr.^^ 



AMUEL BAKR, who resides on section 
32, Trempealeau county, was born in 
Madison county, New York, in 1818, a 
son of James Barr, who died when Samuel 
was but four years of age. The mother sur- 
vived her luisband many years, dying when 
her son was twenty years old. There are but 
two surviving members of the family, Mr. 
Barr having an elder brother, James, who re- 
sides in Eau Claire county, Wisconsin. In 
1842 the subject of this sketch came to Wis- 
consin via the lakes, the intention being to 
land at Milwaukee, hut owing to rough 
weather, which rendered an attempt to make 
a landing at that place quite dangerous, the 
boat continued to Chicago. At that time 
that now famous city was in its earliest in- 
fancy, and gave no promise that it would in 
less than fifty years become the second city 
on the Western Continent. At Chicago two 
teams were purchased, and the party con- 
tinued to Fort Atkinson. Mr. Barr soon 



720 



BIOORA PHICA L HISTOIi Y. 



afterward purchased land in Walworth 
county, but later removed to Dodpe county, 
where he also improved his farm and worked 
at his trade. From there he emigrated with 
his family to Trempealeau county. 

While in Dodge county Mr. Barr was 
united in marriage to Miss Caroline Lilly, a 
native of Binghamton, New York, and daugh- 
ter of Henry and Anna (Robinson) Lilly. 
The father was a native of Massachusetts, 
was married in the State of New York, re- 
moved with his family to Dodge county, 
Wisconsin, in 1846, later to Crawford county, 
where the father died, and after his death the 
mother lived with Mr. and Mrs. Barr until 
her decease. The family consisted of two 
sons and four daughters: Cyrus, who resides 
in Crawford county; George, in Worth 
county, Iowa; Mrs. Martha Adatns, of Sa- 
betha, Kansas, and Mrs. Barr, are the only 
surviving children. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have 
had eight children, two sons and six daugli- 
ters, four of whom are living. The eldest of 
the former, L"a Adelbert, is a master mechanic, 
and is now a member of the Northwestern 
Contracting Company of Chicago, lie is a 
natural mechanic, and has attained distinc- 
tion in his business. Irwiu Roscoe, the 
younger son, is a builder by occupation, and 
now resides in Chicago. The eldest dancrh- 
ter, Delia E., is a skillful artist, and is a most 
popular and successful teacher of her art. 
She is now at I'omona, California. The other 
daughters are Clara, Bessie and Ella. The 
daughters all possess a natural talent as 
artists, and the home of Mr. and Mrs. Barr 
is beautifully decorated with specimens of 
their handiwork. Mr. and Mrs. Barr have a 
beautiful home, and are surrounded by the 
comforts of life, the result of their own in- 
dustry, and here they have lived for the long 
period of thirty-five years. Here their chil- 
dren have grown to Tnanhood and woman- 



hood, several of whom have already gone out 
into the world to assume a more active part 
in the duties of life. Mr. and Mrs. Barr 
are numbered among the well-known and 
esteemed citizens of Trempealeau county. 



fOHN WINGAD, one of the well-known 
citizens of the town of Unity, Trempea- 
leau county, and a veteran soldier of the 
late war, was born in Lincolnshire, England, 
February 2, 1829, a son of Hezekiah and 
Elizabeth (Fatchitt) Wingad. Of the six 
children born to them, one (Mary) is de- 
ceased. One son and two daughters are resi- 
dents of England, and John and David both 
live in America. John Wingad came to 
America in 1852, and went at once to Arena, 
Iowa county, Wisconsin, where his brother 
David then was, the latter having come to 
xVmerica in 1847. Here he engaged as a 
farm hand for some time and then purchased 
a farm in Arena. He was married in Iowa 
county, to Miss Fanny Porter, also a native 
of England. 

o 

In August, 1862, Mr. Wingad enlisted in 
Company A, and afterwards transferred to 
Company K, Thirty-third Regiment Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the 
close of the war, most of tiie time in the 
Western army. He took part in the siege 
and capture of Vickshurg. the battle of 
Tupelo, and was in the Red River expedition 
under Banks, and after that ill-starred expe- 
dition went up White river to Brownsville, 
Arkansas, near Little Rock, and marched 
thence to Cape Girardeau, thence by way of 
the Mississippi river to St. Louis, and then 
up the Mississippi river to Jefferson City, 
and by rail and by marching to Warrens- 
burg, where his regiment conducted, as a 
guard, 620 Confederate prisoners back to St. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTOBT. 



731 



Louis, There tlie regiment was paid and re- 
clothed, and went thence to Nashville by 
river and took an active part in the figlit be- 
tween tlie Union General Thomas and the 
Rebel General Hood, in wliich the Confeder- 
ate forces were practically destroyed. They 
followed the retreating forces of the Rebels, 
and then encamped at Eastport, on the Ten- 
nessee river, where the regiment remained 
about a month, and in the meantime made a 
raid to Corinth and scattered the Rebel forces 
there. In February, 1865, they went by boat 
to New Orleans, and camped below the city 
for a few days, and crossed Lake Ponchartrain 
to Daupliine Island, and after about a week 
ascended Fish river to Mobile and took part 
in the attack on Spanish Fort, charging by 
moonlight. They marched then to Mont- 
gomery, and on this march heard of the 
surrender of Lee and the assassination of 
Lincoln. From Montgomery they went to 
Tuskegee, where they staid until they re- 
turned home by way of Vicksburg. and Mr. 
Wingad was discharged at Madison in 1865, 
after a long and iionorable career. 

Mr. Wingad was bereft of his wife by 
death on the 6th of August, 1871, and in 
March, 1874, he removed to his present place 
of residence. He has three children, two 
sons and one daughter, viz.: Hezekiah, the 
oldest, l)orn October 10, 1859; Alice, the 
only daughter, born November 10, 1862; and 
Albert, the younger son. born November 12, 
1866. One daughter, Ida, died of diphtheria, 
at the age of twelve years. Alice was born 
while her father was in the service of iiis 
country, and was about three years of age 
when he returned. As an amusing fact it 
may be stated that in her childish innocence 
she would not recognize him as her father, 
calling liira "that boy!'' A short time after 
his return from the army, and while doing 
some work about home, the mother sent the 



child for her father, but after looking about 
for a time she returned to the iiouse and told 
her mother she "couldn't find that boy." 
Mr. Wino-ad has one of the most beautiful 
homes in Trempealeau county, and is num- 
bered among the well-known and substantial 
citizens of tiiis section. His buildings are 
tirst-class in their character, and his fine farm 
of 400 acres is under an excellent state of 
cultivation. Mr. Wingad paid a visit to his 
old home in England in the winter of 1888- 
'89, being away a])out four months. 



-rtfe 



AVID WINGAD is another of the pio- 
neers of Wisconsin. He resides on 
section 24, town of Albion, where he 
settled in 1873. He was born in Lincoln- 
shire, England, March 1, 1822, and in Jan- 
uary, 1842, came to America, going to 
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he engaged 
in labor in the iron works of that city. In 
the fall of 1847, while it was still a territory, 
he came to Wisconsin. Going to Arena, 
Iowa county, he engaged in work by the 
month for about two years and then pur- 
chased a farm, on which he resided until he 
came to Trempealeau county in September, 
1873, where he has since lived. October 20, 
1855, witnessed his marriage in Arena, Iowa 
county, to Miss Margaret T. Beaumont, 
daughter of William H. and Cynthia (Hall) 
Beaumont, both of New England origin. 
They removed to Iowa county, Wisconsin, in 
1853, and there the father died many years 
ago, but the mother is still living and makes 
her home with her eldest son in Iowa county. 
Mrs. Wingad was one of eight children, five 
sons and three daughters, of whom she is the 
eldest. David Wingad enlisted September 
23, 1861, in Company G, Eleventh Wiscon- 
sin Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged 



722 



BIOGBAPUICAL HISTORY. 



November 18, 1864, after a service of over 
tliree years. He took part in many important 
events of tlie war, including tlie battle of 
Cotton Plant, Arkansas, Port Gibson, Ray- 
mond, Mississippi, Black River Bridge, and 
siege of Vicksburg under General Grant. In 
the famous charge on the enemy's works at 
Vicksburg he received a severe gnnshot wound 
which nearly proved fatal, the ball passing 
entirely through the back part of his 
neck. He fell on the field, where he lay 
four hours without water or assistance 
of any kind. When he linally recovered 
consciousness he found that a dead soldier, 
whose weight must have been 200 pounds 
at least, was lying across him. He had 
considerable difficulty in removing the dead 
weight from his person, but finally suc- 
ceeded in doing so. His wound proved a 
painful and severe one, and be has never fully 
recovered from its effects, or from the effects 
of the exposure and suffering incident to his 
life as a soldier. He was taken to Adams 
Hospital at Memphis, Tennessee, where he 
remained until March, 186i, when he re- 
joined his regiment, with which he continued 
until the expiration of his term of service. 

Mr. and Mrs Wingad have six children, 
three sons and three daughters, viz.: Eliza- 
beth, Robert, Henriette, David, Cora and 
Frank. They have a pleasant home, are sur- 
rounded by all the comforts of life, and have 
the respect and esteem of all who know them. 

IHARLES SCUAETTLE.— There is 
probably no citizen in Buffalo county 
more widely known and more exten- 
sively beloved than the gentleman whose 
name heads this sketch. In the evening of 
an active and successful career, Mr. Scbaettle, 
reposing in his comfortable home on the pic- 



turesque banks of the Mississippi, may take 
a retrospective view of the past and well feel 
proud that he has been able to accomplish so 
much; that by the thoroughly rigid princi- 
ples of honor and integrity he lias been able 
to place himself in fair circumstances. He 
stands to-day at the head of the well-known 
and popular firm of Charles Scbaettle & Son. 
For the last twenty-six years he has resided 
at Alma, a city in whose advancement and 
whose welfare he has always been warmly 
and zealously interested. He hails from 
Oberndorf, Wiirttemberg, Germany, where he 
first saw the light of day, January 20, 1827, 
a son of Andrew and Aloysia (Stoffer) Scbaet- 
tle. Andrew Scbaettle died when his son 
Charles was about two years old. Charles 
was always of a studious and a thorough mind, 
and after attaining a good education he was 
apprenticed to the mercantile business in the 
city of Murrhardt, in 1842, where he re- 
mained nearly three years. He then engaged 
as a clerk until 1848, and after living in 
London eighteen months he determined to 
emigrate to the United States. He arrived 
in New York in the fall of that year, went 
direct to Cincinnati, and there secured a po- 
sition as clerk in a leather store. Having 
learned the English language while in Lon- 
don, he was able to do business with Ameri- 
can as well as German customers, thus ren- 
dering bira a valuable employe. Subse- 
quently we find this young nian, who but a 
few years previous landed on American soil 
without a relative, and indeed with a very 
meager purse, established as a partner in a 
leather business. This rapidly grew to an 
extensive and flourishing business, and while 
thus engaged Mr. Scbaettle frequently sold 
goods to Jesse Grant. Being rather poorly 
in health, and being warmly solicited to join 
ati association which was about to migrate, 
he finally after some reluctance disposed of 



BIOQRAPHIOAL BISTORT. 



723 



his interest in tiie establishment, directed his 
course West and located in Buffalo City, 
Wisconsin. There, in 1858, he opened a 
general mercantile and grain business. This 
he soon followed by the establishment of a 
sawmill, in connection with Fred Lane, un- 
der the firm name of Lane & Schaettle. He 
also started a brewery, opened a hotel and a 
large public hall. Here he continued for 
several years, strenuously and successfully 
contending with the many obstacles and diffi- 
culties which are always encountered in a 
newly set)tled country. Railroads were un- 
known to this country in those years. The 
only medium of transportation was the river, 
on whose eastern bank the newly founded 
little city lay. Soon the Father of Waters 
changed his course, shifted his channel along 
the opposite bank, between which lay, as an 
additional barrier, an island. Thus Buffalo 
City, which budded out so auspiciously, 
largely through the indefatigable efforts, 
push and popularity of Charles Schaettle, 
was shut out of the world of traffic. Accord- 
ingly, Mr. Schaettle, in 1866, transferred his 
mercantile business to Alma. The sawmill 
was already moved to Alma, and was operated 
^^nder the old firm name for two years, when 
Mr. Schaettle withdrew; he also built a ware- 
house and began dealing in grain. In 1874 
he took as partner R. R. Kempter, but in 
1878 the firm dissolved, Mr. Schaettle con- 
tinuing in the mercantile business, which has 
gradually grown, until it stands to-day as one 
of the first business houses in his section. 
Mr. Schaettle also assisted in the organiza- 
tion and was a director of the Beef Slough 
Booming, Log Driving and Transportation 
Company, which has since developed into 
probably the largest enterprise of its kind in 
the world. While he has been earnestly 
devoted to his business, Mr. Schaettle has 
always taken an active interest in public 



affairs. He has, however, refused all politi- 
cal positions or offices, with one exception. 
Soon after he settled in Buffalo City he ac- 
cepted the appointment of Postmaster, which 
he held until he left the place. The office 
was worth $50 a year, and it cost him $200 
to run it. 

Mr. Schaettle was joined in matrimony 
at Cincinnati, Ohio, June 7, 1852, to 
Julia, daughter of Joseph and Anna Kemp- 
ter. This happy union has been blessed 
with nine children, of whom five are living, 
namely: Anna, now Mrs. George Seiler; 
Charles, Frank, George and Romeo. Mrs. 
Schaettle, who is the embodiment of amia- 
bility, kindness and maternal love, has been 
a true and loving companion, always ready 
to share with her husband, not only the joys, 
but also the sorrows and vicissitudes which 
are the common fate of all. She is a domes- 
tic woman, is warmly attached to her family 
in whose bosom she always finds sweet con- 
tent and happiness supreme. Mr. Schaettle, 
too, is much attached to his home, and it has 
been his earnest desire to give his children 
excellent education and fit them for honor- 
able positions in life. Upon his arrival to 
this country, Mr. Schaettle attaclied himself 
to the Free Soil party, with which he affili- 
ated until the formation of the Republican 
party in 1856. He was among the first to 
help organize the latter party in Buffalo 
county, and was the first chairman. For 
some years past he has given his vote and 
infiuence with the Democratic party, feeling 
that he could not conscientiously support 
some of the measures of the party to which 
he gave his first allegiance. Mr. Schaettle 
has fixed his impress upon the community 
with which he has so long been associated. 
He has contributed largely towards building 
up its business interests and developing its 
resources, and no one is more highly esti- 



734 



niOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



mated, for wbile be has proEpered he has 
always been ready to assist where assistance 
was needed. By his integrity, Lis generosity, 
his paternal affection, — by bis warm, genial 
disposition always sparkling and radiating 
with Imnior and '■ good will to all men," — 
he has erected a monnment within the hearts 
of bis children and with those with whom he 
has so long dwelt that will outlive those of 
marble. Now, as the shadows of age advance, 
be can look back over a well-spent life, and 
when the inevitable end comes he can confi- 
dently expect the welcome plaudit, " Well 
done, thou good and noble servant!" 

••*"' to * 3"I ' S" «" — 



SRANKLIN BENDER, who resides on 
section 6, Caledonia township, Trem- 
pealeau county, was born in Manlius 
township, Onondaga county, New York, in 
1843, where he lived until fourteen years of 
age. His father. Nelson Bender, was born in 
the same township, and his father, Jacob 
Bender, was also born in the State of New 
York. Nelson Bender married Sarah E. 
Meyers, a native of Onondaga county, and in 
1857 they removed to Waukesha county, 
Wisconsin. In 1867 they came to Trem- 
pealeau county, settling in Caledonia town- 
ship, where he died of a cancer November 
27, ISyO, at the age of seventy-seven years; his 
wife died October 14, 1876. They were the 
panints of three children who grew to mature 
years, namely: Mary, the eldest, is the wife 
of A. C. Hudson, of Caledonia township; 
the subject of this sketch is the second iu 
order of birth; Sarah, the youngest, married 
Henry Converse, and died May 14, 1882, 
leaving three children. 

Franklin Bender was a soldier in the war 
for the Union, having enlisted August 14, 
1862, in Company B, Twenty-eighth Regi- 



ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was 
discharged at Clarksville, Texas, August 1, 
1865. The greater part of his army service was 
in the State of Arkansas, altliongh he served 
for a time in Mississippi, Alabama and Texas. 
He took part in the famous trip down the 
Yazoo Pass in 1863, was at the battle of 
Helena in the same year, went on the expedi- 
tion to Little Rock, and thence to Pine 
Bluff. During Banks" Red river campaign, 
Mr. Bender started with his command to 
provision the troops engaged in that enter-* 
prise, but Banks had retreated in Uie mean- 
time, and the troops to which Mr. Bender 
belonged were attacked by the Confederates 
and forced to retreat, thereby failing to give 
relief to Banks' army. Mr. Bender cook 
part in the battle and siege of Spanish Fort, 
moved thence to Mobile and up the Alabama 
river, next to Texas, and, having been taken 
sick, was discharged at Clarksville a few days 
before the regiment was discharged. Mr. 
Bender's health was much broken in the army, 
and he has never fully recovered from the 
effects of his army service. 

Returning to his father's home in Waukesha 
county, at the close of tlie war, he came to 
Trempealeau county with his family in 1867. 

He was married in December of that year 
to Miss Jennie Skilton, a daughter of Thomas 
and Martha Skilton, who settled on the farm 
where Mr. and Mrs. Bender now live, in June, 
1856. The father died October 11, 1881, at 
the age of seventy- two years. He was born 
in London, England, where he grew to man- 
hood, and married Martha Miller. They 
came to the United States about 1834 and 
settled in the State of New York, removing 
thence to Dodge county, Wisconsin, and next 
to Trempealeau county. Mrs. Skilton is still 
living at the homestead, having attained to 
the advanced age of eighty-one years. Mr. 
and Mrs. Skilton were the parents of three 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



725 



cliildren: Annie E., the wife of Calvin Ter- 
peua, of Brown's valley, Minnesota; George 
T., who was a member of the Tliirty-sixth 
Wisconsin Regiment in the war of the Re- 
bellion. He was wounded at Cold Harbor, 
June 3, 1864, and died in the hospital at 
Washington, from the effects of his wound 
September 19, following, at the age of twenty- 
one years. Mrs. Bender is the youngest of 
the family, having been born in Dodge county, 
Wisconsin, August 17, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. 
Bender have seven children, three sons and 
four daughters, viz.: Martha A., Thomas N., 
Ida Edna, Warren W., Alice M., Cora Bell 
and Frank G. Mr. Bender was a gallant 
soldier in the war of the Union, and is a 
worthy and esteemed citizen. He is a mem- 
ber of Charles H. Ford Post, at Galesville. 



->^T>'Z/Z/>' 



-^l/inr^^ 



fUDSON A. PALMER, M. D., located 
at Arcadia and engaged in the practice 
of his profession since August 1, 1891. 
Dr. Palmer was born in Chatham, Ontario, 
Canada, in 1868. He received his literary 
education at Wardsville, Ontario, where he 
pursued a liberal course of study. While 
pursuing his literary course he had in view 
the profession of medicine. In 1887 he 
entered the medical department of the Mich- 
igan State University, from which he grad- 
uated in June, 1890, and soon after located 
at Fosston, Polk county, Minnesota, and 
went thence to Red Wing in the same State. 
Ill the summer of 1891 a favorable oppor- 
tunity presented itself for him to locate in 
Arcadia as the successor of Dr. W. T. Eng- 
lish. Imprc^ving this opportunity he at once 
entered into the large and lucrative practice 
of hia predecessor and his business is con- 
stantly increasing. Dr. Palmer is a well 
educated and intelligent gentleman, affable 



and courteous to all, and has already won his 
way to popular favor. His father, Gideon 
Palmer, is also a native of Canada, where 
he still lives, the subject of this sketch being 
the only one of the family in Wisconsin. 



fOHN ROSENOW, like the majority of 
his countrymen who have sought homes 
in this free land of ours, has been pros- 
perous in his undertakings, and is now enjoy- 
ing the fruits of his years of labor. He 
resides in Montana township, and is one of 
the sturdy and well-to-do farmers of Buffalo 
county. 

Mr. Rosenow was born in Germany, April 
19, 1847. His parents, Fred and Caroline 
(Loetz) Rosenow, were natives of that coun- 
try, and his father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion. Both parents passed their lives and 
died in Germany. They reared a family of 
seven children, whose names are as follows: 
Fred, Caroline, wife of Fred Schroder, of 
Alma, Wisconsin; Fredericka, widow of the 
late William Ileyden, of Waumandee; 
Charles; Mary, now Mrs. Henry Stern, resid- 
ing near Buffalo, this county; and John and 
William. As far as known all are still liv- 
ing. Charles served all through the war as 
a member of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin 
Infantry. 

The early life of Mr. Rosenow was spent at 
home and in attending school. When he 
was fifteen years old, he and his brother-in- 
law, Fred Schroder, came to the United 
States, landing in New York in May, 1863. 
They came direct to Wisconsin and located 
in Waumandee township, Buffalo county, 
where the latter had a farm. Young Rose- 
now worked at farming until October 24, of 
the following year, when he enlisted in the 
army, becoming a member of Company H, 



726 



BIOORAPUICAL HISTOBT. 



Seventh Wisconsin Infantry. Ever since he 
set foot on American soil he has been identi- 
fied with her best interests; boy that he was, 
he risked his young life to help save his 
adopted country. Joining the regiment be- 
fore Petersburg about the last of October, he 
was under command of General Richardson, 
and was placed on the siege line in front of 
Petersburtr. lie remained with his regiment 
in all its movements and engagements about 
Petersburg and Richmond, and was at Appo- 
mattox at the time of the surrender of Lee; 
was also at the grand review at Wasliington. 
He was mustered out at Jeffersonville, Indi- 
ana, came to Madison, "Wisconsin, via Mil- 
waukee, and was paid off and received his 
final discharge from the Government, July 
7, 18G5. 

Returning to Waiimandee he was employed 
in a brick-yard for three years, after which 
he purchased the establishment and continued 
the manufacture of brick four years, making 
a success financially. He then sold out and 
removed to Alma, where he lived two years, 
engaged in the saw-mill business. He next 
bought a farm near the town uf Montana and 
lived on it five years, and after selling it 
rented land in Montana township, which he 
conducted eight years. In the fall of 1885 
lie purchased his present farm of 210 acres, 
160 acres of which are undeir cultivation. 
Since he came into possession of this farm 
he has made some improvements on it, and 
every thing about the premises shows the 
thrift and prosperity of the owner. His 
chief product is grain. Among his stock 
are Uolstein cattle and Clydesdale horses. 
At present lie milks twelve cows, and sells 
the milk to a cheese factory. 

Mr. Rosenow was married, at Waumandee, 
November 9, 1870, to Juthith, daughter of 
Henry and Magdaline (Volkart) Oertle. Six 
children were born to them: Louise, Wil- 



liam. Edward, Henry, Lydia and Louis. Mrs. 
Rosenow died February 13, 1886. May 26, 
1888, he wedded Emilia, daughter of William 
and Caroline (Tesh) Kiepoefer, and by her 
has one child, Reuben. Mrs. Rosenow's par- 
ents were born in Germany, her father is 
deceased, and her mother is now living in 
Trempealeau county, Wisconsin. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Rosenow are members of 
the Evangelical Church, and he is now pres- 
ident of the board of trustees of that church. 
His political affiliations are with the Repub- 
lican party. He has served several times as 
Supervisor, and is at present chairman of the 
Board of Supervisors; has also been Road- 
master a number of times. 

Such, in brief, is a sketcli of one of the 
worthy citizens of Buifalo county. 

iICHAEL SENDELBACH, of Buf- 
falo county, Wisconsin, and one of 
the earliest settlers of what was called 
Martin's valley, Waumandee township, was 
born in Bien, Bavaria, Germany, June 2, 
1836. His parents, George and Katherine 
(Hartman) Sendelbacli, were natives of Ba- 
varia, and were farmers. Their family was 
composed of three children: Maggie, Michael 
and Joseph. The elder Mr. Sendelbacli died 
in 1842. His widow some time later became 
the wife of George Ruppert, and they had 
one boy, named Charles. The family emi- 
grated to the United States, crossing the 
ocean in a sail vessel and landing at New 
Orleans, in August, 1847, after a voyage of 
nearly four months. Coming North, they 
located on a farm in Harrison^ county, In- 
diana. 

After coming to America, Mr. Sendelbacli 
began to learn the cigar trade; was for five 
years engaged in the manufacture of cigars. 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



737 



He then turned his attention to tin smithinsr 
and worked at that business two years. 
Coming to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, he 
began farming in 1857 with his father-in- 
law, Casper Netn, in Waumandee township. 
He remained there about three years. Then 
he bought eighty acres of unimproved land 
in section 2, built a cabin, and to this place, 
in 1860, he moved his family and began 
farming on, his own account. The land was 
nearly all prairie, and the first year he broke 
and planted thirty acres. After living in the 
cabin ten years, they moved into their new 
frame house. Mr. Sendelbach built his barn 
in 1872. In 1860 he homesteaded forty 
acres of land that joined his purchase in sec- 
tion 2; in 1880 bougiit forty acres in the 
same section, chiefly bluff land, covered with 
timber; in 1881 purchased another forty-acre 
tract adjoining him, that had been partly im- 
proved. He now has about 140 acres under 
cultivation, and is engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock-raising. 

When Mr. Sendelbach took up his abode 
in this valley there were but few settlers here — 
Ills father-in-law, brother-in-law, a Mr. Koath 
and Mr. Martin. He took his jiroduce to 
Holmes' Landing and exchanged it for sup- 
plies, it being difficult at first to get any 
money. The farmers had to build their own 
roads then. 

Mr. Sendelbach was married in Wauman- 
dee, September 25, 1857, to Rosiua, daughter 
of Casper and Margaret Neth. Their union 
has been blessed by the birth of ten chil- 
dren, viz.: Joseph, born October 18, 1858; 
Maggie, February 11, 1861; Mary, April 15, 
1863; Casper, June 21, 1865; Mary M., 
April 16, 1867, is now Mrs. William Teisen; 
Anthon, March 29, 1869; Valentine, March 
4, 1871; Katie, August 12, 1873; Michael, 
November 18, 1875; Aloys, November 4, 
1877. All are living except Maggie, Mary 



and Casper. Joseph is married and is en- 
gaged in farming near his father. 

Mr. Sendelbach has generally declined to 
take office. He has, however, served as Road- 
master and Constable. He is a member of 
the Farmers' Alliance, and is in politics a 
Democrat. He and his family are devout 
members of the Catholic Church, and are dis- 
tinguished for their benevolence and irenial 
hospitality. 



fETER CASE, of the town of Arcadia, 
Trempealeau county, resides on section 
31, town 21, range 9 west, where he 
settled in 1864. He has made all the im- 
provements on his place, none having been 
made when he purchased his farm. Mr. 
Case was born in Putnam county. New York, 
January 18, 1830, a son of Caleb Case, a na- 
tive of Duchess county. New York, and Eliza 
(Furgeson) Case. The subject of this sketch 
left his home in the Empire State for the 
West in 1855, accompanied by his father-in- 
law, James Bighatn. Their destination was 
the State of Iowa, where they contemplated 
making settlement, but after entering that 
State, before they had reached Howard county, 
they met parties who discouraged them from 
going further, and at the same time spoke 
very highly of the region about Fountain 
City. They were thereby induced to change 
their minds, and returning to the Mississippi 
river took a steamer for Fountain City. They 
pre-empted land in the town of Glencoe, 
Buffalo county, but Mr. Case soon after sold 
out and took a claim adjoining, which he im- 
proved and sold, and then bought his farm of 
240 acres where he now lives, and which he 
has under a good state of cultivation. Mr. 
Case was married in the State of New York, 
in 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Bigham, to which 



728 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



union six children were born, three sons and 
three daughters, viz.: George W., the eldest 
of the children, who died at the age of seven 
years, eight months; Augusta is the wife of 
Charles Rook, of Estelline, South Dakota; 
Walker C, the eldest surviving son, was 
born in Buffalo county, August 31, 1861; 
William M., the third son lives in St. Paul, 
Minnesota; Emma J. is a teacher by occupa- 
tion; Ida Viola, the youngest, is at home, as 
is also her brother. Walker C. Mr. Case was 
bereft of his wife by deatli several years ago. 
Mr. Case is a well-known pioneer of this 
part of the county, and is esteemed as a good 
citizen. Beginning life poor, he has by in- 
dustry secured a well-improved farm and a 
comfortable home. 



fACOB KIN DSCIIY. -Among the prom- 
inent and respected farmers of Buffalo 
county is the man whose name heads 
this sketch. 

He was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, 
December 22, 1843, and is the son of Chris- 
tian and Elizabeth (Runker) Kindschy. The 
elder Kindschy was born in Masance, canton 
of Granbinton, Switzerland, December 15, 
1815, and his wife, Elizabeth, in Tamitz, 
Switzerland, April 19, 1816. They were 
married tliere, and emigrated to the United 
States in 1847. The father was a stonemason 
by trade. From New York they came direct 
to Sauk county, Wisconsin, locating in the 
township of Black Hawk, where the father 
purchased a tract of land and began its im- 
provement. He remained there eight years, 
and then sold out an<' moved, in the spring 
of 1855, to Buffalo county. His household 
effects were transported in an ox wagon. 
After looking about he selected a tract in 
section 36, Government land, and pur- 



chased the same. His tirst work was to put 
up a log cabin to shelter his family. This 
being done he began the improvement of his 
farm. The early settlers near him were Mr. 
Runkie, and the Von Walds and Powells 
who came with him. He was an energetic 
man and a good farmer, and snccess crowned 
his efforts liere. He continued to add to his 
possessions until he had 360 acres, which 
formed one of the finest farms of the county. 
His tirst frame house was the one that stands 
near the Dan user valley creek. He subse- 
quently built the one adjoining it, which is 
now the residence of the subject of this 
sketch, and where he lived and died. He 
was much respected, and was active in the 
public affairs of the county. He was Super- 
visor two terms, and in politics was an 
enthusiastic Republican. He left his sons a 
large property. To the Evangelical Church, 
of which he was an earnest and active mem- 
ber, he gave the ground on which their par- 
sonage and house of worship are built. He 
died September 9, 1883, and his widow 
passed away January 8, 1885. They were 
the parents of four children: Lucy, now Mrs. 
John Durisch, of Arcadia; John C. ; Jacob 
and George. 

Jacob Kindschy was reared on the home 
farm, where he became well versed in the 
business of farming, and secured some edu- 
cation in the public schools. When his 
father became advanced in years he and his 
brother John leased the farm and operated it 
together for four years. Then John moved 
to Alma and he conducted the farm alone. 
In 1888 he purchased 210 acres of the home- 
stead in sections 25 and 30, Montana town- 
ship, which he has since cultivated. It is 
principally a grain farm, though Mr. Kind- 
scliy is giving some attention to stock, breed- 
ing the mixed Jersey cattle. He has about 
140 acres under cultivation. 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



729 



/ 



Mr. Kindschy was united in marriage in 
Waumandee, April 2, 1881, to Sarah, 
daughter of Ernest and Christiana Koch, who 
were natives of Germany. They emigrated 
to this country and settled in Buffalo county, 
where they died. By this union there were 
two children born, Elinora E. and Lillie C. 
Sarah Kindschy died January 23, 1885. 
April 8, 1886, he wedded his present com- 
panion, Mary, daughter of Fred and Mary 
Kirschner, who were born in Germany and 
are now living in Seattle, Washington. By 
his second wife Mr. Kindschy has three chil- 
dren, Odilia S., Lester J. and Fred. 

Mr. Kindschy has taken an active part in 
the affairs of his township. For eight years 
he was Constable, and he held the office of 
Supervisor four years, being chairman one 
term. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., 
Lodge No. 13, of Fountain City. In politics 
he is a Republican; is also a member of the 
Farmers' Alliance. 

lEORGE KINDSCHY is a native of 
Montana township, Buffalo county, Wis- 
consin, and was born August 2, 1856, 
he being the first white child born in the 
Waumandee valley. His parents were Chris- 
tian and Elizabeth (Runker) Kindschy. (For 
more particular mention of his parents see 
the sketch of Jacob Kindschy on another page 
of this work.) 

Mr. Kindscliy spent his early years at 
home, assisting his father on the farm, and 
during the winters was sent to the township 
schools. At tiie age of nineteen he left the 
parental roof and started out to do for him- 
self and see a little of the world. He first 
located in Clayton City, Iowa, where he re- 
mained about a year. He then returned 
home, and three years later rented a farm of 



his brother. Christian, which he operated 
about two years. At the end of that time he 
purchased a farm of 220 acres in the Dannser 
valley, known as the Dursch farm. On this 
he lived three years and then leased it for 
three years; moved to La Crosse and worked 
at blacksmithing for awhile. Returning to 
the old valley, he opened a shop and feed 
mill where his present shop is located. After 
carrying on the milling business for two years 
he discontinued it, but has since kept up the 
smithing. In 1886 he sold his farm in the 
Danuser valley. In the settlement of his 
father's estate he received 120 acres, which 
he is now cultivating, giving his attention 
principally to hay and grain. He is also 
breeding Jersey cattle and the half Clydes- 
dale horses. 

He was married, in Montana township, 
March 14, 1878, to Katherine, daughter of 
Florian and Cecilia (Bruhler) Danuser. This 
union has been blessed with five children: 
Benjamin G., Alice C, Clara G., Ida, Amelia 
and Fiorina H. 

Mr. Kindschy has an elegant farm. This 
he keeps under a high state of cultivation and 
at the same time does a thriving business at 
his trade. In public matters he takes an 
active part; is now holding his ninth terra as 
Justice of the Peace. He is a member of 
the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 13, of Fountain 
City. In politics he is a Republican. Both 
he and his wife are consistent members of 
the Evanjielical Church. 



/WOHN RAICHLE, who resides on section 
*" 17, Gale township, is a pioneer and an 
honored soldier of the war of the Rebel- 
lion. He was born in Wiirttemburg, Ger- 
many, in 1836, the son of Frederick Raichle, 
who remained in Germany until his death. 



780 



BIOGRAPnWAL BISTORT. 



Onr subject is one of a family of eight chil- 
dren, six sons and two daughters, all of whom 
are living except the eldest, Frederick, who is 
deceased. The eldest surviving member of 
the family, George, still resides in Germany; 
"William is a resident of Gale township; 
Catherine is married and lives in Germany; 
John, the subject of our sketch; Christian 
also lives in Gale township, as does a sister, 
Barbara; Carl resides in Germany. 

The subject of sketch and his brother, 
William, came to this country in 1854, and 
after a residence of two years in New York 
John came to Trempealeau county. He spent 
one summer in the town of Trempealeau, and 
since then Gale township has been his home. 
He has resided on his present farm of 230 
acres since 1870, which is under a good state 
of cultivation. William Raichle remained in 
New York two years longer than John, but 
he is now also a prominent farmer of Gale 
township and a neighbor of his brother. In 
August, 1862, John enlisted in Company C, 
Thirtieth Wisconsin Regiment Volunteer 
Infantry, which went into service and re- 
turned under command of Captain A. A. 
Arnold. The regiment did duty in Wisconsin 
until early in 1864, when they went to Dakota 
and ensaeed in the erection of Fort Rice. 
In the fall of the same year they descended 
the Missouri liver on flat-boats, and going to 
Louisville, Kentucky, remained there for a 
time, and went thence to Bowling Green, 
same State, but returned again to Louisville, 
■where they were mustered out of service. 

In 1880 Mr. Raichle was united in mar- 
riage with Miss Bertha Jahn, who was born in 
Germany in June, 1856, and came to America 
■with her parents in 1872. The latter are now 
residents of Caledonia, Trempealeau county, 
and are the parents of five children, three 
sons and two daughters, viz.: Bertha, Richard, 
Ottielea, Ilelmuth and Edwin. The latter 



was born in this county, all the others being 
natives of Germany. Another daughter, 
Lena, born in Germany, died at the age of 
two years. Mr. and Mrs. Raichle have three 
children: Frederick, Lena and John. 



NDREW R. AND NATHAN H. CAR. 
HART, who are among the well-known 
representative citizens of Trempealeau 
county, are sons of Isaac D. Carhart, who 
emigrated with his family to Wisconsin in 
1854. He was descended direcily from 
Thomas Carhart, the first American ancestor 
of the family, and the first record of whom 
dates from 1691, at which time he resided in 
Richmond county, New York. Isaac D. Car- 
hart was born in Coeynians township, Albany 
county. New York, July 31, 1802, a son of 
Daniel Carhart. He married Nancy Agnes 
Bangs, who was born in Kortright township, 
Delaware county. New York, August 19, 
1809. Mr. Carhart was reared to the occu- 
pation of farming, but learned the trade of a 
tanner and harness-maker, and for a time 
during his early married life was engaged in 
merchandising. He continued to live in the 
State of New York until he emigrated to 
Dodge county in 1854, and in 1861 the 
family came to Trempealeau county, settling 
on section 36, Trempealeau township, where 
the father resided until his death, September 
1, 1885; the mother died May 7, 1889. Mr. 
Carhart was prominently identified with the 
religious and moral growth of the community 
in which he lived, and was in all respects a 
most worthy and estimable citizen. He was 
a prominent member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Clinrch, of which he was class-leader 
for many years, and also assisted to organize 
and maintain a Sunday-school in his town. 
Politically he was a Republican' and in the 



BIOQRAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



Td\ 



earlier days possessed strong anti-slavery 
sentiments. He and his wife were the par- 
ents of five sons and live daughters, all of 
whom are now living but one son, John M., 
who enlisted in Company A, Second Regi- 
ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was 
killed at the first battle of Bull Run, July 
19, 1861, having been one of the fiist Wis- 
consin troops killed in battle. He was the 
fourth child and second son, and was about 
twenty-three years of age at the time of his 
death. The eldest of the family, Mrs. Mary 
L. Manley, resides at Carthage, Jasper county, 
Missouri; L. H., a Methodist clergyman, now 
resides at Brooklyn, New York; Mrs. Delia 
E. Huntley is a resident of Winona; Andrew 
R. is the next in order of birth; Isaac W. 
resides at Hot Springs, Arkansas; Mrs. Emma 
Allen resides in Boone, Iowa; Mrs. Charlotte 
White resides in Clarendon, Donley county, 
Texas; Nathan H. is at the old homestead in 
Trempealeau township; and the youngest of 
the family, Mrs. Josie Mulligan, resides in 
Tacoma, Washington. 

As has been seen above, the two brothers 
mentioned at the beginning of this sketch 
are the only metribers of the family who now 
reside in Trempealeau county. Andrew R., 
who resides on section 6, was born in Scho- 
harie county. New York, December 13, 1841. 
In 1865 he engaged in farming for himself, 
and from 1868 to 1870 he was engaged in 
pork-packing and general business in the vil- 
lage of Trempealeau, and during that time 
he was a member of the village Board. He 
has also been president of the Trempealeau 
Agricultural Society for two years. Besides 
his farming interests in this county Mr. Car- 
hart has been quite extensively engaged in 
ranching cattle in Texas, in partnership witii 
B. B. Healy, of La Crosse. Mr. Carhart has 
also been extensively engaged in buying and 
shipping cattle, and is now interested in zinc 



mining in Jasper county, Missouri, which is 
an important enterprise and gives promise of 
still greater developments. He has been 
chairman of the town of Trempealeau and 
member of its board for two terms; also 
treasurer of Trempealeau County Agricult- 
ural Society now for the third year. 

He was married in 1864, to Miss Jennie 
Hope Gillies, a daughter of John Gillies, of 
Trempealeau, and they have had four chil- 
dren: Edward A., the eldest; George W., 
who died in early infancy; Allen R., the 
third in order of birth; and Mark G., tiie 
youngest. Mr. Carhart is a Republican politi- 
cally, and both he and his wife are members 
of the Congregational Church. 

Nathan H., who owns and occupies the old 
homestead, was born November 20, 1848, 
havincr been but a lad when he came to 
Trempealeau county with his parents. He 
was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. 
Brownsell, a native of Fond du Lac, Wiscon- 
sin, who died February 18, 1889, leaving 
three children: Thomas, born October 2, 
1884; Clarence W. and Clara E., August 18, 
1888. Mr. Carhart is prominently identified 
with the Metliodist Episcopal Church, as was 
also his wife. 

fHARLES W. FARRAND, attorney and 
counselor at law, Onalaska, has been a 
memberof the bar of Trempealeau county 
since 1874. He was born at Lindleytown, 
Steuben county. New York, in September, 
1839, the son of William Farrand, a native 
of Vermont. The Farrands are descended 
from an early New England family, the orig- 
' inal ancestor having come to America previ- 
ous to the war of the Revolution. William 
Farrand married Ruby Kaple, a native of 
New York, and of New England ancestry. 



732 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Our subject was one of five children, the 
eldest of whom, James C, was Captain of a 
company in the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Reg- 
iment, in the war of the Rebellion, and died 
in Kansas City several years ago; Esther, 
the eldest daugliter, became the wife of 
William Thayer, and died at Onalaska, Wis- 
consin; Charles W. was the next in order of 
birth; Helen M. is the wife of Charles H. 
Nichols, of Onalaska; and the youngest, Ira, 
is ensawed in the lumber business at Gales- 
ville. 

James C. Farrand was the first of the 
family to come West, and was soon followed 
by Charles. In 1850 he went to Illinois, and 
to La Crosse, Wisconsin, the same year, after 
which he went to Melrose, where he joined 
his older brother, James C. There he passed 
the winter of 1856-'57, and the following 
spring went to Onalaska, where he worked at 
lumbering and also attended school for a time. 
In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Second 
Regiment, Wisconsin "Volunteer Infantry, 
and served until May, 1864, when he was 
discharged on account of a wound received at 
the l)attleof Gettysburg, in July, 1863. Tlie 
regiment to which he belonged formed a part 
of the famous Iron Brigade, with whom he 
fought in many of the most noted battles of 
the war, including first Bull Run, Gaines- 
ville, second Bull Run, South Mountain and 
Antietam, and was also at Fredericksburg 
under Burnside, and at Chancellorsville under 
Hooker. lie was wounded on the first day 
of the Gettysburg battle, his regiment form- 
ing a part of tiie first corps, commanded by 
the gallant General Reynolds, who fell on 
that bloody field, Mr. Farrand receiving a 
gun-shot Vv'ound through the right foot. He 
was sent at once to Jarvis' General Hospital, 
where he remained until tlie spring of 1864, 
wlien he was sent to David's Island, New 



York, and there discharged in May of the 
same year. 

After he had recovered from his wounds 
Mr. Farrand was variously engaged in lum- 
bering, studying and teaching, attending 
school much of the time at Gales ville. 
In 1871, having determined to adopt the 
legal profession, and having already given 
considerable attention to the study of law, he 
entered the law department of the Michigan 
University at Ann Arbor, where he continued 
two terms. He then entered the office of 
Lyndes & Burroungs, at La Crosse, and in 
1874 located in Galesville and opened an 
office. From there he removed to Arcadia, 
where he continued practice until 1878. He 
next went South and spent considerable time 
traveling, and in 1884 returned to Gales- 
ville, where he resumed practice. Owing to 
the death of Charles H. Nichols, his sister 
Helen's husband, Mr. Farrand has recently 
moved to Onalaska, to make his home with 
his mother and sister. The family of Mr. 
Farrand all eventually came West. Tlie 
father died at Onalaska in 1869, and tiie 
mother still resides there with her daughter, 
Mrs. Nichols. Mr. Farrand is a gentleman 
of tine attainments and a lawyer of ability. 
He was a gallant soldier in tiie war for the 
Union, and both professionally and socially is 
esteemed. 



fOHN TITRTON, of Waumandee, Wis- 
consin, by virtue of his long residence 
liere, is justly entitled to appropriate 
biographical mention in this work. 

Mr. Turton was born in Lancashire, Eng- 
land. May 13, 1837, son of Peter and Martha 
(Wakefield) Turton, both natives of the same 
place. His father was a sou of Joiin Turton, 
and was born April 4, 1807, and his mother 



BIOORAPEIOAL HISTORY. 



733 



was born March 17, 1811. Peter Turton, a 
Bilk-weaver by occupation, emigrated to the 
United States in 1882, and settled witli his 
daughters in Connecticut, where his death 
occurred in 1884. By his first wife he had 
two children, the subject of our sketch and 
James. Her death occurred in England, 
January 4, 1849. In 1862 he took to him- 
self a second wife, the issiie from that inar- 
riage being two daughters, Jane and Lillie, 
who now reside in Connecticut. 

John Turton remained with his father until 
he was eighteen, learning his father's trade, 
that of silk-weaving, and attending school 
when opportunity ofiFered. At the age of 
eighteen he concluded to strike out for the 
new world, and accordingly landed in New 
York, in June, 1855. At once coming West, 
he stopped for a time in Racine, and subse- 
qnently engaged in farm work. In 1859 he 
came to Waumandee township, Buffalo 
county, pre-empted eighty acres of land in 
section 19, and immediately commenced 
making improvements. This country was 
then in its wild state, there were no roads to 
guide the traveler, and Indians and deer were 
plentiful. In the spring he built a house, and 
in 1861 erected his present dwelling. Re- 
cently, in 1888, he built a fine barn. About 
sixty-five acres of his land are under improve- 
ment. Formerly his chief product was grain, 
but of later years he has turned his attention 
to the dairy business and is raising stock. 

Mr. Turton was married in Racine, "Wis- 
consin, April 29, 1862, to Mrs. Demiah Col- 
lier. By her former husband she has one 
child, Joseph, born November 23, 1858, who 
is now residing near her. Her union with 
Mr. Turton has been blessed with eight chil- 
dren, viz.: Martha Jane, born May 1, 1863; 
Demiah Lillie, November 27, 1864; Peter 
Alfred, January 27, 1868; James Henry, June 
11, 1870; John J., March 8, 1873; George 

48 



Walter, April 16, 1876; Ann Elizabeth, 
August 4, 1878; Alice Mary, April 22, 1881. 
Mrs. Turton is a daughter of John and Jane 
(Adarason) Hodgkinson, natives of Yorkshire, 
England. They came to America in 1854, 
located in Quebec, Canada, and from there 
removed to Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Hodg- 
kinson died in Missouri, in 1861. His widow 
now resides in London, Nebraska. Of the 
twelve children born to them, only four lived 
to adult age, namely: George, Demiah, Jane 
and Mary. Jane wedded Drury Coultard, 
and lives in California, and Mary is the wife 
of William Lighthill, of Iowa. 

Politically, Mr. Turton affiliates with the 
Democratic party. He has held the ottice of 
School Treasurer and School Director. He 
favors any movement that has for its object 
the advancement of the best interests of the 
community; and for his many estimable 
qualities he is held in high esteem by his 
numerous friends and acquaintances. 



EORGE N. HIDERSHIDE, M. D., of 
Arcadia, located in this village in 1875, 
the second graduate to establish himself 
at this place, and with one exception has been 
in continuous practice longer than any phy- 
sician in the county. 

He is a native of Luxembourg, Germany, 
and the son of Nicholas and Anna M. (Sa- 
lentiny) Hidershide, who emigrated with 
their family to the United States in 1857, 
landing at Minneiska, Minnesota. Nicho- 
las Hidershide purchased and improved a 
fine farm in Mount Vernon, Winona county, 
that State, where he resided until the time of 
his death, which occurred in the spring of 
1875. The motiier died at the home of our 
subject in 1889, having resided with him 
some time previous to her death. They were 



734 



BIOGIUrUIGAL UJSTom: 



the parents of seven cliildren, five of wliom 
grew to maturity and are still living; two 
died in infancy. Those living are Pierre, 
who is farming on the old homestead; Mary 
Jane, the wife of John Rodenbour, a resident 
of Brown's valley, Minnesota; George N., of 
this sketch; Mary, who wedded Henry Ste- 
vens, a resident of Dover, Minnesota; and 
Lonisa, wife of Joseph Meyer, also of Dover, 
Minnesota. 

The earlier life of Dr. Ilidershide was spent 
on a farm and in attending the district schools. 
He graduated at the State N^ormal School at 
Winona in 1870, and having the determina- 
tion to pursue a professional career he at 
once began the labor for its accomplishment. 
It was necessary that he should do manual 
labor to secure the means required for this 
purpose, but he never shrank from the diffi- 
culties in the way, and labored faithfully and 
earnestly until his object was attained. He 
was engaged for a considerable time in selling 
farm machinery in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illi- 
nois, and was very successful in this branch 
of business. 

Soon after his graduation at Winona he 
began the study of medicine at Lyons, Iowa, 
and after two years' study under a preceptor at 
that place he entered the Louisville (Kentucky) 
Medical College, from which he was gradu- 
ated with honor in 1875, and soon afterward 
located at Arcadia. The Doctor has ever been 
a most industrious student, and besides his 
medical education he possesses fine literary 
attainments. lie was but a lad when he came 
to America with his father's family; and, 
having no knowledge of the English language, 
he went to live with Dr. G. F. Childs, a 
native-born Englishman, in Minnesota and 
an early settler of Winona, thinking that he 
would there learn tlie language in its native 
purity. According to his own statement he 
soon learned to pronounce the letter " h " 



where he should have omitted it, in the most 
approved English style! He soon, however, 
learned his error, and afterward became more 
American in his pronunciation, and the most 
careful critic of the language would now be 
more likely to believe him a native of the 
central or eastern part of our Union than of a 
foreign land. 

Dr. Ilidershide believes in the permanency 
of our American institutions, and rejoices in 
the freedom of our beloved country. He is 
a tine linguist in the German and American 
languages, and also possesses a fair knowledge 
of several other languages. As a surgeon 
and physician he stands in the front rank of 
the profession in Wisconsin, and deservedly 
enjoys a very large and lucrative practice; 
and as a citizen he is esteemed for his integ- 
rity and progressive principles. 

He is a member of the Northwestern Wis- 
consin Medical Association; in 1881 he was 
elected a delegate to represent that body at 
the American Medical Association held at 
Richmond, Virginia, and in 1889 was its 
President. He is also a member of the State 
Medical Association, and is at present Sur- 
geon of the Green Bay Railroad. 

In politics he is an ardent Republican, but 
has never sought political preferment for 
himself, though he has been called upon to 
serve as President of the village board of 
Arcadia. He was chosen a delegate to the 
Congressional Convention of his district in 
1890, and is at present Chairman of the 
County Congressional Committee; but it is 
to his profession that he devotes his life 
work, and improves all opportunities to 
become familiar with advanced methods and 
views in surgery and medicine. 

The Doctor was brought up under the 
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, 
thoucdi he is not a meinl)er nor adlierent of 
any of the religious denominations, but rather 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



735 



favors the broad liberalism of the advanced 
thinkers of the past and present. He is logi- 
cal in all his methods, and has no convictions 
that have not been reached by a process of 
reasoning. He is fearless and outspoken in 
the advocacy of any cause he may espouse. 
Having a higher regard for principle than for 
pelf, he would scorn the idea of receiving 
pecuniary advantages by the practice of hy- 
pocrisy. He is not wanting in public spirit, 
as he is ever ready to encourage any enter- 
prise for the public good. His many acts of 
kindness and generosity to kindred and 
friends are the spontaneous outgrowth of a 
kind and sympathetic nature. 

Socially the Doctor is a Mason, being a 
member of Arcadia Lodge, No. 201, A. F. & 
A. M., of Arcadia; of Smith Chapter, No. 
13, R. A. M., at La Crosse; of La Crosse 
Commandery, No. 9, K. T. ; of the Wisconsin 
Consistory, and of the Tripoli Temple, N. M. 
S., Wisconsin. 



jHEISTOPHER ROESCH, of Glencoe 
township, Buffalo county, Wisconsin, 
was born in Wtirttemburg, Germany, 
July 12, 1827. His parents, John and Fred- 
ericka (Keitzler) Roesch, were both natives 
of that place and passed their lives there, the 
mother dying in 1846 and the father in 1858. 
They were the parents of three children, the 
subject of our sketch and Christina and Fred- 
ericka. His father being a farmer by occu- 
pation, Christopher was reared on the farm, 
assisting his father and attending the schools 
of that place. 

Mr. Roesch emigrated to this country in 
the spring of 1854, landing in New York, 
and from there going direct to Cincinnati, 
where he remained three years, working in a 
packing-house in winter and on a farm in 



summer. In 1857 he came to Buffalo county, 
Wisconsin, and located a farm of 120 acres 
in section 19, Glencoe township, which he 
purchased of a new settler. He engaged in 
farming about the valley until 1860, when, 
having built a cabin, he settled down on his 
farm and began improving it. The work of 
improvement went on gradually, however, as 
his means were limited. At first he used an 
ox team. He had to make his own roads be- 
fore he could market his produce. By dili- 
gence and good management he was soon 
comfortably situated, and ere long fortune 
smiled on him. He erected his tine dwell- 
ing in 1871, and his new barn in 1875. His 
first addition to his original purchase was 
three forties, which he bought in 1864. 
These are in sections 17 and 20. The same 
year he added another forty, located in sec- 
tion 19, and in 1875 he bought two more 
forty-acre tracts in section 19. In 1873 he 
bought forty acres of Government land in 
section 18. The present year (1890) he 
bought ninety acres of land in Glencoe town- 
ship, which he leases. He has in one body 
400 acres, 120 acres of which are under cul- 
tivation, and forty acres of hay land. Be- 
sides carrying on general farming, he is also 
engaged in stock-raising. He has a dairy 
and milks about twenty cows; is raising half 
Clydesdale horses. 

Mr. Roesch was married in June, 1861, at 
Glencoe, to Ursula Gartmann, daughter of 
Joshua Gartmann. Six children were given 
to them, whose names are as follows: Fred- 
ericka, wife of John Florin; Mary, wife of 
Christian Florin; John, Caroline, wife of 
David Angst; Rosa and Anton. After a 
happy married life of thirty years, Mrs. 
Roesch died, June 25, 1891, leaving a large 
circle oF mourning friends. 

Recently Mr. Roesch has turned the man- 
agement of his farm over to his son John. 



736 



BIOGRAPHTCAL HTSTORT. 



This is among the best improved farms in 
the county and is admirably laid out. He 
has taken great pains to have all the con- 
veniences possible and to make farm work a 
pleasure. From a cuol, inexhaustible spring, 
located on an elevated part of his farm, he 
has the water conducted to his dwelling, 
dairy-house and barn. 

Mr. Roesch has been very popular, and is 
a man highly respected by the community in 
which be has so long dwelt. He has been 
honored by several responsible positions, 
among which were those of Supervisor and 
town Treasurer. He has atfiliated with the 
Tlepublican party up to the last election for 
Governor, when he supported the Democratic 



nommee. 



-j«-^ 



?AMES GLADSON, who resides on sec- 
tion 1, Trempealeau county, was born in 
Scotland, December 13, 1836, a son of 
Walter Gladson, who emigrated with his 
family to the United States in 1837. settling 
in Delaware county. New York. When our 
subject had nearly attained to manhood the 
family removed to Fond du Lac county, Wis- 
consin, and several years later to Trempealeau 
county. The father died at Winona, Minne- 
sota, a number of years ago, and the mother, 
now deceased, survived her husband for many 
years. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren, who grew to mature years, live sons and 
three daughters, and five of the family, three 
sons and two daughters, are now living. The 
subject of this sketch is the second son of the 
family; John, whose farm joins that of his 
brother James, is the fourth in order of birth; 
George resides in Nevada; Christian, now 
Mrs. Edmond Nash, lives in Nebraska; Vio- 
let is the wife of Andrew Wilcox, of Kansas. 
James Gladson came to Wisconsin with his 



parents, and was twenty-one years of age 
when he came to Trempealeau cminty, in 
1857. He worked the first year for Mr. 
Brandenburg, of Trempealeau, and the fol- 
lowinrr summer was engaged in running logs 
on Black river. With the first $50 that he 
saved he bought forty acres of land in Trem- 
pealeau township, and at once began the im- 
provement of the same, and gradually, by 
industry and economy, added to his posses- 
sions. He finally sold his property at an 
advanced price and bought the farm where he 
now lives. 

Mr. Gladson was married June 13, 1865, 
to Mercy A. Wilcox, a daughter of Ephraim 
Wilcox, of La Crosse. She died February 
21, 1868, and October 5, 1869, Mr. Gladson 
married Belle Scott, of Hobart, Delaware 
county, New York. Her father, James 
Scott, di6d in 1864, and her mother, Christie 
(Thompson) Scott, survived her husband 
many years. Mr. Gladson had two children 
by his first wife, one of whom is living, An- 
drew B., at Dennison, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. 
Gladson have three children: James T., May 
Belle, and one who died in infancy. Mrs. 
Gladson has a brother and four sisters, all of 
whom reside in the State of New York. She 
is a linely educated lady, having graduated 
at Roxbury Academy, Delaware county. New 
York, in 1854, the Principal at that time 
being Professor J. VV. McLaurj, later of La 
Crosse, and still later President of Galesville 
University. After her graduation she was 
preceptress of the academy for three years, 
the first year of which the institution was 
still under the principalship of Professor 
McLaury. Mrs. Gladson was a successful 
teacher for a period of fourteen years. They 
have a pleasant home and are surrounded by 
the comforts of life, which have been secured 
by industry, frugality and good management. 
In their religious affiliations they are mem- 



BIOGBAPHWAL HISTORY. 



737 



bers of the Congregational Church, and take 
a coinineudable interest in "promoting the 
moral and religious growth of the community 
in which they live. 



-i-T/T/i/Z'- 



^^tnn^^ 



CHRISTIAN EVERSON, one of the well- 
known citizens of Lincoln township, 
Trempealeau county, resides on section 
24, where he settled April 1, 1875. lie pur- 
chased his land of Milo Campljell, though 
the original owner was Harry Proctor. Mr. 
Everson has made nearly all the improve- 
ments on his place, having a fine farm of 164 
acres. He was born in Norway, May 11, 
1849, and 1853, when but four years of age, 
his father emigrated with his family to the 
United States, locating in Vermont township, 
Dane county, Wisconsin, where tiie father 
died in April, 1882. The homestead farm is 
still in possession of the family, the mother 
residing there with her son, John Everson. 
Mr. Everson, Sr., was one of the pioneers of 
Dane county, and was a well-known, indus- 
trious and worthy citizen. He came to this 
country a poor man, but in course of time 
and by virtue of those elements already men- 
tioned became possessed of a valuable farm, 
and surrounded himself and family with the 
comforts of life. His family consisted of 
nine sons and one daughter, the eldest of 
whom enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, 
as a member of Company B, Eleventh Wis- 
consin Volunteer Infantry, and died at St. 
Louis in 1862; Thomas served in the same 
company with his brother, and died at Iron- 
ton, Missouri, the same year; John, who lives 
at the homestead, was also a soldier in the 
war of the Rebellion; Knut, the next in order 
of birth, resides in Arcadia township; Amos 
is a resident of Nevada, and Peter resides in 
Colorado. The eldest of the family, also 



named Peter, died in Illinois the first year 
after the family came to America. He, like 
other young men in the early pioneer days in 
Southern Wisconsin, went to Illinois to se- 
cure work, and was engaged in wood chop- 
ping when taken sick. Another brother, 
Ever Everson, went to Nevada, where he 
died at about the age of twenty-one years. 
The only sister, now Mrs. Hans Knutson 
Spangrud, resides in Iowa county, Wisconsin. 
Christian Everson was reared on the home- 
stead farm in Dane county, and in 1875 
became a resident of Lincoln township. He 
was married to Miss Ellen Hanson, a daugh- 
ter of Gilbert Hanson Smisrude, an early 
settler of Preston township, Trempealeau 
county, who is now deceased. Mr. and 
Mrs. Everson have si.\ children, four daugh- 
ters and two sons, viz.: Millie E., Clara T., 
Edward J., Claudius E., Helen S. and Flor- 
ence J. Mrs. Everson was first married to 
T. Rice, by whom she has one child, Gilbert 
S. Mr. Everson is one of the enterprising 
and progressive citizens of Lincoln township, 
and takes a commendable interest in what- 
ever tends to promote the growth and pros- 
perity of the community in wliich he resides. 
He is a gentleman of much general informa- 
tion, and is respected by his fellow citizens 
for his upright cliaracter and progressive 
spirit. 



fACOB ANGST, Jr., deceased, of Wau- 
mundoe township, and one of tiie promi- 
nent pioneers of Buffalo county, Wis- 
consin, was born in the canton of Zurich, 
Switzerland, December 27, 1836. His father, 
Jacob Angst, son of Henry, was born in 
Switzerland, April 15, 1810, and his mother, 
nee Barbara Meier, was also a native of that 
country. She died March 20, 1892, of la 



738 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



grippe. The two children born to them were 
Jacol) and David. The latter enlisted in the 
Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry, in April, 
1861, and in October, 1864, died in hospital 
from chronic diarrhea. The family emigrated 
to this country in 1854, landed at New York 
and from there came to Sauk connty, Wis- 
consin, where, for a time, they lived on a 
farm. 

In April, 1855, the subject of our sketch 
came to Buffalo county to look up a location, 
and pre-empted 160 acresof land in his father's 
name. He broke a portion of the soil and 
cut some logs for a cabin, and remained there 
through the summer. The weather was so 
severe that fall and winter that they did not 
get moved, so he went to Baraboo and worked 
with a man wJio was engaged in the logging 
business. The latter sold out and went to Mis- 
souri, and persuaded Mi'. Angst to go with 
him. During several years which followed 
his time was employed in chopping wood in 
Missouri, and a portion of the time he was 
overseer in a wood-yard. The death of his 
brother brouglit him home to Waumandee, 
where his father had been improving the 
homestead, lie continued to work with his 
father until 1868, when he purchased the 
farm, then comprising 320 acres. He subse- 
quently added to it 120 acres more. In 1885 
he erected his tine brick house, and the fol- 
lowing year his large barn and other out- 
buildings. When he first came to this place 
the country was full of Indians, and the only 
road to Fountain City from here was an In- 
dian trail. His nearest neighbor was Mr. 
Runckel, who lived a mile and a half north 
of Bach's Hotel, and with whom he boarded. 
On the homestead there are now under culti- 
vation about 200 acres. 

Mr. Angst was married June 30, 1864, at 
Canton, Missouri, to Elizabeth, daughter of 
Alexander and Lydia (Little) Goodwin. They 



had ten children: David, Clara Matilda, wife 
of William Hohman; Mollie, wife of Otto 
Hohman; Walter, Dudley, Delia, Turilla, Os- 
car, Birgie and Cora. 

Mr. Angst at different times held the posi- 
tion of Supervisor and Assessor. He was a 
member of the Farmers' Alliance, and in 
politics affiliated with the Democratic party. 
He died April 8, 1892, of paralytic stroke, 
caused by la grippe. In religion he was a 
Freethinker, while Mrs. Angst is a member 
of the Baptist Church. 

The elder Mr. Angst died September 6, 
1871, and his widow is now living in Iowa. 



-^ 



3-t- 



l%' V^=^ o 



fOHN C. TOWNER, who resides on sec- 
tion 30, Caledonia township, Trempealeau 
county, was born in Steuben county. New 
York, in 1830, a son of Aaron Towner, also 
a native of New York, but of New England 
parentage. The father emigrated >vith his 
family from the Empire State to the then 
Territory of Michigan, in 1835, and in 1856 
the family came to Trempealeau county, Wis- 
consin, *and settled in Caledonia township, 
where the father died in the spring of 1848, 
at the age of tifty-eight years. His wife, 
whose maiden name was Susan Colliar, sur- 
vived her husband a number of years. Aaron 
Towner was a well-known citizen, and he and 
his wife were members of the Christian 
Church before coming to Wisconsin, but here 
they united with the Baptist Church. They 
were the parents of seven children who grew 
to mature years, three sons and four daugh- 
ters, viz.: Mary Jane, now Mrs. Straight, did 
not accompany the family to Trempealeau 
connty, bnt remained in Michigan until her 
death; Tamar A. is the wife of William P. 
Tokes, of Trempealeau; Margaret is the wife 
of Edward Barnard, of Water town, Dakota; 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



739 



John C. is the next in order of birth; Am- 
anda is the wife of James Adams, of this 
township; Richard, who resides in the village 
of Trempealeau; Henry A. a resides at Eliza- 
bethtown, New Jersey. The latter was for 
many years a resident of the village of Trem- 
pealeau, where he served as Postmaster. He 
was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, as 
a member of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry. Two members of the family, 
the eldest and the youngest, died when young. 

John C, the subject of this sketch, lived 
at his father's homestead until after he had 
attained his majority. 

He was married at the age of twenty-five 
years, to Margaret B. Carleton, a native of 
Big Flat township, Chemung county. New 
York, and a daughter of Martin C Carleton. 
She came West with her parents in 1835, 
and the family settled in Wayne county, 
Michigan, where the father died in 1882, and 
the mother afterward came to Trempealeau 
county, and lived at the home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Towner, and at a daughter's, Mrs. J. S. 
Pierson, until her death, in 1888. Mr. and 
Mrs. Towner have eight children, four sons 
and four daughters, and all but the eldest was 
born in Trempealeau county, viz.: Mary A., 
Emma, Elmer E., Clara, Milton H., Lena, 
John and Willie K. Mr. Towner has a fine 
farm of 120 acres under a fine state of culti- 
vation. He is one of the representative 
citizens of his township, where he has lived 
60 many years. In his political affiliations 
he is a Republican, and both he and his wife 
are members of the Congregational Church. 



October 14, 1843. In 18G2 he came with 
his brother Mark to America, landing at 
Quebec. He went at once to La Crosse, 
Wisconsin, where he resided four years, and 
thence to Trempealeau county. Mr. Ekern 
has 120 acres of land in his home farm, and 
on section 12 has a farm of 160 acres, both 
of these being under a good state of cultiva- 
tion, though they were in a wild state when 
he purchased them. He has a pleasant home, 
where he and his wife reside with their 
family. 

Mr. Ekern was married in Trempealeau 
county, to Miss Louisa Anderson, who came 
to this country with her parents when an in- 
fant. They settled in La Crosse county, 
where the mother died two years later, and 
the father in 1887. He was three times 
married and the father of fourteen children, 
though a number of them have now passed 
away. Mr. and Mrs. Ekern have nine chil- 
dren, seven daughters and two sons, viz.:. 
Johanna Mathilda, who was born February 
14, 1869; Giua Petriue, born November 8, 
1870; Julia Ann, January 1, 1875; Helena, 
October 13, 1874; Laura, July 2, 1877; 
Amanda, January 19, 1880; Emma, Septem- 
ber 7, 1882; Alfred, May 1, 1885, and 
Willie, November 17, 1887. Mr. Ekern is 
one of the substantial citizens of Pieeon 
township, and by good management and in- 
dustry he has secured for himself a pleasant 
home, and is surrounded by the comforts of 
life. 

— ■ «■« III ? « gni » gl» m 



jNTON EKERN, a member of a well- 
known family of Pigeon township, is a 
brother of Peter Ekern, of this town- 
ship, and of E. Ekern, of Whitehall. He re- 
sides on section 26, and was born in Norway, 



IPSON. GEORGE GALE was bon. at Bur- 
IfM) li"g''0") Vermont, November 80, 1816. 
"SfsH His, father, Peter Gale, moved his 
family to Waterbury, Vermont, in June, 
1824, and commenced a farm on the eastern 
slope of the Green Mountains. There George 



740 



BIOORAPniCAL HISTORY. 



fecund plent)' of lianl work and the meager 
facilities of acquiring an education common 
at that time in the rural districts of Ver- 
mont. At the age of sixteen he began to 
read history and biography, which awoke in 
him a latent ambition which could only be 
gratified bj patient and persistent eflort. He 
obtained books on history, biography, natural 
science and mathematics, devoting all his 
spare moments to their study, and at the age 
of twenty-one had obtained a fair knowledge 
of mathematics and natural history. 

lie commenced the study of law in 1839, 
under ex-Governor Dillingham, of Water- 
bnry, Vermont, was admitted to the bar in 
1841, emigrated West and settled at Elk- 
horn, Walworth county, Wisconsin, opened a 
hiw otiice and entered into successtni prac- 
tice. He still continued his law studies 
with great diligence for four years. He 
held various town and county offices, and in 
the fall of 1847 was elected member of the 
convention called to form the present State 
constitution of Wisconsin, serving on tiie 
judiciary committee. In the fall of the same 
year he was elected District Attorney, and in 
the fall of 1849 State Senator for two years. 
In the fall of 1851 he removed to the Upper 
Mississippi, settled in La Crosse, and was 
elected County Judge for the term of four 
years. He resigned this office January 1, 
1854, and April 1, 185(5, was elected Circuit 
Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit for the 
term of six years. 

While at La Crosse Judge Gale conceived 
the idea of starting a college, and in 1853 
purchased about 2,000 acres of land, 
including the present location of Galesville. 
He procured from the Legislature of Wis- 
consin the organization of the new county of 
Trempealeau with the location of the county 
seat at Galesville, and a university charter 
with the same location. In June of the same 



year he laid out a small village plat and let 
the contract for the erection of a saw and 
flouring mill, whicii was completed in 1856. 

The Board of Trustees of the Galesville 
University was organized in 1855, the college 
building commenced in 1858, the prepara- 
tory department opened in May 1859, and 
the first class graduated July 18, 1865. 

After the graduation of the first class 
Judge Gale resigned the presidency of the 
university, having held the office of president 
of the board for over ten years, and the pres- 
ident of faculty for over seven years. 

Judge Gale moved from La Crosse to his 
farm near Galesville in May, 1857, where he 
resided until the time of his death, April 8, 
186S. 

Though not a college graduate the Ver- 
mont University conferred on Judge Gale 
the honorary degree of Master of Arts in 
1857, and the Galesville University the title 
LL. D., in 18G3. 

Judge Gale married at Elk Horn, Wal- 
worth county, Wisconsin, December 5, 1844, 
Miss Gertrude Young. He has three chil- 
dren, two sons and a daughter. George and 
William both studied law and went into 
practice in Winona, Minnesota. George 
some years since quit the practice, and is re- 
siding with his mother on the home farm 
near Galesville. William is still in practice 
in Winona, where he has won the reputation 
of an able lawyer. Helen, the daughter, 
married Hamilton Arnold, brother of Captain 
Arnold, of Galesville. All of the children 
graduated at the institution which their father 
founded. 

During the war Judge Gale was much of 
the time in the service of the Sanitary and 
Christian commissions. For some time he 
had charge of the United States Sanitary 
Commission on Morris Island for the siege of 
Charleston. 



BIOORAPEICAL HISTORY. 



741 



As a journalist Judge Gale started the 
Western Star, at Elk Horn, the first paper 
in Walworth county, and was correspondent 
of the Oalesville Tran&cript for live years. 

His literary works are the "Wisconsin Form 
Book, 1856," which was revised and passed 
through three editions; the "Crale Family 
Record," 254 pages, 1866; "The Upper 
Mississippi," 460 pages, 1867. 

Judge Gale was tall and straight (being 6 
feet 4 inches), possessing a personality tliat 
would distinguish him among an assemblage 
of men. In manners he was genial, social 
and courteous; in politics he was a Demo- 
crat, and if he left enemies behind at his 
death they were political only. 



^. 



^ 



,LBEKT KIRCHNER, the principal 
dry-goods merchant of Fountain City, 
Wisconsin, was born at Bangor, Maine, 
January 1, 1848. His parents, Charles and 
Augusta (Dehring) Kirchner, were natives of 
Prussia, the former born November 8, 1810. 
Charles Kirchner was a shoemaker by occupa- 
tion; emigrated to the United States in the 
spring of 1846, located at Bangor, and re- 
mained there, engaged in fanning, for eight 
years. In the fall of 1854 became West and 
took up his abode in Waumandee, Buffalo 
county, Wisconsin, where he pre-empted 160 
acres of land, and began making improve- 
ments. He was the third settler here, the 
other two being John Bringolf and a Mr. 
Runkle. From time to time he added to his 
farm until he owned 240 acres, a line, well- 
improved grain farm, regarded as the best in 
the county. In 1879 he sold it to his sou, 
Charles. He, however, still resides on the 
farm and lives with his son, his wife having 
died in March, 1877. They liad si.x children, 
two boys and four girls, whose names are as 



follows: Wilhelmina, now Mrs. Charles Hah- 
man, of Waumandee; Charles, Jr.; Albert, 
Maria, wife of Fred Kochendorfer; Paulina, 
wife of Charles Prussing, of Fountain City; 
Emma, now Mrs. August Franz. 

Albert, the subject of this biography, was 
reared at home, attending the public schools 
and assisting his father with the farm work. 
In 1869 he went to Missouri and purchased a 
farm of 120 acres of railroad land in the town- 
ship of St. Catharine, Linn county. Tiiis he 
improved and cultivated until 1875, when he 
sold out and returned to Wisconsin, locating 
on rented land in Eagle valley. Three years 
later he moved to Fountain City and bought 
out Andrew Henery, a partner of Reichtman, 
in the general merchandise business, which 
was carried on under the firm name of Heicht- 
man & Kirchner. This partnership continued 
up to 1885, when Mr. Kirchner bought the 
entire interest and became sole proprietor. 
Since his connection with the business it has 
gradually increased, and is now the largest 
house in Fountain City. 

In 1879 Mr. Kirchner, in company with 
Jacob Reichtman and Frank Mathausch, 
opened the stone quarry in this city, which 
they have since operated, employing during 
the season as high as fifty men. It is located 
on the bluff just above the river, and from 
this place have been taken large quantities of 
fine limestone, used for building purposes 
throughout the county. Mr. Kirchner now 
has a large contract with the United States 
Government for furnishing the stone for dam 
and shore protection in the Mississippi river. 

He was married, June 2, 1870, in St. 
Catharine, Missouri, to Anna, daughter of 
Conrad and Anna (Langhart) Ulrich, and has 
three children: Charles, Edward and Hilda. 
Mrs. Kirchner is a membor of the Reformed 
Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. Kirchner is a public-spirited and en- 



743 



BIOORAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



terprisiiig citizen, has held various positions 
of local prominence, and always discharged 
his duty faithfully and conscientiously. He 
is treasurer of the Fountain City Brewing 
Company, and a director and stockholder in 
the same. In politics he has always affiliated 
with the Republican party. He is a member 
of the Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge 
No. 754, Fountain City; has been Venerable 
Counsel, and is now Clerk; has represented 
the order in the Grand Lodge on two occa- 
sions, once at Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1890 
at Springfield, Hlinois. 

^AVID WOOD, of the town of Lincoln, 
Trempealeau county, is a representative 
of a pioneer family of this county. He 
is the son of Alvah Wood, who was born in 
Kensselaer county, New York, in 1809, and 
removed thence to Western New York. In 
18-48 the family emigrated to Wisconsin and 
settled in the town of York, Dane county. 
Mr. Alvah Wood was married in Rensselaer 
county, to Amanda Porter. Mr. Wood con- 
tinued to reside in Dane county until 1856, 
when he came to Trempealeau county and 
settled on section 25, town 22, range 8 west, 
and here resided until his death, which 
occurred in June, 1873. Mr. Wood lost his 
first wife in Dane county, and was there 
married to Mrs. Maria Parsons, who now re- 
sides with the subject of this sketch. Mr. 
David Wood is one of a family of ten chil- 
dren, six of whom, two sons and four daugh- 
ters, are living. Mr. Alvah Wood was one 
of the well-known pioneers of Trempealeau 
county. He was an industrious, frugal citi- 
zen, and made for himself and family a 
pleasant, comfortable home. He was quite 
active in the advancement of the religious 
•M\A moral interests of the community in 



which he lived, and was from early life a 
member of the Baptist Church. In the days 
before the war of the Rebellion he was an 
Abolitionist in principle, and was in all re- 
spects a worthy, upright citizen. 

David Wood, whose name stands at the 
head of this sketch, was born in 1839, having 
been but a small lad when the family emi- 
grated to Wisconsin. He has been a resi- 
dent of Trempealeau county since the fall of 
1856. He was married in 1862 to Mary 
Parsons. 

He served in the army during the latter 
part of the war of the Rebellion, entering the 
army as a member of the Fifty-first Regi- 
ment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which 
was afterward consolidated with the Fifty- 
third. 

On his return from the army he resumed 
the occupation of farming. He has, how- 
ever, Ijeen extensively engaged in other 
branches of business; has bought and shipped 
grain from Whitehall for many years, and is 
now president of the Whitehall and Pigeon 
Trading Association. 

Mr. Wood has been chairman of the Town 
Board of Lincoln for many years, and is one 
of the leading business men of Trempealeau 
county. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have three 
sons: Archie E., James L. and Ralph. They 
lost two daughters, Sarah and Jvippie, at the 
age of seven and two years respectively. 



IIRISTOPHER E. SCOTT, the present 

Postmaster of Whitehall, having suc- 
ceeded George H. Oles, May 31, 1889, 
was born in Jefferson county. New York, 
July 10, 1831, a son of Sewell Scott, a native 
of Massachusetts. The family are of Scotch 
origin, and were among the early New 
England settlers. The paternal grandfather 



BIOGBAPHICAX HI8T0B7. 



743 



of our subject, Eeuben Scott, emigrated from 
Massachusetts to Jefferson county, New York, 
when his son Sewell was a youth. The latter, 
on the death of his father, succeeded to the 
homestead, and, like his father, continued to 
reside there until his death. His wife, nee 
Olive Carpenter, was a native of New York. 
They were the parents of six children who 
grew to mature years, four sons and two 
daughters, and only the subject of this sketch 
and his sister, Mrs. Lucy Harlow, are resi- 
dents of "Wisconsin, the latter residincr at 
Coral City, Trempealeau county. The eldest 
brother, Reuben Byron, resides in Jefferson 
county, New York, as does another brother 
Clark; the youngest, Eugene, resides in 
South Dakota, and one sister is deceased. 

C. E. Scott remained on the homestead 
farm until twenty years of age, when he went 
West, his first settlement being in Emmett 
county, Michigan. He moved thence to Ma- 
quoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, where he re- 
mained one and a half years, but in 1858 he 
returned to New York. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company D, Tenth New York 
Heavy Artillery, which organization, although 
it retained the name under which it entered 
the service, served as infantry during the 
war. Mr. Scott was actively engaged with 
his regiment during his entire service, and 
participated in some of the most important 
events in the war for the Union. He was 
with his regiment in the battle of Cold Har- 
bor, under General Grant, and in the siege 
of Petersburg. When General Sheridan was 
detached from the Army of the Potomac and 
entered upon his famous campaign in the 
Shenandoah valley in 1864, the command to 
which Mr. Scott belonged formed a part of 
Sheridan's army. He participated in all the 
noted battles in that valley, including the 
fan)ous battle of Winchester, or Cedar Creek, 
where "Sheridan, twenty miles away," made 



his famous ride and saved the day after the 
army had been routed by the Rebel General 
Early. When the Confederate forces had 
been driven from the valley by the array of 
Sheridan, the latter rejoined the army of 
Grant at Petersburg. Mr. Scott continued 
in the army until the close of the Rebellion, 
and was present at the final surrender at Ap- 
pomattox. 

He returned to the State of New York 
when discharged from the army, and in the 
spring of 1866 came to Coral City, where he 
remained eight years, and in 1874 came to 
Whitehall, where he erected a store and en- 
gaged in the mercantile business, and has 
been a leading merchant at that place since 
that time. He has now, however, practically 
retired from merchandising, having been suc- 
ceeded by his sons. His time is occupied at 
present chiefly in attending to his farm in- 
terests, being the owner of a place adjoining 
the town plat. Mr. Scott was married in 
Michigan, to Miss Mary C. Miller, a native 
of Illinois. Her parents were George and 
Mary (Fry) Miller, natives of Virginia, and 
representatives of old and well-known fami- 
lies of that State, the mother having been a 
cousin of President James Madison. Mr. 
Miller removed with his family from Michi- 
gan to Maquoketa, Iowa, and thence to Illi- 
nois. Later the mother went to California, 
and died at the home of her son in that 
State. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have four sons: 
Walter, Fred, George and Harry. The two 
eldest are successors of their father, having 
also a branch store at Elk Creek; the third 
is an artist by profession, and the youngest, 
a printer by trade, is now employed on the 
Whitehall Times. Mr. Scott is one of the 
well-known citizens of Trempealeau county, 
has filled the office of Justice of the Peace 
for ten years, has also been Assessor, and is 
the present Coroner of this county. He was 



744 



BIOORAPHWAL HISTORY. 



one of the charter memliers of Winiield Scott 
Post, No. 104, at Whitehall, and is the 
present Commander. Politically Mr. Scott 
affiliates with the Republican party, having 
cast his first Presidential vote for John C. 
Fremont in 1856, and has voted for every 
succeeding Pepublican candidate since that 
time. He is esteemed as a liberal and enter- 
prising citizen. 




jARTIN POLIJS, of Alma, Wiscon- 
sin, was born February 13, 184:0, at 
Ziliis, Switzerland. His parents, 
Jousau and Elizabeth (Cameriesct) Polin, 
were natives of that country, and died there, 
the father in 1871 and the mother about 
seven years later. By his first marriage Mr. 
Polin had two children: Anna and Peter, and 
by his wife, Elizabeth, he had five: Antone, 
Rosa, Martin, Ursula and Sebastian. He 
was engaged in farming and also kept a hotel. 
Martin Polin lived with his parents until 
seventeen years of age. He received his 
education in the canton schools of Switzer- 
land, and gained from his father a knowledge 
of business which has been of much benefit 
to him ever since he left the parental home. 
In 1857 he emigrated to the United States, 
landed at Now York and from there came 
West to Alma, Wisconsin, where his brother, 
who had preceded him here, was living and 
engaged in tiie general mercantile business. 
The same year he moved to Stillwater, Minne- 
sota, and became a clerk in a general store, 
being thus employed about a year and a half. 
He then went to Dulnique and engaged in 
clerking for Wood, Look & Co., remaining 
with them about a year. We next find him 
at Wabasha, Minnesota, doing a general mer- 
chandise business in partnership with Rudoph 
KahauB. After conducting this store a year 



and a half they sold out. Mr. Polin went to 
New York city and enlisted as a private in 
Company F, Fifty-third New York Infantry, 
and joined the regiment at Newport News; 
was in Key's corps. Cox's division, and Peck's 
brigade. His first engagement was at Will- 
iamsburg, May 15, 1862. They were charged 
on by the enemy, whom, after a hard fight, 
they repulsed. The next movement was to 
Fair Oaks, and he participated in that battle, 
May 31, 1862. His regiment was on the left 
flank of McClellan's array, and was the first 
regiment brought out after Cass's division 
was driven back. The loss of the regiment 
in this engagement was fearful, only about 
one-half reporting for duty after the battle. 
He was in the seven days' fight following, in 
the same left flank, in which the regiment 
suffered terribly, not more than 100 men be- 
ing lit for duty after the battle. Subse- 
quently the regiment was transferred to the 
Thirty-eighth New York. Arriving at Harri- 
son's Landintr, Mr. Polin was taken sick with 
tj'phoid fever, and was sent to the field hos- 
pital. Later he was sent to Philadelphia, 
and remained there about five months, at one 
time about at the point of death. He was 
discharged at the hospital in February, 1863, 
on account of disability. He then went to 
Chicago, and was employed as clerk for A. 
J. Dawns & Co., Lake street, with whom he 
remained till 1866. He then came to Alma, 
Wisconsin, where he engaged in selling agri- 
cultural machinery and also in buying grain. 
He continued this business till 1871, when 
he paid a visit to his native land, Switzer- 
land, coming back in December of the same 
year. He was then in Government employ 
at Rock Island about two months, after which 
he returned to Alma and purchased the busi- 
ness of Tester & Polin, general merchants. 
This business he has since continued, enlarg- 
ing and extending it, and now having one of 



BIOORAPHIVAL HISTORY. 



745 



the largest business bouses in this section of 
the country. 

Mr. Polin was married, December 15, 1872, 
at Alma, to Magdelina, widow of Peter Palm, 
and daughter of Clans Liesch. Their union 
has been blessed with ilve children: Eliza- 
beth, Rosa Louise, Oscar M., Alga and 
Magdalina. 

Mr. Polin is a member of the A. O. U. W. 
In politics he is a Republican, and is as- 
sociated with Fimian Post, No. 52, G. A. R. 
He was the first Mayor of the city of Alma, 
and signed the first set of ordinances, June 1, 
1885, adopted by the city. While out on 
the Pacific coast, attending the National En- 
campment of the Grand Army in 1886, he 
made an investment there, purchasing with 
Mr. Tester a 900acre tract of land in San 
Luis Obispo county, California. Mr. Polin 
and his family are among the best citizens of 
Alma, and are highly esteemed by all who 
know them. 

'•' ' "^ ' S i' S ' l'" *°' — ' 



pjEV. O. A. MYHRE is the pastor of 
French Creek Norwegian Lutheran 
Church, of Ettrick, Trempealeau 
county. The present church building was 
erected in 1878, the pastor at that time be- 
ing Rev. L. Sherven, who remained six years, 
and is now at Rock Prairie, Rock county. 
lie was succeeded l)y Rev. G. A Lunde, now 
of Nebraska, who came in 1880 and re- 
mained nine and a half years; next came 
Rev. O. A. My lire, who catne from Norway 
May 1, 1890. Previous to the erection of 
the church in 1878 services were held at 
private houses and in the barns of the earlier 
settlers. According to the church records 
Rev. L B. Frick was the first pastor in this 
vicinity, who was followed by Rev. O. Wal- 
deland, next by Rev. S. Svennungson, four 



years later by Rev. Sherven, under whose 
auspices the building was erected. The 
chnrch was remodeled in the fall of 1890 
and spring of 1891, and dedicated June 23 
of the latter year by Right Rev. O. luul, 
from Chicago. The church building is a fine 
and commodious one, and the parish con- 
tains about 110 families. 

Rev. O. A. Myhre was born in Sandefjord, 
Norway, in 1865. He was educated at the 
University of Christiania, where he was a 
student from 1883 to 1890, receiving his 
theological education at this institution. He 
was called to his present church soon after 
his graduation. His parents are still resi- 
dents of Norway, and the only member be- 
sides himself in this country is a brother. 
Rev. Myhre has much labor to perform be- 
sides that which pertains to the French 
Creek Church, having to attend churches in 
Arcadia, Preston and Gale, Trempealeau 
county, and in Melrose, Jackson county. 

Rev. Myhre was married in Christiania, 
April 9, 1890, to Nora Sivertsen. 



-T-'vT/i/" 



'^innn^^ 



I^ENRY TEEPLE, who resides on sec- 
tion 14, town of Albion, is one of the 
early settlers of this town. He was 
born in Hamilton county, Ohio, February 
18, 1832, son of John and Rheuamy (Crnm) 
Teeple, both natives of Ohio. The Teeple 
family was formerly from New Jersey, but 
Leonard Teeple (our subject's grandfather), 
with his two brothers, early settled in Ham- 
ilton county, Ohio, being among the pioneers 
of that county, and there he lived for the 
balance of his life. John Teeple finally re- 
moved to Shelby county, Indiana, wiiere he 
died a number of years ago. His widow 
still survives at Shelbyville, Indiana, at the 
advanced age of eighty-three years. Of the 



746 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



ten cliildreii born to tliem seven still snrs'ive. 
Henry Teeple lived at home until the age of 
twenty-three years. At the age of twenty- 
two years married Miss Mary Catherine 
Rice, and in 1855 started westward. He 
located at the town of Vermont, Dane county, 
where he bought a farm, which he improved, 
and there he lived until 1865, when he came 
here, whither his father-in-law, James Rice, 
had already come. James Rice was a native 
of Kentucky. He settled in the town of 
Albion in 1863, but later moved to Wadena 
county, Minnesota, where several of his 
children were living, and there he has since 
died. His widow still survives. When Mr. 
Teeple settled where he now resides, a quarter 
of a century since, but little improvement 
had been made, all being wild and new, and 
he and family endured all the suiFering and 
privation incident to pioneer life. His mar- 
ried life has been blessed with three children, 
two sons and one daughter, viz.: John»P., 
the eldest, was born in Dane county in 1857; 
liyrou B. was born in Trempealeau county, 
February 12, 1866. The daughter, Lillian 
M., is the wife of Wilber Rhodes. In his 
political views Mr. Teeple was in early life a 
Democrat, but when the late war broke out 
he supported the Government in a loyal man- 
ner, voting for Lincoln in 1864, and has ever 
since been a Republican. 

^ANIEL BIG HAM, a worthy resi- 
dent of Trempealeau county, is a son 
of James Bigham, who was born in the 
North of Ireland, of Scotch parentage, and 
reared in his native country. He there mar- 
ried Catherine McVoy and emigrated to 
America about 1838, settling in Putnam 
county, New York. In 1855 he came West 
to look for a home, and was accompanied on 



this trip by Peter Case, another well-known 
early settler of this county. Their intention 
was to settle in Iowa, but they changed their 
minds and were induced to locate in the town 
of Glencoe, and their families followed soon 
after. James Bigliam lost his tirst wife in 
the State of New York, but later re-raarried. 
He continued to reside in the town of Glen- 
coe for a number of years and then removed 
to section 21, town 20, range 10 west, where 
he resided until his death, which occurred in 
1870. He was the father of fifteen children, 
all of whom grew to maturity e.xcept one, but 
several of whom are now deceased. Daniel 
Bigham, whose name stands at the head of 
this sketch, was born in Putnam county. New 
York, November 25, 1843, and at the age of 
fourteen years went to Buffalo county, Wis- 
consin, whither his father had already moved. 
He remained at home until he was sixteen 
years of age and then started in life for him- 
self, and for eight years was employed by the 
lumber firm of Hixon & Crosby, of La Crosse, 
but during several winters of this period he 
attended school at home, and for two winters 
of the time was in the service of the firm in 
the pineries of Wisconsin. Later he worked 
for Andrew Shepard near Black River Falls 
for two years, and in fact was in the employ- 
ment of several different parties before he 
settled down to farming. The tir.^t land that 
he owned was a forty-acre tract on section 1, 
which forms a part of his present farm. He 
began the improvement of his land in 1866, 
but in 1867, wishing to engage in businef-s 
that would furnish him some ready money, 
he leased his farm and going to La Crosse 
engaged in the service of the lumber firm of 
Hixon & Withee, but after one season re- 
turned to the improvement of his land. He 
has since added to his tirst possessions until 
he has a fine farm of 200 acres. March 24, 
1868, witnessed his marriage to Miss Flor- 



BTOORAPHWAL UISTORY. 



747 



ence Caldwell, daughter of James Caldwell, 
who emigrated to Fountain' City from Clin- 
tonvilje. New York, in 1855, and died in 
July of the following year. The mother now 
lives in the village of Arcadia. Mrs. Bigham 
was born in the State of New York, having 
been eight years old when she came to Wis- 
consin with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Big- 
ham have three children, two daughters and 
a SOD, viz.: Orrie May, who was born March 
12, 1869; Alice Myrtle, who was born July 
21, 1871, and a son born May 30, 1879. 
Mrs. Bigham was one of eleven children, 
several of whom died in early life and four of 
whom are now living. The survivors are 
Judson Caldwell, of Buffalo county, Mrs. 
Ursula Jane Van Valkenburg, of Barron 
county, Wisconsin; Mrs. Bigham, who is 
next in order of birth, and Mrs. Ella Moore. 
Mr. Bigham is one of the representative men 
of his town and a progressive, enterprising 
citizen. He was Assessor of his town for 
seven years, and has since served as chairman 
of the town board. Formerly a Kepublican, 
as issues changed he believed he saw his duty 
elsewhere and has lately affiliated with the 
Democratic party. In his religious views he 
is liberal and tolerant. 

iLMON A. JOHNSON, a pioneer of 
Trempealeau county, resides on section 
82, in the town of Trempealeau. He 
came to this county in March, 1856, and first 
settled one mile east of the village of Gales- 
ville, on what is known as the William 
Andrews farm, where he continued to reside 
until the spring of 1868, when he settled on 
his present farm. He was born in Trumbull 
county, Ohio, October 21, 1820, the son of 
Anson Johnson. His father, the grandfather 
of the subject of this sketch, was a pioneer of 



Trumbull county. Anson Johnson married 
Maria Oviatt, a daughter of Samuel Oviatt, 
who was also a pioneer of that county, set- 
tling there when that portion of Ohio was 
the extreme Western frontier of civilization. 
Both the paternal and maternal ancestors of 
our subject were from the State of Connecti- 
cut, the Johnson branch of the family being 
from Cornell, and the Oviatts from the town 
of Goshen. Anson Johnson and wife con- 
tinned to live in Trumbull county, Ohio, 
until death. They were the parents of seven 
children, three sons and four daughters, who 
grew to mature years, and three brothers and 
a sister are now living, namely: Elmer O., 
the eldest of the children, resides at Hastings, 
Michigan ; Sallie, the widow of Henry Hyde, 
resides at Sullivan, Ashland county, Ohio; 
Almon A. is the next in order of birth; 
Homer LT., the youngest of the family, lives 
at Orville, Trumbull county. 

Almon A. Johnson, the subject of this 
sketch, was reared in his native county, and 
was married in Summit county, Ohio, to 
Elizabeth C. Robinson, a native of that 
county, born July 21. 1825. Her parents 
were Leonard and Catherine (Farrer) John- 
son, early settlers of what is now Summit 
county, but then a part of Medina county, 
Ohio. They were of New England parent- 
age, and continued to live in Summit county 
until their death. After their marriage Mr. 
and Mrs. Johnson resided in Lorain county 
for a number of years, removing thence to 
Columbia county, Wisconsin, and locating in 
the town of Hampden, twenty miles east of 
Portage, and subsequently came to Trempea- 
leau county. They have had ten children, 
eicrht sons and two daughters, of whom three 
sons and a daughter are now deceased. The 
surviving' children are: Leonard A., Edward 
R., Homer E., Franklin S., Mary I. and 
Auren M. Their eldest son, Samuel A., was 



748 



BIOORAPBIGAL BISTORT. 



a soldier in tbe war of the Rebellion, being a 
member of Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry. He was a gallant soldier, 
and was in active service during the whole 
time of his enlistment. He died of disease 
contracted in the army, March 7, 1872, at 
the age of nearly twenty six years. William 
E. died July 6, 1888, at the age of twenty- 
eight years; Chauncey N. died March 1, 
1884, aged twenty-one years; Emma E. died 
March 18, 1890, at the age of nearly twenty- 
three years. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Johnson 
was formerly a Whig, but his father, how- 
ever, was a Jackson Democrat, and served in 
the war of 1812, under General Harrison. 
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Johnson was 
a soldier in the war of the Revolution, so 
that it will be seen that his family have been 
represented in the three great wars of this 
country, viz.: the war of the Revolution, the 
war of 1812 and the Civil war of 1861. 
Since the organization of the Republican 
party Mr. Johnson has affiliated with that 
great national body. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Johnson are numbered amongtheesteemed and 
respected residents of Trempealeau county, 
where they have lived for the long period of 
twenty-six years. They have had their full 
share of affliction in the loss of four of their 
children after they had attained to manhood 
and womanhood. They have a pleasant 
home and posocss the comforts of life, the 
result of their own industry, and are well 
worthy a place in the permanent record of 
the old settlers of Trempealeau county. 



fOUN WESLEY DE GROFE.— There 
are few men in the State that have had 
a more varied or interesting career, or 
who have done more toward the intellectual 
advancement of the section of country in 



which they reside, or who have contributed 
more toward it? material development and 
political progress, than the man whos5 name 
heads this sketch. 

Mr. De Groff, late l^ostmaster at Alma, 
Wisconsin, was born in the town of Metz, 
Cayuga county, New York, October 12, 1843, 
and is the oldest son of John S. and Eliza 
(Barner) De Grotf. Tiie elder De Groff was 
born in the same county. May 17, 1817, a 
descendant of German ancestry. His father, 
who emigrated to this country at an early 
day, was born in Germany. His wife, Eliza, 
was born in Ulster county, on the Hudson, 
in 1820. He has all his life been engaged 
in agricultural pursuits. Eight children were 
given to them, five sons and three daughters, 
whose names are as follows: John Wesley, 
Margaret, now Mrs. James W. Warner; 
Eliza, who died in infancy; Allen H., a resi- 
dent of Misha Mokwa, and Junior Vice- 
Commander of the G. A. R., Department of 
Wisconsin; Hattie, who died at the age of 
sixteen years; AVilliam J., a farmer in South 
Dakota; Samuel D., who was a printer by 
trade, died in 1879, at the age of nineteen; 
and Charles E., who is now a student in the 
Agricnltural College of South Dakota. The 
parents are still living, in Misha Mokwa, 
Wisconsin. The father left New York in 
1844 for the West, and settled in Dodge 
county, Wisconsin, where he began the im- 
provement of a farm. John W. followed 
with his mother in 1845, coming around the 
lakes to Milwaukee and then on to the new 
home. He remained with his parents, assist- 
ing in farm work, and attending the district 
schools when he could. His father suffered 
in the panic of 1856, and was obliged to sell 
his farm. He then removed to Buffalo county 
and located where he now resides. 

In the spring of 1860 the Bul)ject of our 
sketch left home to make his own way in the 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



749 



world, and went to Durand, tliis State, to 
learn the cabinet trade. 

He worked at this business and at keel- 
boating on the Chippewa river until the 
spring of 1862, when he enlisted in Colonel 
Post's regiment of United States Sharp- 
shooters. He was taken to Fort Snelling, 
Minnesota, where he was rejected by the ex- 
amining surgeon of the army. He returned 
to Durand and went to work at his trade. 

August 4, 1862, he re-enlisted in Company 
G, Twenty fifth Wisconsin Infantry, and was 
mustered into the service at La Crosse, Wis- 
consin; was ordered to report at Fort Snell- 
ing, where the command was used in guard- 
ing the frontier. In December they were 
ordered South, arriving at Columbus, Ken- 
tucky, in January, 1863; did guard duty in 
Kentucky until the campai'gn of Vicksbnrg, 
when they were ordered there and formed the 
rear line. They were in the Sixteenth Army 
Corps, Second Division and Second Brigade. 
After the fall of Vicksburg they were doing 
guard duty in Arkansas and Mississippi until 
about January 1, 1864, when they were ordered 
to Cliattanooga, and had one engagement at 
Deeatvir, Alabama; were still in the Sixteenth 
Corps, under Dodge. They remained in Ala- 
bama until the opening of the Atlanta cam- 
paign, when they were ordered forward to 
Chattanooga by way of Huntsville, and then 
joined the forces under Sherman and were in 
the engagement at Resaca, May 14, support- 
ing General Logan. They defeated the enemy. 
He with his regiment participated in every 
enoracement up to the fall of Atlanta. On 
the 22d of July the regiment lost one-fourth 
of its command, and was subsequently filled 
up with new recruits and was reorganized, 
becoming a part of the Second Brigade, First 
Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps. 
November 15, 1864, the command started on 
the ever-memorable march to the sea. They 

49 



were the first regiment that formed in line 
before Savannah after crossing Ogeechee 
canal, and were in that attack and the cap- 
ture of Savannah. January 3, 1865, they 
marched through Savannah and embarked at 
Thunderbolt bay for Beaufort, South Caro- 
lina. From Beaufort they began the march 
through the Carolinas on January 18. They 
captured the Pocataligo railroad on the way. 
February 2 they met the enemy on the Salke- 
hatchie river, in the swamps. Their division 
was the first to break the line at that river, 
which caused the evacuation of Charleston. 
They participated in the last battle of Sher- 
man's army, at Bentonville, North Carolina, 
March 15. From Bentonville they moved to 
Goldsborough and went into camp. April 
10 they again moved out after Joe Johnston, 
reaching Raleigh on the 14th of April; were 
at the surrender of Johnston's army, April 
26. May 1 they started on their homeward 
march, passing through Richmond, and ar- 
riving in Washingtcm May 24. where they 
participated in the grand review. They were 
mustered out June 7 and ordered home, 
reaching the State capital June 11, where 
they were finally discharged. 

After the war Mr. De GrofE went to work 
at his trade at Menomonie. In the winter of 
1865-'66 he taught school, and the follow- 
ing summer he spent in Winona, Minnesota. 
In the fall he returned to Buffalo county and 
was nominated for County Cl^rk by the Re- 
publican party, and was elected. He served 
as County Clerk seven years, being defeated 
for re-election in 1873. In 1872 he pur- 
chased the Buffalo County Journal, which 
he conducted till September 1, 1890, with 
marked success. In 1875 he was elected 
Clerk of the Circuit Court, wliich office he 
held continuously for thirteen j'ears. In 
1879 he was elected a member of the Assem- 
bly. The year before he was appointed As- 



750 



BIOORAPniCAL niSTORT. 



Bistant Chief Clerk of the Senate. In 1882 
he was appointed Assistant Chief Clerk of 
the Assembly, and served two terms. In 
1887 he was chosen Senator, representing the 
counties of Buffalo and Trempealeau. In 
the first session he served on the committee 
on judiciary, the last session, on the com- 
mittee on insurance, banks and banking, and 
military affairs, and was chairman of the 
committee on enrolled bills. December 20, 
1890, he received the appointment of Post- 
master of Alma. In 1876 he was elected 
president of the Board of Trustees of Alma, 
and chairman of the county Board of Super- 
visors. After the "organization of the city he 
was elected Mayor. This was in 1887-'88- 
'89. Kccently the Colonel has disposed of 
his realty in Alma, resigned his postoffice, 
and removed to Marshfield, Wood county, 
Wisconsin, where he is engaged in the publi- 
cation of the Marshfield Times, and will 
make Marshfield his future home. 

June 7, 1867, is the date of Mr. De Grotto's 
marriage, at Augusta, Wisconsin, with Fran- 
ces, daughter of Alfred Newman. Three 
children liave been born to them, — Winifred, 
Fred O. and Rob Roy. 

Colonel De Groff is a member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity, and was Worshipful Master 
of Alma Lodge, No. 184, for thirteen years; 
Chancellor Commander of Alraa Lodge, No. 
48, K. of P., five years; and Adjutant of 
Fimian Post, No. 196, Department of Wis- 
consin, five years. Me was on the staff ot 
General Alger, Commander-in-Chief of the 
G. A. R. ; also Aid-de-Camp to Department 
Commander A. G. Weissert, of the Depart- 
ment of Wisconsin. In 1873 he was ap- 
pointed by Governor Washburn Captain of 
the Alma Rifles, State Militia. 

Colonel De Groff is truly a self-made man, 
and is eminently deserving of the success he 
has attained. His genial disposition has 



drawn around him a large circle of friends. 
Indeed, he is one of the most popular men of 
his section of the State. Yet in the prime 
of manhood, he has only begun his career of 
usefulness. 



SCOTT HOTCHKISS, of Indepen- 
dence, was born in Greene county. New 
* York, March 27, 1837, a son of Henry 
E. Ilotchkiss, a native of New Durham, New 
York. His grandfather, Lemuel Hotchkiss, 
belonged to an early family of the colony of 
Connecticut, and was a captain in the war of 
the Revolution. A number of years after 
the colonies had secured their independence, 
he settled in New Durham, New York, a 
town so called because it was settled by 
emigrants from Durham, Connecticut. The 
father of our subject married Alice Smith at 
Cairo, Greene county, where he passed the 
most of his life. Mr. Hotchkiss was a cabi- 
netmaker by trade, but also followed the oc- 
cupation of a farmer. He and his wife were 
the parents of four children, three sons and 
a daughter, of whom the s\ibject of this 
sketch is the eldest: Elizabeth is the wife of 
Francis Walters, of Cairo, New York; Henry 
E., a farmer, resides nearOsseo, Trempealeau 
county; Addison died in Texas, of typhoid 
fever. 

E. Scott was reared to the occupation of 
farming, and received a good English educa- 
tion. In 1856, when nineteen years of age, 
he went to Richland county, Wisconsin; in 
1857 he rented a farm; in the fall of 1859 
came to Osseo and engaged in farming and 
later in merchandising and milling; and in 
1876 he went to California, his intention 
being to locate there, should he be pleased 
with the country; but returned the same 
season to Wisconsin. xVt the fall election of 



BIOGBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



751 



that year he was elected Sheriff of Trem- 
pealeau county, and January 1, 1877, when 
he entered that office, the county seat was re- 
moved from Galesville to Arcadia. After 
the expiration of his term of office as Sheriff 
he was Under- Siieriff for two years, during 
which time he continued his residence in 
Arcadia. In the meantime he had purchased 
a farm near Independence, Burnside township, 
and in 1883 he took up his residence in that 
village, where he hought and conducted a 
lumber-yard five years. Since that time he 
has devoted his attention exclusively to farm 
ing and stock-raising, giving considerable 
attention to the rearing of Hambletonian 
horses and Shropshire sheep. He has a fine 
farm of 280 acres, which lies just without 
the village of Independence, and also a 
pleasant home in the village where he resides. 

In 1862 Mr. Hotchkiss wa? married, at 
Osseo, to Miss Harriet A. Field, a daughter 
of the Hon. Robert C. Field, who was born 
in Greene county, New York, May 6, 1804, 
and died at Osseo, June 16, 1876. His 
father, Robert Bates Field, was a native of 
Connecticut, and his mother's maiden name 
was Sally Austin. Mr. Field received a good 
education, and in early life began the study 
of law and with a view of making it his 
profession, but which proved distasteful to 
him, and he engaged in mercantile pursuits. 
In 1849 he removed with his family to Rich- 
land county, Wisconsin, and in 1859 to Osseo. 
In 1844 he represented Greene county in the 
New York Legislature, in 1857 represented 
Richland county in the Legislature of Wis- 
consin, was a member of the State Senate in 
1874-'75, and for a time was a member of 
the County Board of Supervisors. He was 
a Democrat in early life, but later a Repub- 
lican. 

He was twice married, his first wife being 
Harriet Graham, and he was married to his 



second wife, Mary Stoddard, April 1, 1838. 
Mr. Field was the father of seven children, 
all by the second marriage, and of these Mrs. 
Hotchkiss is the eldest; Stoddard and Francis 
E. are residents of Osseo; Robert died at the 
age of eleven years; Horace A. lives in Osseo; 
Hiram H. is the next in order of birth; May 
Elizabeth died at the age of twenty-three 
years. Hon. Robert C. Field was a man of 
ability, was well known throughout the State, 
and was prominent in political and business 
circles. Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss have two 
children: Mary Alice, wife of Dr. Albert A. 
Maurer, of La Crosse; and Francis, at home. 
Mr. Hotchkiss is one of the representative 
citizens of his city; has been a member of 
the Board of Supervisors several times, and 
in 1890 was elected chairman of that body. 
In 1885 he was Enrolling Clerk of the State 
Senate. He has also been Sheriff and Under- 
Sheriff, and held other official positions. In 
his political affiliations he is a Republican. 



— ■°-" ;^ " S "S'^— — 

HRISTIAN L. KASS resides on sec- 
IC^, tion 26, in the town of Pigeon, where 
he settled in 1866. He was born in 
1825, in Norway, where he grew to manhood. 
Is a carpenter and builder by trade, to which 
he served an apprenticesliip in his native 
land. In 1861 he emigrated with his family 
to America, and settled in La Crosse county, 
with his family, where they lived till 1866, 
when they removed to what is now the town 
of Pigeon, in Trempealeau county. The first 
land he obtained here was the forty acres on 
which the residence stands; and this he 
purchased of the Government. It is on sec- 
tion 26. The remainder of the farm, whicii 
contains 160 acres, is on section 27. The 
eldest of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Kase, 
is Louisa. She was educated at the public 



752 



BIOanAPIIICAL HISTORY. 



schools and also took a course at the high 
school at Black River Falls, and at Blair. 
She began teacliing in 1873, in Jackson 
county, and taught many terms in that and 
Trempealeau counties. She went to North 
Dakota in 1888, and for three years was a 
teacher in Cass county, and is still engaged 
in teaching in Dakota. The second member 
of the family is Nels C. Kass, who was born 
in Norway in 1858. He married Maria 
Johnson and resides at the homestead. The 
remaining members of the family are Bertha, 
Minnie, Car) B. and Albert. 

fAMES SAMSOjST, of section 23, Gale 
township, has resided in Decora Prairie 
since the spring of 1855. He was born 
in Ayrshire, Scotland, April 21, 1821, a son 
of Thomas and Eliza (Goode) Samson. The 
parents never came to America, but spent all 
their lives in their native country. The 
subject of this sketch was one of twelve chil- 
dren, ten of whom grew to mature years. 
Mr. Samson has the honor of being descended 
from Tarn Samson, the subject of one of 
Robert Burns' most popular poems, the title 
of the poem being "Tarn Samson's Elegy." 
Tarn Samson's history says lie was a worthy 
old sportsman, and a great friend of the poet, 
though many years his senior. When lie 
went out hunting on a certain occasion, and 
having become advanced in life, he expressed 
a wish to die and be buried in the muirs 
On tliis hint Burns composed his elegy and 
epitaph. Tam Samson outlived the poet. The 
epitaph that accompanied the elegy is in- 
scribed on his gravestone in the churchyard 
of Kilmarnock, which is as follows: 

" Tam Samson's well-worn clay lies here; 
Ye canting zealots, spare him; 

If honest worth in Heaven rise, 
Ye'll mend or j-e win near him." 



Si.x brothers of the subject of this sketch 
are still living, of wiiom he is the eldest. 
Robert, the next in order of birth, is in Scot- 
land, as is also John and Thomas, twins. 
The two youngest, William and Charles, re- 
side in New Zealand, and one sister, Janet, 
the widow of Archibald Wilson, resides in 
Kankakee county, Illinois. James Samson 
was marrird, in Scotland, in 1844, to Janet 
Vallance, who died at the homestead in Gale 
township, Trempealeau county, March 4, 
1869. She was the mother of twelve chil- 
dren, eight of whom are living, viz.: Janet, 
Margaret, Thomas, Agnes, James, Mary, 
Alexander and Robert. December 14, 1871, 
Mr. Samson was married to Mrs. Catherine 
Bennett, whose maiden name was Catherine 
Rifenburg, a native of New York. Her 
father died when she was a ciiild, after which 
her mother remarried, and when she was 
fourteen years of age the family removed to 
Wisconsin, and settled on Decora Plains, this 
county, in the autumn of 1855. Mr. and 
Mrs. Samson have two sons: George and 
David. Mrs. Samson has a daughter by her 
first marriasxe, Abisjail, now the wife of 
Walter Thomas. Mr. Samson is one of the 
substantial citizens of Gale township, and he 
and his wife have a pleasant home on the 
beautiful prairie. 



^^ALTER JACKSON resides on sec- 
I tion 36, in the town of Gleucoe, 
\< ^gi," j Buffalo county, where he settled in 
the spring of 1862. He was born in the 
town of Newburgh, Fifeshire, Scotland, in 
1830. His father, Henry Jackson, died in 
his native land, at the age of fifty-two years, 
and the mother, wiiose maiden name was 
Anna White, died three years before the 
death of her husband. The subject of this 




BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



763 



sketch was oue of eight children, six of whom 
were living in 1891, and all residents of the 
United States. Wajter Jackson learned the 
trade of blacksinithing. This is the occnpa- 
tion of the father, and all of the sons served 
an apprenticeship to that trade. In 1854 
Walter came to America and lived in Pen- 
saiikee, near Green Bay, for nearly nine years, 
engaged as blacksmith and engineer in a 
sawmill. He came here from that place, 
lie has a good farm of 120 acres, which is 
well improved. He was married, in 1865, to 
Ellen Beveridge, a native of the same town as 
himself. Mrs. Jackson died August?, 1887, 
leaving five children, three boys and two girls, 
viz.: Robert, Adamston, Ellen, Walter H. 
and Anna. Mr. Jackson combines farming 
with blacksmithing. He is an excellent 
mechanic as well as a good farmer. He is an 
industrious and respected citizen, and is 
known as an honest, upright man. 



^. 



^ 



fOHN BIGUAM was born in Putnam 
county. New York, August 27, 1839, 
having been seventeen years of age 
when his father emigrated from the State of 
New York to Buffalo county, Wisconsin (see 
sketch of Daniel Bigham). John Bigham 
has spent all his mature years in Trempeau- 
leau county. September 21, 1864, he en- 
listed in Company H, Third Wisconsin In- 
fantry, and served loyally and well until the 
close of the war. After enlistment he went 
direct to Madison, Wisconsin, and thence to 
Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was at this 
time on detached service and did duty at 
Chattanooga for a considerable time, but 
finally joined the army of General Thomas, at 
Nashville, and took part in the celebrated 
battle of that place, which resulted in the 
complete overthrow of the rebel army under 



General Hood. Following in the pursuit of 
Hood into Alabama, our subject did duty for 
a time at Huntsville, in that State, but was 
finally ordered to join his regiment at 
Goldsboro, North Carolina, marching with 
Sherman's army to Raleigh, thence to 
Washington, District of Columbia, taking 
part in the grand review in that city. 
Like so many others of our heroes, Mr. 
Bigham's health was much broken in 
the service of his country, and he has 
never fully recovered. On the 9th of Janu- 
ary, 1867, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Grace K. Gardner, daughter of Henry 
and Miranda (Shelley) Gardner, the former 
of whom was a native of Allegany county, 
New York, and the latter of Rhode Island. 
They early removed from New York to 
Indiana, thence overland with teams to Ar- 
cadia, Wisconsin, in 1857, and settled on a 
tract of Government land. In 1870 Mr. 
Gardner removed with his wife to Butler 
county, Missouri, but about a year later 
again changed their residence, going to 
Phillips county, Kansas, where the father 
died on the 27th of August, 1872. The 
wife and mother survived her husband until 
December 15, 1888, at which time she 
passed away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Bigham, with whom she had lived since the 
death of her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Gard- 
ner were the parents of five children, two 
sous and three daughters. The elder son, 
Milton H., served in Company C, Thirtieth 
Wisconsin regiment. He made his home in 
Trempealeau county until 1869, when he 
went to Missouri, which was the inducement 
for the parents also to go to that State, and later 
to Kansas. In 1890 he removed to Buchanan 
county, Iowa, where he now lives. Myron 
B., the younger son, was a member of Com- 
pany B, Second regiment, Wisconsin Volnn- 
unteer Infantry, in the late war, and was 



754 



BIOGIiAPmCAL HISTORY. 



killed at the battle of Hull Run, July 19, 
1861. The eldest of the family is Mrs. 
Helen C. Simpson, of Arcadia; another 
daughter is Mrs. Minerva C. Farlin of Ar- 
cadia; Mrs. Bigham is the youngest of the 
family and was born in Boone county, Indi- 
ana, in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Bigham have 
live children, tliree sons and two daughters, 
viz.: Bertha M., Minnie H., Elmer, Ellis and 
Byrd. Mr. Bigham, as will be seen, is one 
of the pioneers of Wisconsin, and during his 
long residence in this section has won the 
respect and confidence of all who know him. 
He is an ardent Republican in politics. 



llCHOLAS BACH.— No name is more 
familiar to the people of Buffalo 
county than that of Nick Bach, one of 
the largest landowners in the county and the 
proprietor of that famous hostelry of the 
Waumandee valley, the Waumaudee Hotel. 
Nicholas Bach was born in Niederkirchen, 
Bavaria, Germany, November 1, 1842. son 
of Nicholas and Josephine (Biehn) Bach, 
natives of Bavaria, the former born in 1811 
and the latter in 1816. Grandfather Bach 
was named William. Of the ten children 
born to Nicholas and Josephine Bach, nine 
are living in the United States, viz.: William; 
Savilla, now Mrs. Weber, of Dubuque; Mag- 
gie, now Mrs. Minninger, of Chicago; Nich- 
olas, the subject of our sketch; Eliie, now 
Mrs. Tritschler, of this county; Michael, of 
Iowa; Eva, now Mrs. B. BaumheflFer of 
Dubuque; Anna, wife of Frank MuUer, of 
La Marsh, Iowa; Lena, now Mrs. A. Heinz, 
of Buffalo county. They emigrated to the 
United States in the spring of 1857, landing 
at New York and at once coming West to 
what is now known as East J)uliuque, Illinois. 
The father at first I'linted land and subse- 



quently purchased forty acres. He was in- 
dustrious and economical, and continued to 
increase his acreage, extending it into Grant 
county, Wisconsin, until he had one of the 
largest farms in that section of the country, 
all under good cultivation. At an advanced 
age he retired from active work, and subse- 
quently bought a home near his favorite son, 
Nick, in Waumandee, where he expected to 
spend the rest of his days. One evening he 
took his rod and line and went over to the 
Waumandee to catch a few trout. While out 
he was attacked by a vicious bull, and before 
he could be rescued his arm, shoulder-blade, 
and several ribs were broken, besides receiv- 
ing internal injuries. Medical aid was sum- 
moned but was of no avail, and a few hours 
later he died. This occurred December 14, 
1888, when he was eighty-three years of age. 
Ills widow is still living, and makes her 
home with her daughter Maggie, at Chicago. 
The subject of our sketch was reared at 
home, attending school and assisting his 
father on the farm until he was sixteen. At 
that age he left home and was employed by a 
Scotch farmer, near Fair Play, Wisconsin, 
with whom he remained over three years, 
and where he had a pleasant home. For 
kindness shown him then he still holds that 
family in grateful remembrance. Young 
Bach left his kind employer and pleasant 
home in order to enlist in the service of his 
country. Before he was mustered in, how- 
ever, his father went after him and took him 
home, he being then under age. Displeased, 
of course, at not being allowed to enter the 
service, he soon afterward went to St. Paul, 
and for some time was variously employed 
at different places; drove carriage for a 
banker, Mr. Thompson, at St. Paul, several 
months; was employed on steamboats for a 
time; as a teamster, was in Government era- 
])loy anil went to I'ort Thunij)son with pro- 



BlOORAPniCAL HISTORY. 



755 



visions and cattle foi' the soldiers, returning 
seven montiis later with furs, hides, etc.; 
again engaged in steatnboating, afterward in 
the transfer business at Dubuque, and then 
for two years was on a packet running from 
St. Paul to Dubuque. We next And him in 
Glencoe, engaged in farm work. He soon 
afterward pre-empted a homestead in Wau- 
mandee township, which, after making some 
improvements, he sold. Coming over into 
the Waumandee valley, he engaged in farm- 
ing with Casper Schmitz. Mr. Sc-hmitz 
owned a store and farm near the site of the 
Waumandee Hotel. He received a kick from 
an Indian pony, which caused his death; and 
JVlr. Bach was appointed administrator of his 
estate. 

August 1, 1879, Mr. Bach was united in 
marriage with Mrs. Schmitz, widow of his 
friend Casper Schmitz. By her former 
marriage she had three children: John, Rosa 
(wife of Joseph Kuehnhackl, of La Crosse) 
and Emily. 

Mr. Bach is a man of tine business ability 
He possesses an unusual amount of energy, 
enterprise and good judgment; and his well- 
directed efforts have been rewarded with suc- 
cess. From time to time he added to his 
landed estate until his farm comprised about 
700 acres in a solid body — one of the finest 
farms in the country. He raised one year as 
high as 7,000 bushels of grain. The elegant 
brick house and many of the other buildings 
on his farm were erected by him. 

The hotel building which occupied the site 
of his present one was burned during a lease. 
He then erected a large and substantial one 
of brick, and, leasing his farm, moved to the 
hotel and took charge of it himself. Con- 
nected with tlie hotel is a large hall which is 
used for entertainments, etc. Mr. Bach's 
courteous manner and genial nature con- 
tribute to bis popularity as a landlord. 



Guests at the Waumandee hotel are always 
sure of a good table and prompt and kind 
attention. 

His political affiliations are with the 
Democratic party. He has held the office of 
Supervisor of Montana township, and several 
times has been Roadmaster of Waumandee. 
He is a member of the A. O. U. W. Lodge, 
of Fountain City, No. 13, and of the St. 
Joseph Society, of La. Crosse. Both he and 
his wife are consistent members of the 
Catholic Church. 



^. 



•@^ 



'^ 



IHARLES EDGAR PERKINS, one of 
the well known pioneers of Trempealeau 
county, came to this State in June, 1856, 
at which time he located in Galesville. He 
was born in Hartland township, Windsor 
county, Vermont, July 22, 1821, a son of 
Katiian Perkins, a native of the same county. 
The Perkins family settled originally in Mas- 
sachusetts, being early settlers of Plymouth 
township, Plymouth county, and were of 
English ancestry. The grandfather of our 
subject, Nathan Perkins, was a soldier in the 
war of the • Revolution, and one of the first 
settlers of Woodstock, Vermont, where he 
settled in 1790. Our subject's father was 
born April 8, 1793, and was married to Mary 
Marcy, a daughter of William Marcy, of Pu- 
ritan ancestry. The parents continued to 
live in Vermont until their death, the father 
dying at St. Albans April 6, 1865, and was 
buried at Morrisville on his seventy-second 
birthday, and his wife died at the same place 
November 6, 1877, and was buried by the 
side of her husband. They were the parents 
of six children, live of whom, three sons and 
two daughters, grew to mature years. Charles 
E. Perkins was the eldest of the family; the 
eldest sister, Mary Melvina, is the widow of 



756 



BTOGRAPIIIGAL HISTOMT. 



Dr. Almon Tinker, of Monisville, Vermont; 
Sarah Jane was twice married, her first hus- 
band being Marvin Farnani, bj whom slie 
liad two children: Henry M., an attorney at 
Minneapolis, and Florence, also of Minne- 
apolis. Sarah Jane's second husband was G. 
D. Williams; she died a number of years ago. 
Laura Ann. the second sister, died at the age 
of" two years. Nathan Henry l^erkins was 
born in May, 1831, and in 1852 went to Aus- 
tralia, and several years later was known to 
be in Oregon, but has not been heard of since 
1870. George Edwin Perkins was born in 
1836, and is now a merchant in Butte Oily, 
Montana. 

Charles E. Perkins, our subject, grew to 
manhood in Morrisville, Vermont, where he 
learned the trade of woolen maunfacturing 
with Nathan Perkins, his father, also receiv- 
ing a good English education, and studied 
law with Judge Luke P. Poland. In 1848 
he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, and worked 
at his trade for two years, after which he re- 
turned to Vermont. In 1856 he located at 
Galesville, Trempealeau county, where he 
worked at whatever he could find to do until 
1858, and in that year was elected Registrar 
of Deeds of this county, serving in that ca- 
pacity two years. In 1860 he was defeated 
on the People's ticket for County Clerk, and 
in 1862 was again elected Registrar of Deeds, 
without an opposing vote, and re-elected in 
1864. From 1866 to 1871, Mr. Perkins was 
engaged in the insurance business; in the fall 
of 1870 he was elected Clerk of the Court 
without oppo.sition, and held that ofiice until 
in January, 1875. In the spring of 1878 he 
was elected County Judge, assuming the du- 
ties of that office in January following, and 
held both the offices of Count}' Judge and 
Clerk of the Courts during 1874. He held 
the office of County Judge until January 1, 
1881, having been elected County Clerk in 



the fall of 1880, and i-esigned the former 
office. During his term as Clerk Mr. Perkins 
made a complete abstract of Trempealeau 
county. In 1877, he remove! to Arcadia, 
which had then become the county seat, and 
continued to make this his home after the 
county seat was removed to Whitehall, though 
lie continued a county officer several years 
after the removal. Probably no man has 
been so many years a county officer as Mr. 
Perkins, his entire career in that capacity 
covering a period of at least twenty years. 
He has also filled the office of Town Clerk 
five years, and Justice of the Peace a number 
of years. He was admitted to the bar in the 
fall of 1882. 

April 2, 1848, Mr. Perkins was married at 
Johnson, Vermont, to Mary B. Stearns, a 
daughter of John and Mehitable (Hall) 
Stearns. This union has been blessed with 
five children, four of whom are livin<r, viz.: 
Laura Ann, born at Lowell, Massachusetts, in 
1849, married Hiram R. Gale, August 10, 
1871, and died August 22, 1879, at Will mar, 
Minnesota; George Henry, a real-estate dealer 
of Minneapolis, was born at Morrisville, 
Vermont, in 1851. married Sarah Eliza 
Merrill in January, 1874, who died in 
Georgetown, Texas, in 1879, and in 1881 
he married Hattie Spicer; Isabel L., born in 
Morrisville, Vermont, August 25, 1853, 
married Seth A. Walker, of Neillsville, Wis- 
consin; Harriet Maria, born at Galesville, 
September 2, 1858, married Ole B. Canutson, 
of Arcadia; Merton Nathan, a printer by 
trade, was born at Galesville, July 7, 1867. 
Mr. Perkins is one of the well known citizens 
of Trempealeau county, where he has lived 
for the long period of thirty-live years, and 
has witnessed and been identified with the 
growth of the country from a state of wilder- 
ness to its present condition of advancement 
and prosperity. In his political affiliations 



BIOOBAPHICAL HISTORY. 



757 



he was formerly a Whig, casting his first 
presidential vote tor Henry Clay in 1844, 
and has been identified with the Republican 
party since its organization. 

kEV. FATHER AUGUST A. BIRSNER 
is the present pastor of St. Bridget's 
Church at Ettrick. The following in- 
formation was gleaned from the church 
books, in which the baptisms, marriages and 
deaths were recorded by the respective pas- 
tors during the time they presided over the 
congregation. The first resident pastor of 
the Catholic Church at this place was Father 
C. A. Gerst, who came in 1869 and remained 
but about one year and is now deceased. 
Father Gerst had no immediate successor, the 
church being attended for a time by a visit- 
ing priest, Rev. Henry Karapschroer, who is 
now stationed at Watertown, Wisconsin. 
The second resident priest was Rev. Martin 
Connolly, who remained from January, 1871, 
until October, 1872, after which he went to 
California, and was succeeded by Rev. James 
Tuohy, who appears to have remained but 
about six months. In the meantime the 
place was again occasionally visited by Father 
Karapschroer, until finally Rev. Tuoliy was 
succeeded by Rev. Charles A. Gunkel. After 
him came Rev. N. Fiannang, who is now de- 
ceased. The next resident pastor was Rev. 
W. White, by whom the church building was 
rebuilt, and who is now at La Crosse, Wis- 
consin. After Father Wliite came Rev. P. 
A. de Paradis, wlio stayed a little over a 
month. The next pastor was Rev. J. B. H. 
Conroy, now deceased; next came, after an 
interval of several months, Rev. I. Harrier, 
who later returned to his native Germany. 
He was succeeded by Rev. J. J. Burns, who 
remained with his people for the significant 



term of five years, and is now stationed at 
Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After a considerable 
space of time had elapsed he was followed by 
the present pastor. Rev. August A. Birsner, 
who came in August, 1890. Father Birs- 
ner's congregation numbers about fifty fami- 
lies, and the church building is ample for 
the accommodation of the assembly, and the 
priest's residence is a comfortable and pleas- 
ant one. The church ground — at least a 
portion of the same — was donated by Mr. 
Elwood, a worthy and esteemed gentleman. 
Father Birsner, the worthy pastor of this 
church, is still a young man, having been 
born in Southern Germany, but was brought 
to this country when an infant, and is essen- 
tially an American as far as the spirit per- 
vading the country is concerned. On coming 
to this country the parents of Father Birs- 
ner settled in La Crosse, which is still the 
home of the family. Our subject attended 
the then flourishing Sacred Heart College at 
Prairie du Chien, completing his education 
at St. Francis Seminary, near Milwaukee. 
He was ordained in June, 1889, after which 
he was for a time pastor at Seneca, Crawford 
county, Wisconsin, and later and immedi- 
ately preceding his coming to Ettrick, was 
assistant priest at Marshfield, Wood county, 
Wisconsin. 



[OLLINS BISHOP of Arcadia, a pioneer 
of Western Wisconsin, was born in the 
town of Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, 
January 9, 1822. His father was Ebenezer 
Bishop, of Cornwall, Litchfield county, Con- 
necticut. The latter belonged to an early 
Connecticut family. He married Anner B. 
Norton. Soon after marriajic he removed to 
Nelson, Portage county, Ohio, and there 
died, about 1834. Collins Bishop is one of a 



758 



BIOORAPnWAL HISTORY. 



family of seven children, which comprised 
four sons and three daughters, all of whom 
grew to mature years and all but two of 
whom were at one time residents of Trempea- 
leau valley. In 1854 Collins Bishop, James 
Broughton, George Shelley, George Dewey 
and Noah D. Comstock made settlements in 
what is liow the town of Arcadia, and were 
the first five settlers in this town. Mr. 
Bishop, howe\^r, sojourned for a time across 
the line in Buffalo county, but made his loca- 
tion in Arcadia with the other pioneers men- 
tioned. IJe is the only one of these five 
early settlers now residing in the town. 
Messrs. Broughton and Comstock are de- 
ceased. Mr. Dewey resides in North Dakota 
and Mr. Shelley in Kingston, Missouri. The 
intention of these five pioneers, when they 
made their locations, was to erect a gristmill 
on the Trempealeau river, and they purchased 
the mill site where Masiiere & Co. later built 
a mill, these settlers donating the site and 
five acres of ground on the condition that a 
mill be thereon erected. 

Mr. Bishop has resided where he now lives 
for about thirty-five years. He enlisted in 
the Thirtieth Regiment, Wisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, in the war of the Rebellion, but 
owing to disability was transferred soon after 
his enlistment to Company A, Veteran Re- 
serve Corps. He is one of the well-known 
pioneers of Arcadia, where he has lived so 
long. 

fACOB J. BLUE is the proprietor of the 
Ettrick Woolen Mills, in the village of 
Ettrick, which he owns and operates. 
This is a very important manufacturing 
industry, and the only woolen mill in Trem- 
pealeau county. The principal articles Jiianu- 
factured at these mills are flannels, blankets 



and yarns, and Mr. Blue also does custom 
carding. The principal machinery consists 
of one set of cards and one double roll card, 
one jack of 180 spindles, one broad and two 
narrow looms, and thus far Mr. Blue has 
manufactured about 5,000 pounds of yarn 
and about 2,500 yards of flannel per annum. 
The business is a growing and prosperous 
one, and Mr. Blue is increasing the capacity 
of his mills to correspond with the demands 
of his business. 

He was born in Champaign county, Ohio, 
in 1844, a son of John Blue, a native of Penn- 
sylvania and a millwright by trade. He died 
when our subject was but three years old, and 
at the age of twelve years Jacob began learn- 
ing the business of woolen manufacture under 
the instruction of his brother-in-law, John 
Mickle, and this has been his principal busi- 
ness through life. He served the last year of 
the war of the Rebellion as a member of 
Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was actively 
engaged with his regiment in the front of the 
conflict, participating in the siege of Peters- 
burg under General Butler. At the close of 
his army service Mr. Blue returned to Ohio 
and worked in a woolen mill at Kenton, in 
that State, where he had been employed be- 
fore going to the army. Here he remained, 
however, but a short time, when he went to 
Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, and worked 
at his trade for one season. His health then 
failed to some extent, and he was engaged in 
other occupations for a time. In 1867 the 
party for whom he worked in Lincoln re- 
moved to La Crescent, Minnesota, and Mr. 
Blue was induced to again enter the service 
of his old employer, and he accordingly went 
to that city, where for many years, or in fact 
until he came to Ettrick, he was a employe of 
the Toledo Woolen Mills Company, of La 
Crescent. But during the greater part of 



BIOGRAPHIC AJ. HISTOIir. 



759 



twelve years of this time lie worked as travel- 
ing salesman for this company. 

In 1870, in La Crosso, Mr. Blue married 
Mias Dora B. Ketchnm, and they have six 
children, three boys and three girls. The 
two eldest sons, Harry J. and Francis A., are 
assisting their father in his manufacturing 
business. The other children are Inez, Guy, 
Annettie and Amy. They lost two children 
by death: Effie, the eldest child, died at the 
age of one year; and Herbert, the second, at 
the age of nine years. To Mr. Blue is due 
much credit for establishing a fine manufac- 
turing business in Ettrick, and his long ex- 
perience in woolen manufacturing has given 
him a thorough knowledge of the business. 
As a citizen he is esteemed for his integrity 
and public spirit. 

^^^ 



IHPJSTIAN F. RINGLEE, of the vil- 
niK. lage of Ettrick, is associated with Iver 
Pederson in the mercantile business. 
He was born in Norway in 1853, and came to 
the United States at the age of seventeen 
years. His parents also came to America in 
1882, but, being somewhat advanced in life, 
it was more difficult for them to become 
accustomed to the habits and customs of tiie 
New World; so after living here a few days 
they decided to go back to their native land, 
returning to Norway in 1888. They were 
the parents of five children who grew to 
mature years, two of whom are now deceasedi 
and only the subject of this sketch and two 
sisters are now living. One of the latter 
lives in Ettrick with her brother, and the 
other is still in Norway. The parents are 
now somewhat advanced in life, the father 
having been born in 1824, and the mother in 
1817. 

The subject of this sketch came to America 



in 1871, coming directly to Ettrick, where he 
was engaged as a laborer for about two years. 
He went to La Grosse in 1873, and pursued 
a business course in that city. He then 
engaged as clerk for his present partner, Mr. 
Pederson, with whom he continued as clerk 
and book-keeper until 1886, when he became 
associated with him in the mercantile busi- 
ness. This trade is an extensive one, they 
having one of the most extensive mercantile 
establishments in the county. Mr. Ringlee 
is also secretary of the Ettrick Creamery 
Association. 

He was united in marriage to Martha 
Nelson, a native of Norway, who came to 
this country with her parents in 1861. Mr. 
and Mrs. Ringlee have four children, two 
sons and two daughters: Clara W., Florence 
A., Albert W. and Emil F. Mr. Ringlee is 
an intelligent and courteous gentleman, and 
and an accurate and successful business man. 
To his integrity and business ability is due in 
no small degree the success to which the 
merchandise firm of Pederson & Ringlee has 
attained. Politically Mr. Ringlee is a Repub- 
lican, socially is esteemed by all who know 
him, and is a most worthy and enterprising 
citizen. 

[DMUND GIEBEL is the popular gen- 
eral merchant, lumber and grain dealer 
at Nelson, Buflalo county. He was 
born at Fulda, Prussia, April 5, 1834, and 
there his boyhood was passed. He received 
a good education in his native land, and his 
father being the owner of a large book-store 
he became familiar with that business. His 
parents never came to this country but con- 
tinued to live in their native Prusbia until 
their decease. In 1852, when but eighteen 
years of age, Mr. Giebel came to the United 



760 



BIOORAPniCAL HI STOUT. 



States. Landing in New Yorli he entered 
into an engagement at once with the well- 
known publishing lionse of Appleton & Co., 
and by his skill in the art of book-binding 
soon stood at the head of the employes of 
that house. He remained in New York city 
about two and one-half years and then went 
to Chicago to work in the book-bindery of 
Burleifh & Co., where he remained for three 
years and a half. He came on one or two 
hunting excursions to Buffalo county, the 
first of which was in 1855, spending about 
three weeks in this vicinity and thus obtained 
some knowledge of tlie country. Believing 
it a good place for permanent settlement, he 
came to West Wisconsin in 1856 and en- 
gaged in general merchandising at Belvidere. 
He next went to Buffalo City and bought 
wheat for one year for John Robinson, of 
Winona, one of the early grain buyers of 
this part of Wisconsin. From Buffalo City 
lie went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he en- 
gaged in book- binding for about three years. 
lie enlisted in the spring of 1861 in Com- 
pany K, Third Missouri Regiment, and served 
about five months, although his term of 
enlistment was but for three months. The 
seasons of 1862-'63 found him again buying 
wheat in Wisconsin, this time at Wabasha. In 
a hunting expedition with his employer, Mr. 
W. H. ilobinsou,on the east side of the river 
along Beef Slough, it occurred to him that 
it would be a good place for business, and 
with Mr. Robinson he engaged in the general 
merchandising, grain and lumber business. 
This partnersliip continued about one and a 
half years, when Mr. Giebel purchased the 
interest of his partner and continued the 
business alone until the building of the Chi- 
cago, Burlington & Northern Railroad, and 
the location of a station at Nelson, when he 
decided to remove his business to that point, 



where he has since carried on a large general 
merchandise business and lutnl)er trade. 

Mr. Giebel was married in Chicago, in 1856, 
to Miss Catherine Eckstein, a native of the 
same place as her husband, and their union 
was blessed with nine cliildren, but five of 
whom, one son and four daughters are living. 
The son, who bears the same name as his 
father, is located in business at Boone, Iowa. 

In his political views Mr. Giebel was a 
Republican from the time he became a voter 
until 1882, but as new issues arose he be- 
lieved he saw his duty elsewhere and now 
affiliates with the Democratic party, but is 
not a partisan in the strict sense of the word 
and believes in supporting principles not men. 
For a period of twenty years, from 1864 to 
1884, Mr. Giebel held the position of Post- 
master at Nelson. He is a man of much 
intelligence and excellent business capacity, 
and is numbered among the substantial citi- 
zens of Buffalo couuty. 



^ 




ICHAEL G. WARNER resides on 
section 33, in the town of Hale, wliere 
he settled in 1866. He is one of the 
earliest settlers of this town, as not more 
than a half dozen families were residing 
within its limits when he made his settlement. 
From records in tlie possession of Mr. War- 
ner it is shown that at the fall election in 
1864, the year the town was organized, but 
seven votes were cast, two of which were for 
Abraham Lincoln and live for General Mc- 
Clellan. The political character of the town, 
however, had much changed in 1880, when 
Garfield received 140 votes for President, 
and General Hancock but five. Again a 
change had occurred in 1884, when James G. 
Blaine received ninety-nine votes and Mr. 
Cleveland 140. At the Presidential election 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



761 



of 1888, Mr. Cleveland received 162 votes 
and Mr. Harrison 148. In 1890 the State 
ticket gave Governor Peck 121 votes and Mr. 
Hoard sixty-eight. 

Mr. Warner was born in county Cork, Ire- 
land, February 15, 1843. His father was 
William J. Warner. The first of the family 
who came to America, was Robert Warner, a 
brother of the subject of this sketch. He 
enlisted in the United States regular army, 
served several years, and is now a resident of 
this town. Sometime later the father and 
his son William came. The latter enlisted 
in the United States army in the same com- 
pany with his brother, and died in hospital 
on the Isthmus of Panama while en route to 
California with his regiment. Later, the 
father died in Illinois; and still later the 
mother and remainder of the family emi- 
grated to this country, which included four 
sons and four daughters. All of the brothers 
served in the United States army. The 
youngest brother, Thomas, served in the war 
of the Rebellion and died in hospital at St. 
Louis, in January, 1864. The sisters are all 
residents of the town of Lincoln. 

Mr. Michael Warner came to America with 
his mother in 1856, going to Adams county, 
Wisconsin, and settling near Friendship. He 
enlisted at that ])lace, August 15, 1862, in 
Company K, Twenty-fifth AVisconsin Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was discharged on Sur- 
geon's certificate for disability, August 30, 
1863. Returning to Adams county, he worked 
as his health would permit, being engaged 
for considerable time in hauling supplies from 
Necedah to a logging camp on the west branch 
of the Yellow river. 

In 1866, as already stated, he settled, 
where he now lives. He has been prom- 
inently identified with his town and county, 
having been called upon to serve in vari- 
ous official positions. Served as chairman 



of his town for a number of years, also as 
Town Clerk, and held other local offices. 
Was elected to the Assembly branch of the 
Legislature in 1890. He cast his first vote 
for Lincoln in 1864, and affiliated with the 
Republican party for many years, but is now 
a Democrat. 

He married in November, 1868, Sarah 
Risk, who was born in Dane county, but for 
many years a resident of Adams county. 
They have four boys: Thomas, William, 
David and George. 

"■ "^ • ;"r - ^ -»"-»~- — 



tAURITZ SOLSRUD engaged in general 
merchandising at Whitehall September 
7, 1881, under the firm name of Solsrud 
& Murchard, his partner having been John 
A. Murchard. This association continued 
over four years, when Mr. Solsrud bought 
his pai'tner's interest in the business and 
continued alone foi- about two months, after 
which he became associated with Even Ekern, 
and this partnership continued until January 
28, 1889, when he again sold his interest to 
his partner. In the spring of 1890 he made 
a visit to the Pacific coast, and after visiting 
various parts of the State of Washington and 
along the coast of British America, lie made 
a purchase of some property in the city of 
New Whatcom, a thriving and prosperous 
town on the coast of Washington. He was 
well pleased with the country, iiad a delight- 
ful trip, and his health was much benefited 
by his journey. In view, however, of the 
fact that his interests were still in Trempea- 
leau county, he was not prepared to make a 
settlement in the far Northwest, and after 
returning to Whitehall again engaged in 
business in July, 1890, under the firm name 
of L. L. Solsrud & Bro. This partnei-ship 
continued until January 10, 1891, when the 



763 



DIOORAPEICAL UISTOBY. 



brother sold his interest to Walter Kidder, 
the firm name then being Solsrud & Kidder. 

Our subject was bom in Norway, October 
26, 1844, and lived in his native country 
until twenty-two years .of age, when he came 
to America. His father died in Norway in 
1863. He was a farmer by occupation, and 
his sons were also reared to agricultural pur- 
suits. There were eleven children in the 
family, but only six are now living, four sons 
and two daughters. The subject of this sketch 
was the first of the family to come to Amer- 
ica, but since then two brothers and a sister 
have followed him to the New World, and 
also a son of his brother John. His name is 
Ltidwig Bolsrud, and he is now in the em- 
ploy of his uncle as clerk. The two brothers 
who came to this country are Ole L., who 
lives in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and 
Hans, who resides at Whitehall; a sister 
lives near her brother in Minnesota, and a 
brother and sister still continue to live in 
Norway. The mother came to America with 
her son Ole, and died at his home in Minne- 
sota, in March, 1886, at the advanced age of 
eighty-four years. 

It was in the year 1866 that the subject of 
this sketch came to America. He came 
directly to Wisconsin and to Coon Prairie, 
Vernon county, but soon afterwards to Black 
River Falls, and for eleven years was engaged 
in logging and lumbering. He was also 
ensao-ed in the mercantile business in the 
town of Northfield, Jackson county, imder 
the firm name of L. L. Solsrud & Co. This 
partntTship continued two years, when Mr. 
Solsrud removed to Hixton, same county, and 
engaged in business with J. R. Longsburg, 
aiid two years later sold his interest and re- 
n.oved to Whitehall. In August, 1876, Mr. 
Solsrud was united in marriage, at Black 
River Falls, to Miss Caroline S. GoUard, a 
native of Vernon county, Wisconsin. Janu- 



ary 4, 1887, Mr. Solsrud was bereft of his 
wife by death, and this was the greatest 
affliction of his life; and a child, born the day 
of its mother's death, also died tlie next day. 
Thus has Mr. Solsrud had his full measure of 
trouble. He is the father of four living chil- 
dren, a son and three daughters, viz.: Louisa, 
Emma, Olga and Hilman. The son that died 
after its mother's death was given the name 
of Sophus. Mr. Solsrud is a worthy and re- 
spected citizen, and bears the esteem of his 
fellow-citizens. 



UWIN F. GANZ, of Alma, Wisconsin, 
editor and proprietor of the Buffalo 
County Journal, was born June 13, 
1859, at Waumandee, Buffalo county, Wis- 
consin. His parents, John Casper and Louisa 
(Kuederli) Ganz, were born in Switzerland, 
emigrated to the United States in 1857, and 
settled at the above named place. The father 
was a farmer by occupation. He purchased 
land in section 2, range 11, township 21, and 
at once began its improvement. He was 
among the first settlers in that part of the 
township, and lived there until his death, 
which occurred June 4, 1875. His widow 
still survives. There were in this family 
eleven children, as follows: Arnold R., who 
died at Fort Scott, Kansas, of disease con- 
tracted in the army; he served in the Forty- 
eighth Wisconsin Infantry; Anna, now Mrs. 
Joel Doenier; Paulina, wife of JohnFarner; 
Alfred, Louisa, now Mrs. John Schmitz, of 
Fountain City; Edwin F., Alwina, now Mrs. 
Conrad Earner; J. Casper, Lydia, Arnoldina 
and Adolph. 

The early life of the subject of our sketch 
was spent on the farm, assisting his father 
in farm work and attending the pulilic schools. 
At the age of seventeen years he went to the 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



763 



State Normal School at Platteville. He sub- 
sequently engaged it) teaching school in this 
county, and taught four years in his home 
district and ten years in the town of Alma. 
As an instructor he was successful and popu- 
lar. He purchased the Journal September 
1, 1890, and has continued to conduct it 
since that time. This paper was established 
in 1861, by Brackett & Rockwell, and is now 
one of the leading publications of the county. 
It is an eight-column folio, is issued on 
Thursday of each week, is Republican in 
politics, and is devoted to the interests of the 
county and particularly the city of Alma. 
Mr. Ganz also does a jobbing business, doing 
all kinds of work, both in English and Ger- 
man, and in this department has a good 
patronage and a reputation for doing elegant 
and artistic work. 

Mr. Ganz was married at Waumandee, 
September 1, 1887, to Miss Knnigunda Wald, 
daughter of Ulrich and Agnes Wald, of Alma. 
By this union two children have been born, 
Kosalie A. and Oiga L. 



■.>^^. 



|DSON RHODES, M. D., of Galesville, 
is a son of John Rhodes, a pioneer of 
Trempealeau county. The latter was 
born at Keighley, Yorkshire, England, in 
1818, where he lived until the age of twenty- 
one years. He was the eldest of ten children, 
and learned tlie trade of a weaver. In 1839 
he emigrated to the State of New York, and 
resided for a number of years in the vicinity 
of Niagara Falls, and during this time he 
worked at his trade and was also engaged in 
the construction of the "Welland Canal. About 
1842 he came to Wisconsin, where he resided 
in the southern part of the State for a num- 
ber of years, and in the meantime the re- 
mainder of his father's family came to this 



State. In 1854 Mr. Rhodes disposed of his 
landed interests there to iiis brother, and re- 
moved to Trempealeau county, having pre- 
viously located land here. In a wagon drawn 
by oxen, he transferred his wife and only 
child to his new possessions, and also brought 
with him some stock. His object in coming 
to this county was to enlarge his landed pos- 
sessions, having obtained from the Govern- 
ment about 1,000 acres of land. His enterprise 
and efforts proved successful, and he remained 
on this farm until his death, which occurred 
May 16, 1867. He became well known 
throughout this part of the State as an indus- 
trious and enterprising citizen, was an exten- 
sive reader, and, tliough not connected with 
any church, was well informed on bible 
subjects, and always endeavored to govern his 
daily walk by the teachings of that book. In 
his political affiliations he was in early life a 
Whig, and later a Republican. His wife, 
Mary Wiltse, was a native of New Y^ork, and 
was descended from an early Holland Dutch 
family. She was born in 1824, and died May 
24, 1891, at the house of her son in Galesville. 
They were the parents of six children, five of 
whom grew to mature years, and three are 
still living, viz. : Martin, the eldest, resides 
on a part of the original homestead in Trem- 
pealeau county; Kate is the wife of Judge 
David Roberts, of Superior, Wisconsin; and 
Dr. Rhodes, the subject of this sketch. The 
deceased who grew to mature years were 
Frances and Adeline, and a daughter who 
died in early life. 

Dr. Rhodes was born in Trempealeau 
county, in 1862, and received his literary 
education in the public schools and graded 
schools at Galesville, and graduated at the 
Normal School at Winona, Minnesota, iu 
1880. During his years at school he pur- 
sued the studies that would best tend to 
prepare him for the medical profession, which 



764 



BWORAPHWAL niSTORT. 



he bad in view from early life. He taught 
one year at Hancock, Minnesota, after gradu- 
ating, and in the meantime pursued his 
medical studies as opiiortunities afforded. 
He went to Ann Arbor. Michigan, and spent 
one year in the Medical Department of the 
Michigan State University, and went thence to 
the Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he 
graduated in 1883. For one year after his 
graduation in medicine. Dr. Rhodes practiced 
in tbe Cook County Infirmary, and then en- 
tered into medical practice with Dr. D. A. 
Stewart, of Winona, where he continued nntil 
after the death of his father, when it became 
uecesfary to return to the farm. He spent 
one year in adjusting his father's business, 
and in the meantime practiced as time and 
opportunity afforded. In December, 1890, 
Dr. Rhodes located in the village of Gales- 
ville. He has about 400 acres of land, which 
is a part of the old homestead farm, and is 
considerably interested in the raising of good 
stock. 

Dr. Rhodes was married in Milwaukee, in 
1888, to Miss Jennie A. Williamson, of that 
city. Their entire family of five children 
were graduates of tiie State Normal School 
at Winona, and the sister, Frances, a young 
lady of much ability and promise, also gradu- 
ated in architecture at Cornell University in 
1884. She died in 1888. Kate took a liter- 
ary course at Cornell, and taught successfully 
for a number of years. Dr. Rhodes has an 
extensive practice, and is esteemed as a suc- 
cessful physician and public-spirited citizen. 



^UNTLEY AND VANDERVORT, pro- 
prietors of the Independent, published 
at Galesville, Trempealeau county, took 
charge of the paper March 27, 1891. They 
purchased the interest of L. F. Ball, who had 



conducted the paper since September, 1889. 
Tliis paper has a circulation of about 600. 

Frank W. Huntley was born at Trempea- 
leau in 1867, a son of L. G. Huntley, now a 
practical printer of Winona. Herman L. 
Vandervort was born at Fairhaven, Minne- 
sota, in 1869, and learned the trade of print- 
ing at St. Cloud, his native State. Ilis father. 
J. B. Vandervort, is also a resident of Wi- 
nona, Minnesota. Messrs. Huntley «fe Van- 
dervort are wide-awake, energetic young 
men, and the Independent under their man- 
agement has made much progress as an 
entertaining and valuable paper. 

EORGE UHL, who resides on section 
23, Gale township, is a brother of Peter 
Uhl, and a son of Michael Uhl. He 
was born in October, 1833, and when the 
family came to Trempealeau county, in 1854, 
he had nearly attained his majority'. He and 
his br.ither Feter helped to develop the home- 
stead of 200 acres, which he now owns. Later 
he added 120 acres, and stiil later sixty-seven 
and a lialf acres, so that his home farm con- 
sists of nearly 400 acres. He also has 
100 acres elsewhere in the township, besides 
which he has given his son a quarter 
section of land. His farm adjoins that of his 
brother Peter, where he has a pleasant home 
and a substantial brick residence. 

Mr. Uhl was married May 15, 1861, to 
Miss Christena Harth, a daugiiter of Freder- 
ick and Mary L. Hartli ; the former was born 
in Germany September 24, 1812, and died in 
Gale townsiiip May 7, 1887. His wife died 
May 10, 1889. In 1846 Mr. Harth emigrated 
witli his family to America, and settled in 
Washington county, Wisconsin, and in 1854 
they came to Trempealeau county. They had 
afamilyof ten children, who are now widely 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



765 



cattered. Mr. and Mrs. Ulil have five chil- 
dren: George F., Katy B., Frank A., Mary 
R. and Teresa C. They lost their first two 
children, a son and a daughter, in early 
infancy. Mr. Uhl, like his brother, is num- 
bered among the leading farmers of Trem- 
pealeau county. Botli he and his wife have 
spent their mature years in "Wisconsin. They 
have a pleasant liome, and are surrounded by 
the comforts of life, a condition which has 
been secured by patience and industry. 

- — — ««^i^£^ It i ; « 9 i «-»»—- - 



|ICHOLAS LEHRBACH, a hardware 
li'/J merchant of Arcadia, began business in 
this city in 1884, and erected bis fine 
brick store building the following year. He 
keeps a complete stock of hardware, and is 
one of the leading merchants of Trempealeau 
county, of which he has been a resident since 
1866. He was born in Buifalo, New York, 
in 1849, a son of Andrew Lehrbach, a native 
of Hessen, Darmstadt, Germany, who came 
to America about 1839, locating in the city 
of Buffalo, New York. In 1852 the family 
removed to Niagara Falls, which was about 
the time tlie first suspension bridge was con- 
structed across the Niagara river. There 
Mr. Lehrbach, Sr., engaged in keeping hotel, 
and in 1855 emigrated with his family to 
Red Wing, Minnesota, where he died in 1867, 
and the mother survived until 1889, dying at 
the same place. Tliey were the parents of 
eight children, five of whom are now living, 
viz.: Nicholas, Andrew, at Red Wing, Min- 
nesota; Rosa, wife of Louis Schilling; Louisa, 
wife of Joseph Belhammer; and Mrs. Sophia 
Tideman, all of whom are residents of Red 
Wing except the subject of this sketch. The 
deceased members of the family died in 
infancy. 

Nicholas, our subject, spent most of his 

50 



earlier life at Red wing. He learned the 
trade of a brewer at Trempealeau, which occu- 
pation lie followed for five years, and was 
later engaged in keeping hotel at that place, 
and still later, for two years, engaged in mer- 
chandising at Dodge, having erected the pre- 
sent store and warehouse at that place. After 
being two years engaged in business at Dodge, 
he located at Arcadia. 

September 27, 1875, Mr. Lehrbach was 
united in marriage to Miss Delia Kidder, 
who was born at Black River Falls, Wiscon- 
sin, April 22, 1857, a daughter of Jesse B. 
Kidder. The father was a son of Timothy 
L. and Hannah Kidder. The Kidder family 
in America descended from early New Eng- 
land ancestry, the genealogy of whom, 
recently published, states that the first 
recorded American ancestor was James Kid- 
der, who was born at Grinstead, Sussex, Eng- 
land, in 1826. The first record of him dates 
in 1650, at which time he was a resident of 
Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jesse B. Kidder 
was born in Concord, Maine, May 15, 1831, 
and was married July 28, 1852, at Antwerp, 
New York, to Mary Jane Manning, a daugh- 
ter of William and Mary Manning. She was 
born January 25, 1829, and died at White- 
hall, Wisconsin, April 5, 1873. Mr. Kidder 
was again married, November 11, 1877, to 
Ann Cook. The children by his first mar- 
riage are Ella Maud, Delia, William Lovell, 
EIroy Jesse, Mary Jane, George Washington 
and Ermina Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Lehrbach 
have two sons: Lester and Leslie. They lost 
five children in infancy. Mr. Lehrbach is 
one of the representative citizens of Arcadia, 
is a successful business man, and is esteemed 
both for his social qualities and for liis pro- 
gressive and enterprising spirit. In his poli- 
tical sentiments he is a Democrat, and has 
been called upon by the people several times 



766 



BIOQRAPaWAL UISTORT. 



to serve in locdl offices. He has also been 
Town Treasurer, and is now the village 
president. 

iLEXANDEB B. FLEMINGTON, who 
resides on section 17, located in the 
town of Trempealeau in 1855. He 
purchased the land which comprises his pres- 
ent farm of the Government, he liaving made 
all his own improvements. He was born in 
Ramfordshire, Scotland, May 31, 1826, the 
son of James and Mary (Dove) Fleminglon. 
The maternal grandfather of our subject was 
Alexander Dove, who was a man of great 
force of character and of much influence in 
his day and generation. He was of the rank 
of workingmen, but possessed of a superior 
mind. A memoir written of him at the time 
of his death in 1840, says: 

"Alexander Dove was a native of West 
Highlands, and was born in 1766. At ten 
years of age he lost his father, and was 
thrown on the world to support liimself. He 
worked for some time as a carpenter in 
Greenock, Bonhill and Rosenthal. He went 
to Jolmstone about 1792, and entered a fac- 
tory as a wood turner, and liere he became a 
self-taught mechanic, and made the first mule 
jenny tiiat was driven by water-power in 
Johnstone. He went to Galloway in 1798 to 
fit up the machinery of a wool spinning fac- 
tory, where he remained about four years, 
and then went to Thornliebank and Paisley. 
In 1804 he removed to the bridge of "Weir, 
where he worked as a mechanic until 1825, 
and then returned to Johnstone, where he re- 
mained until death. He thorougiily under- 
stood the principles of mechanics. His 
mind was too active and vigorous to engage 
in any mechanical or professional work 
without thoroughly understanding the prin- 



ciples on which ic was founded. From his 
youth he was a thorough reformer. He was 
active in politics, and for this reason suffered 
much persecution, and would have been im- 
prisoned had he not evaded the tyrant's 
menials. Not finding him, much of his 
property was taken. He was an assiduous 
student of politics, and much of his leisure 
time was given to reading aiid study. His 
literary acquirements and scientific attain- 
ments were extensive. He was familiar 
with optics, electricity, chemistry and gal- 
vanism. On one occasion he was summoned 
to Edinburg as a witness in a criminal case, 
the merits of which turned on the fact of the 
prisoner's insanity or sanity. In conse- 
quence of the knowledge that Alexander 
Dove displayed. Lord Jeffrey, then the 
advocate, paid him compliments of the liigli- 
est character in open court. He never in tiie 
course of a long life sacrificed his principles 
to please his employers or no secure their 
favor, while his unbending integrity in some 
instances subjected him to their persecution, 
and to the loss of employnent. Workingman 
as he was, he gloried in his independence, 
and in the unshackled exercise and full 
expression of his opinions. His benevolence 
was great, and his moral sentiments of a high 
order. Knowing so well the value of educa- 
tion, he iiad an ardent desire to see his own 
family educated. He was, in fact, in all 
respects a "most worthy citizen." 

Thus it will be seen that Mr. Flemington 
is descended from an honorable and worthy 
ancestry. His parents had but two children 
of whom the subject of this sketch was the 
youngest, the elder being a sister. In 1842 
James Flemington came to America to es- 
tablish a home for his family. He went to 
the State of Rhode Island, and the following 
summer traveled West as far as Michigan, 
and finally made a settlement in East Green- 



BTOORAPUICAL HISTORY. 



767 



wich, Rhode Island. In 1844 the father 
was followed to the new world by his wife 
and son. James Flemington was an engine 
driver by occupation. In 1845 he went with 
his wife and son to Taunton, Massachusetts, 
and there drove an engine for a manufactur- 
ing company. Tue parents came to Tretn- 
peanleau county to join their son, and 
remained one year, after which they returned 
to Rhode Island and lived until death. The 
sister of Mr. Flemington, already mentioned, 
married in Scotland, Mr. L. Black, after 
which they came to America and settled at 
Taunton, Massachusetts. Two years later 
Mr. Black died in New London, Connecticut, 
leaving two sons. Later the wife remarried, 
her second husband being Rev. Wilcox, and 
settled in Rhode Island. 

Alexander B. Flemington, our subject, was 
about eighteen years of age when he came to 
America with his parents. He worked in 
the muslin de laine print works at Taunton, 
Massachusetts, and then returned to East 
Greenwich, Rhode Island, going thence to 
Soutlibridge, Massachusetts, where he was 
engaged in the print works. In 1848 he 
went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he 
remained five years, and during that time 
learned the trade of carriage- making with 
Isaac Kingsley. He was married in that 
city, August 20, 1851, to Mary Taylor. 
From Milwaukee he removed to Walworth 
county, and engaged in wagon-making for 
George Esterly, and in 1855 came to Trem- 
pealeau county. Mrs. Flemington was born 
in Edinburg, Scotland. Their children are: 
Alexander D., a lawyer by profession, and a 
resident of Ellendale, North Dakota. He 
took a course of instruction at tiie high 
school of Trempealeau, and also a literary 
course at the Wisconsin State University. 
He was for some time a teacher in the inter- 
mediate department of the Trempealeau 



school, and went thence to Whitehall, where 
he was principal one year. He studied law 
with Judge Newman and graduated in the 
law department of the Wisconsin State 
University. He is a young man of ability, 
and has already taken a high standing at the 
bar. He located in Ellendale, Dakota, 
in July, 1874, where he was honored by be- 
ing chosen a delegate for Circuit Judge. 
Elizabeth F. is the wife of Louis Tatero, of 
New Richmond, Wisconsin ; Jessie is the wife 
of George Cummings; Allan J. resides in 
Glenwood, Wisconsin; Andrew F. is the next 
in order of birth; Mary is the wife of Willis 
Suttie; Ada is engaged in teaching, and is at 
present principal of the graded school at 
Somerset, Wisconsin. 

Mr. Flemmington has a farm of 120 acres 
under a fine state of cultivation. He has a 
pleasant home, is surrounded by the comforts 
of life, the result of the industry of himself 
and his good wife, and is numbered among 
intelligent and esteemed citizensof Trempea- 
leau county. 



ILLIAM L. CUMMINGS, of Trem- 
pealeau, is now serving his seventh 
year and fourth term as Superin- 
tendent of the Schools of this county, having 
been first elected in 1884. He succeeded W. 
J. Showers, who served one term of three 
years. Mr. Cummings was born in the town 
of Bloomfield, Walworth county, Wisconsin, 
September 7, 1848. His father, Israel P. 
Cummings, was an early settler of thatcounty, 
where he located in 1844, but in the spring 
of 1856 he removed with his family to JSleills- 
ville, Clark county, where they comprised 
the third family of the place. In 1861 the 
family removed to Wliitehall, Trempealeau 
county, but have been residents of the town 




768 



BlOORAPniCAL BISTORT. 



of Trempealeau since 1881. Israel P. Cum- | 
mings was born in Massaclnisetts, in 1819, 
and is descended from an early family of the 
Bay State, and is of English origin. He 
passed his early life in his native State, as a 
woolen mannfactnrer. He married Miss 
Mary Hale, a native of Worcester, Massacliu- 
setts, after which he removed to what is now 
Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he fol- 
lowed the occupation of farming, and con- 
tinned the same until his removal to Clark 
county, when he engaged in lumbering. The 
wife and mother died in April, 1S70. They 
were the parents of six children, live sons and 
a daughter, namely: Charles, who resides in 
Greenwood, Clark county, Wallace and Israel 
reside near Whitehall, Trempealeau county; 
William L., our subject; Ida, the wife of 
George W. Stone, of Boone, Iowa; and George 
L., a fanner in this county. 

William L., our subject, was educated in 
the common schools, and later at the Gales- 
ville University. He began teaching when 
in his twentietli year, and taught successfully 
for the long period of sixteen years. In 1882 
he was called to the principalship of the 
school at Blair, this county, previous to 
which time he had taujiht in various district 
schools in the county. During the third year 
of his principalship at Blair, he was elected 
County Superintendent. In May, 1872, Mr. 
Cummings was united in marriage to Adelaide, 
daughter of Uelavan Bunn, who settled on 
the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Cummings now 
live in 1859. Mr. Bunn came to Trempea- 
leau county with his family from Cattaraugus 
county, New York, and resided on this farm 
until 1873, when he removed to a farm in 
the town of Gale. In the spring of 1880 he 
moved to Kingsbury, South Dakota, where he 
now lives. Mrs. Cummings is a native of 
New York, but was a mere child when she 
came to this county with her parents. Mr. 



and Mrs. Cummings have seven children: 
Florence, Carroll, Snsie, Sibyl, Alson, Arthur 
and Laura. Mr. Cummings has devoted his 
best energies to the cause of education, and 
has ever as teacher or superintendent dis- 
charged the duties of an educator with ability, 
earnestness and fidelity. In fact, his close 
application to his duties has often threatened 
to seriously impair his health. Under his 
able and earnest superintendence the schools 
of Trempealeau county have made rapid ad- 
vancement in efBciency. It may be truth- 
fully said that in due appreciation of the 
demands of the public school system, in 
earnestness of purpose and untiring industry 
Mr. Cummings is numbered with the leading 
educators of Wisconsin. Politically he is a 
Republican, and is also an earnest advocate 
of the principles of Prohibition. Both he 
and his family are consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church 



HESTER N. ASHLEY, Chairman of 
Ettrick township, has been a resident 
of Trempealeau county since 1879, and 
has occupied his present farm on section 6 
since 1887. He was born in Jefferson 
county. New York, a son of Stephen H. 
Ashley, a native of Livingston county, same 
State. The mother of our subject, nee Nancy 
Waterbury, was a native of Ontario county, 
and after marriage the parents settled in 
Jefferson county. In 1852 they removed to 
Lodi, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where 
they lived fourteen years, and then returned 
to New York, but a year later they came 
again to Wisconsin and located in Green 
Lake county. Returning, however, to Co- 
lumbia county, they later came to Ettrick 
township, where the father died in 1886, and 
the mother now resides at the home of a 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



769 



daughter in Fayette county, Iowa. Stephen 
H. Ashley and wife liad nine children who 
grew to mature years, and five are still living, 
viz. : James W., the eldest, resides at Marke- 
san, Green Lake county, Wisconsin; Dor- 
man P., a resident of Adair county, Iowa; 
Laura A., wife of F. D. Arnold, of Hoquiam, 
Washington; Mariette, wife of R. H. Rath- 
bun, of Fayette county, Iowa; and Chester 
N., the youngest surviving member of the 
fainily. 

The latter was born in 1848, and in early 
life learned the miller's trade with his father 
and elder brother, James. The father fol- 
lowed the milling business for over forty 
years, and also had two brothers who followed 
the same occupation for an equal length of 
time. Our subject learned his trade in 
Green Lake county, and later was engaged at 
Dekorra and Poynette, Columbia county. He 
came from North Bend, Jackson county, to 
Ettrick, and for ten years operated the flour- 
ing rail! of Iver Peterson, at Ettrick, and 
then engaged in the occupation of farming. 

Mr. Ashley was married at that place to 
Miss Mary Canee, a daughter of Robert 
Cance, an early settler of Ettrick township. 
He was born in Scotland in 1822, and was 
married to Christina Edinond. In 1858 they 
came to the United States, settling in Ettrick 
township, Trempealeau county, where Mr. 
Cance died in 1886, and the mother now 
resides with her son, James E., in the village 
of Ettrick. They had two children, of whom 
Mrs. Ashley is the eldest. The only son, 
James E., is a hardware and dry-goods mer- 
chant at Ettrick. Robert Cance was engaged 
in farming many years on the place where 
Mr. Ashley now lives. In 1884 he engaged 
in business in the village of Ettrick, and at 
his death he was succeeded by his son. He 
was a representative citizen, and served a 
term in the Legislature of Wisconsin, to 



which he was elected in 1882. He was a 
Republican in politics, held many local ofli- 
ces, and was esteemed as a man of ability and 
integrity. Mr. and Mrs. Ashley have four 
sons: Robert H., Edmond AV., James C. and 
Chester N., the last two being twins. Mr. 
Ashley is one of the representative citizens of 
Ettrick township. Politically, he is a Re- 
publican, has served a number of terms as a 
member of the Board of Supervisors of this 
township, and is now serving his second terra 
as chairman of that body. 



gSjLISHA STEVENS, who resides at the 
old homestead of his parents on section 
7, Trempealeau county, is a son of Alex- 
ander Stevens, who settled on the farm in 1855. 
The father was born in Scotland, September 
22, 1810, where he grew to manhood and 
learned the trade of flax dresser. When a 
young man he crossed the ocean, going first 
to Andover, Massachusetts, under contract to 
work in a factory. He was married in that 
State to Anna Scott, a native of Scotland, 
shortly after which his health failed, owing 
to the character of his work, and he accord- 
ingly removed to Fond du Lac county, Wis- 
consin, and engaged in farming. In 1855 he 
came to Trempealeau county, and settled on 
the farm where his widow and son still lives. 
He made the first improvements on this place 
and lived here until his death, which occurred 
November 22, 1889, at the age of seventy- 
nine years and two months. Mr. Stevens was 
a well-known and respected citizen, was quiet 
and industrious and of a social and agreeable 
nature. He was endowed with a robust con- 
stitution, possessing much physical strength. 
Four years previous to liis death he became 
afflicted with partial paralysis from which 
time he was able to do but little work. Ue 



770 



BIOORAPUWAL HISTORY. 



left four children, two eons and two daughters, 
viv.: William Scott, Elisha, Jennie and Mrs. 
Nellie S. Frame, widow of Rev. W. R. Frame. 
All tlie children were born in Fond dii Lac 
county, Wii^consin. 

Elislia, the subject of this sketch, was born 
ill 1849, and now owna a half interest in the 
old homestead, where he has always resided 
since coming to Trempealeau, except a period 
of four years. 

He was married to Miss Esther Van Vleet, 
a native of "Wisconsin. No more honorable 
or worthy class of men ai-e found anywhere 
than the pioneer who came to the country 
and struggled faithfully and persistently to 
make for himself and family a home, and 
after passing away left as an inheritance to 
his children not only the material accumula- 
tions of his labor and industry, but also an 
honorable and faithful record in all his rela- 
tions with his fellow men. With such is 
found the name of Alexander Stevens, whose 
children have reason to be proud of the rec- 
ord lie has left. 



^ 



4<@)^ 



^ 



[ELBERT CLARENCE BURNS, of 
Trempealeau county, is a son of Will- 
iam Thomas Burns, who was born in 
Ticonderoga, Essex county. New York, July 
20, 1824. He was the son of John and 
Laura Burns. December 13, 1847, W. T. 
Burn** was united in marriage to Louisa Jane 
Bugbee, a daughter of William Bugbee, and 
in 1854 they came to Wisconsin, first to 
Portage, and thence to Trempealeau town- 
ship, siettling on section 1. This farm was 
entirely new, but he improved the place and 
made of it a pleasant home, and here he re- 
sided until his death, August 20, 1884. He 
was a well-known and esteemed citizen, and 
took an active interest in promoting the 



growth and prosperity of the community in 
which he lived. He was a member of the 
Town Board of Trempealeau, and took an 
active part in the religious and educational 
progress of the town. He was especially act- 
ive in church matters, and was one of five 
who built the Methodist Church at Centrc- 
ville, he having been a member of that de- 
nomination for twenty years. Bolitically he 
was identified with the Republican party. 
He met his death in a sudden and peculiar 
way, having died from the sting of a be^. 

His only child, Delbert C, was born at the 
homestead in Trempealeau county, March 8, 
1857, which he now owns and occupies. 

He married Lunetta C. French, a daughter 
of Henry French, of Galesville, and a well- 
known pioneer of Trempealeau county. Mr. 
and Mrs. Burns have two children: Florence 
Mabel and Lulah Camele. 



EORGE YOUNG FREEMAN, the pre- 
sent District Attorney of Trempealean 
county, has been a resident of Galesville 
since the autumn of 1858. He was born in 
the village of Quakerstreet, Schenectady 
county. New York, August 13, 1827, a son 
of Lewis Freeman, a native of Montgomery 
county, same State, and a grandson of Charles 
Freeman, a native of Connecticut. The 
Freeman family are of Puritan ancestry, the 
genealogy of which mentions three brothers, 
Charles, Samuel and George, all of whom re- 
moved from Connecticut. The first men- 
tioned, the grandfather of the subject of this 
notice, made his settlement in Montgomery 
county, and the other brothers settled else- 
where. Lewis Freeman married Mary V. 
Young, and soon afterward settled in Sche- 
nectady county, where he was engaged in the 
mercantile business for many years. He 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



771 



died when our subject, his only child, was but 
a lad, and after the death of the father the 
mother returned with her son to the home of 
her father. 

When George was sixteen years of age he 
came with the family of his grandfather 
Young to Wisconsin, and settled at Elkhorn, 
Walworth county. He received an acade- 
mical education, and began the study of law 
at Elkhorn, which he pursued for two years, 
and in 1852 went to New York city and en- 
tered the office of Judge W. D. Waterman, 
then Judge of the Marine Court of that city. 
He remained in that office until the autumn 
of 1858, when he came to Galesville, and was 
admitted to the bar, but afterward returned 
to New York, and in the spring of 1859 
located permanently in Galesville. He found 
here in the village at tliat time, engaged in 
the practice of law, Romanzo Bunn, now 
United States District Judge for the Western 
District of Wisconsin, who had located in 
Galesville in 1856, the first lawyer of the 
place; and also Captain A. A. Arnold. Mr. 
Freeman entered at once into the practice of 
his profession, which he has CLintinued to the 
present time. He has been associated with 
several different partners at different times, 
his chief partnership having been with H. F. 
Smith, a well-known lawyer who recently 
died at Elkhorn, Wisconsin. 

In 1862 Mr. Freeman raised a company 
for service in the war of the Rebellion, which 
consisted of 110 men, and he was commis- 
sioned its Captain. But circumstances were 
such that he was unable to enter the field, and 
was succeeded by Captain A. A. Arnold, and 
this organization became Company C, Thir- 
tieth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer infan- 
try. Politically Mr. Freeman is of Whig 
antecedents. He voted for Lincoln in 1864 
and Grant in 1868, since which time iiis sym- 
pathies have been witli the Democratic party 



in the national issues of the day. He has 
always taken an active interest in politics, and 
though not a partisan in the strict sense of 
that word, has ably and conscientiously 
labored in support of those principles which 
he believed would best promote the interest 
of the people. He is now serving his second 
term as District Attorney, having been elected 
to that position in 1862 and again in 1890. 
In January, 1888, he was appointed by Pres- 
ident Cleveland Principal Examiner of land 
claims and contests, and was in the land office 
at Washington in the discharge of his duties 
until March, 1890, including a year of Pres- 
ident Harrison's administration. 

Mr. Freeman was married, January 1, 1850, 
to Ann S. Hollinshead, a native of Tompkins 
county. New York, who came to Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, with her parents in 1839. 
They have three sons, the two eldest of whom, 
Charles E. and Edwin W., are twins. They 
are both graduates of Galesville University, 
after which Charles E. took a theological 
course at McCormick Theological Seminary, 
and was ordained a Presbyterian minister, and 
is now in charge of a cluirch at Spirit Lake, 
Iowa. Edwin W. studied law with his father, 
and is now practicing in San Bernardino, 
California. He is of the firm of Rolf & 
Freeman. These sons were born October 1, 
1860. The youngest son, George R., was 
born in March, 1867, and was for some time 
a student of the Columbia Law School in 
Washington City, lias attended law school in 
Chicago and Washington, District of Colum- 
bia, and is now located at San Bernardino, 
California. Mr. Freeman has ijeen a mem- 
ber of the bar of Trempealeau county for the 
long period of thirty two years, being the 
oldest lawyer now in practice in the county. 
He is recognized and esteemed as a lawyer of 
ability and of strict integrity. While reared 
according to the principles of the Presbyterian 



772 



BIOORAPHICAL HI STOUT. 



Clnireli, be is not a nieinher of any religious 
denomination, but is iilieral and progressive 
in his views. He is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity. He has a beautiful residence in 
the suburbs of Galesville, his homestead 
including a number of acres of valuable and 
productive land. 



^AVID COOK, a well-known resident 
and pioneer of Gale township, Trem- 
pealeau county, is a native of Scotland, 
where he was born March 31, 1826. His 
parents, Alexander and Margaret (Sharp) 
Cook, had nine children who grew to mature 
years, five sons and four daughters. The 
parents continued to live in their native 
country until death. The subject of this 
sketcli, the only son of his parents who ever 
made a permanent home in America, was 
reared to the occupation of coal mining. He 
was married to IMiss Agnes Henderson, and 
in 1851 they emigrated to the United States, 
bringing with them their only child. When 
he started for America, Mr. Cook had no 
definite idea as to where he would make a 
settlement, but meeting with another gentle- 
man and his family on board their vessel, 
also from Scotland, he was induced to accom- 
pany his newly made acquaintance to Mary- 
land. On arriving in this country the party 
went directly to Allegany county, Maryland, 
where Mr. Cook engaged in mining. In 
1853 he came to Trempealeau county, being 
accompanied by William Dick, John Irvine, 
John Hunter and James Phillips. In the 
autumn of the same year Mr. Cook settled on 
the place where he now lives, where he has a 
tine farm of 2G0 acres of the beautiful Decora 
prairie. 

December 20, 1887, he was deprived of 
his wife by death. She had ever been a 



faithful companion, assisting her husband in 
making a pleasant home, and her death was 
a great affliction to the husband and family. 
Mr. Cook is the fatlier of six livinij children, 
two sons and four daughters, viz.: Margaret, 
at home; Agnes, wife of Anton M. Lee; 
Joseph; Mary Jane, at home; Andrew, who 
is married and resides in Gale township; and 
Ellen, the youngest of the family. Mr. Cook 
during his long residence in Trempealeau 
county has ever been esteemed as an indus- 
trious and enterprising citizen. He is an 
honored member oi the order of Odd Fellows. 
Here he has lived for the long period of 
thirty-eight years, has witnessed the growth 
and development the country has made during 
that great length of time, and here, on his 
pleasant home in the beautiful Decqra prai- 
rie, he expects to remain the rest of his 
days. 



-y^UX/lfl,' 



-^7/inr^^ 



HARLES A. KIRCHNER was born in 
Bangor, Maine, December 9, 1845, son 
of John K. and Augusta (Duearing) 
Kirchner, both natives of Germany. His 
mother was born in 1828, and died in 1875. 
His father is still living, and makes his home 
with his son Charles. They had six children, 
namely: Caroline, who married Herman Alt- 
man; Mina, wife of Charles Hohmann, of 
Waumandee; the subject of our sketch; 
Albert, a history of whom appears in this 
work; Paulina, wife of Charles Peussing; 
and Emma, now Mrs. A. Franz, of Eau Claire. 
John Kirchner emigrated to the United 
States in 1846, and landed at Bangor, Maine, 
the vessel in which they made the voyage 
being the tirst one that landed there with em- 
igrants from Europe. These immigrants 
had expected to go to the Mosquito Islands 
to establish a colony, of which the captain of 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



773 



the sliip was to be the head, and to him they 
had given all their money. They landed at 
St. Thomas, where they came in contact with 
people who exposed the Captain's schemes. 
They then sailed for Bangor. Mr. Kirchner 
remained at that place and worked at his 
trade until 1855, when he came West and 
settled in the Wanmandee valley, pre-empting 
a homestead of 160 acres. When the time 
for settlement arrived, having no funds with 
which to pay the Government for his land, 
he went to La Crosse and borrowed the money 
at forty per cent, interest, and at once began 
making improvements. Subsequently he 
purchased three forty-acre tracts, and in 1864 
erected a frame dwelling. He continued to 
conduct his farm until he sold out to his son 
Charles. 

Charles Kirchner was reared at home, 
assisted his father on the farm and received 
a common-school education. May 8, 1871, 
he purchased the old homestead, 200 acres, 
and has since cultivated the same, from time 
to time making additional improvements on 
the farm. It is used chiefly for grain and 
dairy purposes, and under his skillful man- 
agement has been brought up to a high state 
of development, and is now one of the choice 
farms of the county. 

Mr. Kirchner was married in Waumandee, 
April 4, 1867, to Louise, daughter of Conrad 
and Anna (Langhard) Ulrich. Her father 
died December 5, 1890, and her mother is at 
present living at Fountain City. Mrs. Kirch- 
ner is one of a family of ten children, and 
was eight years old when she came to the 
United States from her native land, Switzer 
land. She was reared in Waumandee. They 
have had seven children, viz.: Albert W., 
who died in 1881; Adolph E., born in 1869; 
Eugene H., in 1873; Ida M., in 1874; Ma- 
tilda F., born in 1876, died in 1877; Oscar 



O., born in 1879; Edwin, born in 1883, died 
in 1885. 

Like his venerable father, Mr. Kirchner 
votes with the Republican party. The elder 
Mr. Kirchner was appointed Postmaster of 
Waumandee May 1, 1865, and served effi- 
ciently in that capacity. January 30, 1871, 
Charles Kirchner was appointed to the same 
position, and still holds his commission. He 
has been prominent in local affairs for many 
years, ever interested in any movement that 
tended to advance the good of the community. 
He was Chairman of the Town Board seven 
years, at different times; was Justice of the 
Peace from 1867 to 1873; was Town Assess- 
or and also Town Clerk in 1890. In 1880 
he was census enumerator; has held various 
other local positions; is now President of the 
Buffalo County Farmers' Alliance. He is a 
member of the Modern Woodmen, Camp No. 
754, Fountain City, and is Secretary of the 
Harmonia Society of Waumandee, which was 
organized in 1863. In 1890 this society 
erected a tine hall, in which to hold its 
meetings and where it has a library of 400 
volumes. 

In conclusion, we say that Mr. Kirchner is 
oi:e of the most prominent and successful 
farmers of Buffalo county. He is truly a 
self-made man. He has great force of char- 
acter and energy, and is greatly respected, 
not only for his business qualities but also for 
his kindliness and benevolence of heart. 

fB. BEACH is owner and editor of The 
Whitehall Times and Blair Banner, 
* which newspaper was started by F. E. 
Beach, a brother of the present owner, and 
the first number was issued January 14, 1880. 
In December of the same year J. B. Beach 
bought an interest in the paper, which they 



774 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



published together until September 24, 1885, 
at which time the subject of this sketch be- 
came sole proprietor. F. E. Beach now re- 
sides at Leola, McPherson county, South 
Dakota, where, in 1888, he established the 
Northwest, which he still conducts. 

J. B. Beach was born in Charlotte, Chit- 
tenden county, Vermont, in 1853, and in the 
spring of 180(3 his father, Charles G. Beach, 
emigrated with his family to Wisconsin, and 
settled in Trempealeau county. He was born 
in Vermont, as was also his father, Aaron L. 
Beach, and the family was originally among 
the early New England settlers. Charles G. 
married Caroline Barnes, and when the family 
came to Wisconsin it consisted of the parents 
and eight children. The mother died in the 
town of Ettrick, April 17, 1887, and the 
father resides in Whitehall. Of their si.x 
sons, Charles, tlie eldest, resides in Vermont; 
Henry H. is a resident of Galesville, Trem- 
pealeau county; Edgar died in Mankato, 
Minnesota, December 4, 1874; Zaeliary lives 
in Whitehall; J. B. is the ne.xt in order of 
birth; Frederick E., the youngest of the 
family, is a resident of Dakota. The eldest 
sister, Jennie, died at the age of four years, 
and the second, also named Jennie, is the wife 
of John O. Melby, of Whitehall. 

The subject of this sketch resided on a farm 
until the age of twenty-one years, when he 
entered the Journal office, at Galesville, con- 
ducted by George Luce, and there he con- 
tinued for about two years, when the paper 
was sold to B. E. Clark. Mr. Beach then 
established the Galesville Independent, under 
the auspices of the Galesville Printing As- 
sociation, and conducted this paper one year. 
He then went to North La Crosse, and with 
E. H. Love started the North La Crosse 
Star, which they sold in 1877. Mr. Beach, 
then being in poor health, returned to the 
farm, where he remained until December, 



1880, at which time, as already mentioned, he 
became connected with his present paper. 
He has a finely equipped office, and publishes 
a neat and interesting paper. He is the 
present chairman of the Republican County 
Committee. 

He was married in September, 1889, to 
Miss Hattie Olds, a daughter of George H. 
Olds, an early settler of Trempealeau county. 



m L. GRINDL. County Treasurer of 
TL'^ Trempealeau county, was elected No- 
^F^' vember 4, 1890, succeeding H. Thors- 
gaard. Mr. Griudl was born in Norway in 
1847, and came to America with his parents 
in 1857. The family settled in Columbia 
county, Wisconsin, coming to Trempealeau 
county in the fall of 1860, where the father 
died, in November, 1883. Mr. Grindl was 
educated in the public schools of the town of 
Ettrick and held several township offices, 
before his election to his present position. 

He has been twice married, the first June 
8, 1868, and is the father of three children. 
The mother of Mr. Grindl died in 1884. 
There were nine children in the family, only 
three of whom are living. Mr. Grindl, Sr., 
was a farmer by occupation, and to this voca- 
tion his sons were reared. 



ASPER MEULI, of Montana township, 
belongs to one of the old and promi- 
nent pioneer families of Buffalo county, 
Wisconsin. He was bom in the town of 
Ander, Switzerland, in March, 1840, and is 
the son of Casper and Anna (Conrad) Meuli. 
His grandfather's name was also Casper. 
His father was born in Welds, Switzerland, 
and his mother in Ander. The family erai- 



BIOORAPHICAL HISTORY. 



775 



grated to the United States in the spring of 
1852, landed in New York and came direct 
to Milwaukee, thence to Washington county, 
this State, where Christian Conrad, an uncle 
of our subject lived. Of the ten children 
born to the elder Casper Meuli and his wife 
only three are now living: Casper, Christian 
and Mathias. The father was a farmer, and 
for six years was engaged in agricultural pur- 
suits in Washington county, removing from 
there to Alma, Buffalo county. He snl)se- 
quently came to Waumandee. He was an 
honest and industrious man, and from time to 
time homesteaded and purchased land, im- 
proved the same, and at the time of his death 
had 220 acres, all under a good state of cul- 
tivation. He died in March, 1870, and his 
wife survived him only about live years. 

The subject of our sketch was reared at 
home, assisted his father on the farm and 
attended school as opportunity offered. He 
remained with his father until he was twenty- 
eight years old, with the exception of the time 
spent in the army. 

September 14, 1862, he enlisted at Alma, 
in Company G, Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and went into camp at La 
Crosse. Six weeks later they were ordered 
to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, where they re- 
ceived their arms, and after remaining there 
a week his company was ordered to Rich- 
mond, Minnesota, to watch the Indians, who 
were then quite troublesome. From Decem- 
ber until March he was with his company at 
Madison, and their next move was to Ken- 
tucky. While at Columbus, that State, Mr. 
Meuli was on the sick list most of the time, 
but was on duty nearly all that time. In 
June the company started for Vicksburg, on 
a transportation boat, landing at Yazoo City, 
on the Yazoo river, in the rear of Vicksburg. 
Mr. Meuli, being still sick, was sent back to 
a temporary hospital at Milliken's Bend, 



Louisiana, and in July he was taken on a 
hospital boat to St. Louis, Missouri, where 
he had typhoid fever. During the ensuing 
autumn, having partially recovered, he was 
attached to the Seventeenth Veteran Keserve 
Corps and transferred to Camp Morton, at 
Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was employed 
in guarding a prison containing rebels. The 
company was next transferred to Eiken bar- 
racks, at the same city, and our subject was 
placed on patrol duty in the city, to preserve 
order; was also otherwise engaged, as his 
strength would permit, until he was mus- 
tered out. 

He returned home in June, much broken 
in health. Two years later he purchased a 
farm of 120 acres. In 1870 he built his pre- 
sent dwelling and subsequently made some 
additions to it. In 1880 he built a barn, and 
in 1887 another one. In 1880 he bought 160 
acres of land, thus increasing his original pur- 
chase. He had pre-empted forty acres in 
1869, and also homesteaded forty acres the 
same year. Besides this he owns 120 acres 
which he inherited, and which he rents. He 
has about 175 acres of his home place under 
cultivation, it being used as a grain and stock 
farm. Mr. Meuli keeps about twenty milch 
cows. In farming operations and stock- 
raising he has been quite successful. 

He was married, in September, 1867, to 
Elizabeth, daughter of August and Eva Hel- 
wig. Mrs. Meuli died in childbirth in 1868. 
In September. 1870, Mr. Meuli took to him- 
self a second wife, Cecelia van Eschen, daugh- 
ter of George van Eschen. This union was 
blessed with three children: Anna, George 
and Christian. In 1878 Mr. Meuli was again 
bereaved of his companion. In 1880 he 
wedded Lydia Hnber, daughter of Jacob and 
Lydia Huberof Sauk county. Eight children 
have been born to tliem, — Jacob, August, 



776 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HlSTOUr. 



Katheriae, Lydia, Henry, Benjamin, Edwin 
and Agnes. 

Mr. Meuli is a Republican, and is a mem- 
ber of Fimian Post, No. 190, G. A. R., 
Alma. In 1890 he was census enumerator; 
has served as Town Treasurer and Clerk of the 
School Board. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Evangelical Church. 

Though greatly reduced in physical strength 
by his service and sickness in the army, he 
still retains the energy and ambition of his 
earlier years. His farm is an excellent one, 
and is well cultivated by him and his sous. 
Mr. Meuli is public-spirited, and is always 
ready to take an active part in matters that 
will tend to advance the interests of t\\e 
county. 



-^''vv?y2/- 



-■'innn^^ 



jANlEL TROWBRIDGE, deceased, was 
a pioneer of Trempealeau county from 
February 27, 1856. He was born in 
the State of New York, October 21, 1794.' 
Thomas Trowbridge, the founder of the family 
in America came from Taunton, England, in 
163G, and settled at Dorchester, Massachu- 
setts. From him Daniel Trowbridge was in 
direct descent in the following line: Thomas, 
William, Seth, Abel and Daniel, the |^latter 
being of the fifth generation. 

The latter married at Meadville, Pennsyl- 
vania, August 7, 1828, Elizal)eth [>arker, 
who was born in Massachusetts, May 22, 
1803. In 1839 Daniel Trowbridge removed 
from Pennsylvania to Salem, Indiana, and a 
year later to Belvidere, Illinois. In the spring 
of 1855 the family removed to La Crescent, 
Minnesota, and a short time after to Onalaska, 
Wisconsin. In 1856, Mr. Trowbridge settled 
in what is now the town of Trempealeau, 
Trempealeau county. On Decembei- 5, 1863, 
he was fatally injured by falling from a barn 



that he was constructing. It is a somewhat 
remarkable coincidence that his wife also died 
by accident, she having been fatally hurt on 
October 6, 1859, by the running away of a 
horse. She survived her injuries but a short 
time. Mr. Trowbridge, Sr., was a surveyor 
by occupation, and was County Surveyor of 
Trempealeau county for a number of years. 
Daniel Trowbridge and wife were the parents 
of five children, three sons and two daughters: 
Ann R., the eldest, was born May 3, 1829, 
and died in Illinois, December 27, 1854; 
Elizabeth W., born April 28, 1831, is now 
Mrs. Smith, widow of H. C. Smith, resides 
at Trempealeau, Wisconsin; Henry R., the 
eldest son, was born February 20, 1833. He 
served in a Minnesota Cavalry Regiment in 
the war of the Rebellion. He now resides 
at Little Rock, Arkansas. He is unmarried; 
Edward N., born December 25, 1834; Hiram 
I. was born May 15, 1837. He served in 
Company C, Thirtieth Wisconsin, in the war 
of the Rebellion. He now resides in Trem- 
pealeau; Edward N. Trowbridge, who resides 
at Whitehall, was born at Meadville, Penn- 
sylvania, which was the birth-place of all the 
children. He was educated at the high 
school, at Belvidere, Illinois, and at Gales- 
ville University, and was engaged in farming 
and teaching until the breaking out of the 
civil war. He was enrolled in the army 
September 6, 1861, as a member of the First 
Wisconsin Battery of Mounted Artillery. 
He enlisted at La Crosse and served three 
years, and was discharged October 13, 1864. 
He was actively engaged during his whole 
term of service. After the war he re-engaged 
in agricultural pursuits and teaching. 

On June 25, 1866, he was married to Miss 
Mary P. Booth, eldest daughter of E. E. and 
Hannah P. Booth. She was born in the city 
of ISew York, December 8, 1842, and came 
to Wisconsin with her parents who settled 



BIOGRAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



777 



at East Troy, Walworth county, and later in 
La Crosse county, and thence to Trempealeau 
county. The parents of Mrs. Trowbridge 
are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge have 
four children, viz.: "William M., Harry H., 
Edward U., and Mary. Tliey lost their third 
child, Gracie, who was born on April 25, 
1872, and died June 18, 1873. 

July 14, 1873, Mr. Trowbridge engaged in 
the mercantile business at Trempealeau, which 
he continued till 1876, when he engaged in 
the insurance business and also served as 
Town Clerk. In 1882, he was elected County 
Clerk of Trempealeau county, serving from 
January 1, 1883, till January, 1891, since 
which time he has been ensjasred in insurance. 
Politically he is a Republican. He and wife 
are members of the Baptist Church. 

?ACOB WEISMOLEK, one of the old 
and representative farmers of Wauman- 
dee township, forms the subject of this 
biography, and is deserving of more than a 
passing notice on the pages of this work. 

Mr. Weismolek dates his birtli in Prussia, 
July 7, 1828, and is a son of Andrew and 
Hnlwig (Wegarig) Weismolek. Of their 
seven children he is the only surviving one. 
the other six and botli parents liaving died in 
their native land. Jacob lived with his par- 
ents until June, 1854, when he sailed for New 
York. From that city he went to Auburn 
and remained six months, thence to Livings- 
ton county, Michigan, where he made his 
home for some time. He next went to St. 
Paul, but not liking the prospect there went 
to La Crosse and spent about a year. From 
that place he came to Buffalo county, pur- 
chased eighty acres of land and began farm- 
ing, and also worked at his trade, that of 
stone-mason, which he iiad learned previous 



to coming to America. At first he occupied 
the shanty that was on his land, and in 1862 
he built a cabin. He was thus employed in 
developing a farm and making a home when 
the war broke out and continued to rage. 
Feeling it his duty to enter the service of his 
adopted country, on March, 8, 1865, he be- 
came a member of Company K, Forty-eighth 
Wisconsin Infantry, Captain D. Lewis. He 
acted the part of a brave soldier until the 
struggle closed, and was mustered out of the 
service March 24, 1866. He then returned 
home and took up his farming pursuits. 
From exposure incurred while in the war, he 
was taken with rheumatism, and for two 
years was unable to work. He is now a pen- 
sioner of the United States Government. 

Before going into the war he took a home- 
stead claim of forty acres, and after his return 
purchased eighty acres of improved land. In 
1882 he bought another forty-acre tract ad- 
joining him, and now owns 240 acres in one 
body, 120 acres of which are under good cul- 
tivation. In 1875 he rented his farm and 
moved to Arcadia, where he lived until 1880, 
and while there worked some at his trade. 
He then returned to the farm. In 1882 he 
completed his present dwelling, which occu- 
pied the site of his first home. His large 
barn was built in 1880. 

Mr. Weismolek was married in Prussia, 
in 1848, to Mary Fanza, by whom he had 
three children: Frank, John and Mary. Mrs. 
Weismolek died in 1850, while they were 
living in Michigan. His second marriage 
occurred in Sauk county, Wisconsin, in 
April, 1860, to Ann (Lohr) Neimann, daugh- 
ter of Christian Lohr. The issue from this 
marriage was eight children, namely: Mary, 
now Mrs. Gnstav Kirchner; Susa, wife of 
Peter Rebhahn; Jacob, who wedded Anna 
Nawizki; Albert, who married Alice Henry, 
and is now a resident of Seattle, Washington ; 



778 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



and Lena, Louisa, Naize and Christiana, — 
all living except the last two named. By lier 
former marriage Mrs. Weismolek had three 
children: Kosa, now Mrs. Joe Seller; Anna, 
wife of Andrew Villas; and John, who is 
with her. 

Politically, Mr. Weismolek is a Democrat. 
He and his family are consistent members of 
the Catholic Church. 



jRTHUR TIBBITTS, of Galesville, has 
been a resident of that village since 
1874, where he is engaged in contract- 
ing and building. He was born in Waldo 
county, Maine, January 8, 1840, the son of 
Benjamin Tibbitts, also a native of the Pine 
Tree State. The family is of English origin, 
and came from old New England stock. 
Benjamin Tibbitts was a farmer by occupa- 
tion, and in 1846 he emigrated to Wisconsin 
with his family, settling in Sheboygan 
county. There he cleared up a farm, pur- 
chasing the claim of a man who had pre- 
empted the same, and there he lived until 
death, which occurred September 22, 1873. 
He was born in 179U, being about seventy- 
four years of age at the time of his death. 
His wife, 7iee Sarah Clark, also a native of 
Maine, survived her husband several years, 
passing away April 9, 1885. They were the 
parents of ten children, seven sons and three 
daughters, and four sons and the daughters 
are now living. Lemuel, the eldest surviv- 
ing member, resides near the old home in 
Sheboygan county; Amos, the second, owns 
and occupies the old homestead, which has 
been in possession of the family since 1846; 
Arthur is the third in order of birth; Horace, 
the youngest, is also a resident of Sheboygan 
county. The eldest surviving sister is Mrs. 
Mary Jane Davis, now of Burlington, Iowa; 



the second, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Marrill, re- 
sides in Frontier county, Nebraska, and 
Ellen L., the youngest of the family, resides 
at Galesville with Mrs. Tibbitts. Tlie de- 
ceased members of the family were Solomon, 
who died early in life; Waldo was a member 
of the First Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, in the war of the Rebellion, and 
was killed in the celebrated battle of Stone 
River; Hillard died at about the age of thirty- 
si.K years. Four of the brothers fought gal- 
lantly for their country in the war of the 
Rebellion, Lemuel in the Twenty-seventh 
Wisconsin, and Arthur, Waldo and Horace 
in the First. 

Arthur Tibbitts, our subject, was reared 
on the homestead farm in Sheboygan county, 
and October 1, 1861, enlisted in Com- 
pany I, First Wisconsin Volunteer Infan- 
try for three years. He participated in 
many of the most bloody contests of the war, 
his first important battle being at Perry ville, 
Kentucky, October 8, 1862, where he received 
a wound in the throat. He fought in the 
battles of Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Bay- 
ley's Cross Roads and Chickamauga. On the 
second day of the last mentioned battle, Sep- 
tember 20, 1863, he was severely wounded, 
having been struck by a cannister shot near 
the spinal column, the ball lodging above the 
right hip. This shot remained in his body 
thirteen months and twenty days, when it 
was removed, and he still has in his posses- 
sion the ball that came so near terminating 
his existence. In the same battle he was 
struck in the left shoulder by a fragment of 
shell, which disabled for a time the shoulder 
and arm. He fell in the hands of the enemy, 
and was taken prisoner and remained on the 
field ten days, during which time his wounds 
were not dressed. He was then paroled and 
taken to Chattanooga, where he remained in 
the hospital six weeks; was then taken to 



BIOGRAPHICAL HT8T0RY. 



779 



Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and two weeks 
later was fui'louglied and came lionie. He 
remained at home until May 7, 1864, when 
he was exchanged and ordered to report at 
Catnp Chase, where he was discharged July 
25, of the same year. 

Mr. Tibbitts was married, in March, 1866, 
to Margaret Hardie, daughter of James and 
Margaret (Bibby) Hardie, natives of Scot- 
land. She was born near Glasgow, January 
14, 1846, and came to this country when a 
child with her parents. The family resided 
two and a half years in Maryland, when 
they came to Trempealeau county, where the 
mother died in December, 1888, and the 
father is still living. Mrs. Tibbitts is one 
of a family of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. 
Tibbitts have one son, Ernest, born January 
18, 1867, who has at present a Government 
position in Washington, District of Colum- 
bia. Mr. Tibbitts is a charter member of 
Charles Ford Post, at Galesville, of which he 
is now Commander; and is also a member of 
the order of United Workmen Politically, 
he was formerly a Republican, but is now 
identified with the Prohil)ition party. Mr. 
and Mrs. Tibbitts are numbered among the 
esteemed citizens of Galesville. In their 
religious views they are liberal and progres- 
sive, and ever forward in whatever tends to 
promote the social and moral interests of the 
community in which they live. 



^EN"RY E. GETTS, one of the leading 
business men of Whitehall and of 
Trempealeau county, engaged in grain 
buying and general merchandising in the 
above mentioned village, in 1875. Mr. 
Getts is also present owner of the flouring 
mill at Whitehall. He is a native of the 
city of Philadelphia, where he was born in 



1842. There his father, Andrew Getts, died . 
In 1855 the mother emigrated with her 
family to Wisconsin, residing for a while in 
Janesville; they went thence to Juneau coun- 
ty and thence to La Crosse. 

In 1869 the subject of this sketch engaged 
in business in North La Crosse with Mr. J. 
E. Canterbury. They did an extensive busi- 
ness, dealing in grain, flour, provisions, feed, 
groceries, etc. They had also a branch busi- 
ness at Midway. In 1871 Mr. Getts and his 
partner divided their business interests, the 
former continuing to do business at La 
Crosse till 1875, when he located at White- 
hall. Mr. Lambert was associated in busi- 
ness with Mr. Getts in Whitehall until his 
death, which occurred in 1880; then the 
latter continued alone for a time, when he 
was joined by Mr. O. P. Larsen. Mr. Getts 
has long been the principal stock and grain 
buyer of Whitehall. He also erected a ware- 
house at Eleva, formerly New Chicago. His 
son is associated in business with him at that 
point. The family of Mr. Getts consisted of 
four brothers and two sisters; one of the 
latter is deceased. Mary is the wife of D. 
Knox, of La Crosse; John is a farmer of 
Trempealeau county, with whom the mother 
resides; Margaret married Mr. C. J. Lam- 
bert; both she and her husband are deceased; 
George is a farmer of Trempealeau county, 
and is unmarried; the subject of this sketch 
is the next in age. Albert, the youngest, is 
a farmer and resides in Dakota. 

Mr. Henry Getts was united in marriage 
to Miss Emma Lambert, a sister of his for- 
mer partner in bubiness. They have three 
children, — two sons and a daughter. The 
eldest, Edmund C, is a graduate of the La- 
Crosse high school, and has charge of the 
business at Eleva; Estelle Blanche, their 
only daughter, is now (1891) a student at the 
Rockford (111.) Female Seminary; their 



780 



BIOriRAPHICAL HISTORT. 



second son is ilerhert E. Mr. Getts, as al- 
ready stated, is one of the leading business 
men of Trempealeau county. The success to 
which he has attained is due to energy and 
business ability. lie is recognized as an en- 
terprising and progressive citizen. 

In bis political affilliatlons Mr. Getts is a 
Republican. He cast his first presidential 
vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. 

IVEN EKERN is one of the leading 
general merchants at Whitehall, where 
he engaged in business in 1885, be- 
coujing associated with L. L. Solsrud, witli 
whom he continued four years, when he 
bought the interest of his partner, and has 
been alone in business since that time. Mr. 
Ekern has a general and very complete stock 
of goods. 

He was born in Norway, December 8, 
1838. His father was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and the subject of this sketch remained 
at home till twenty-one years of age, when he 
entered the military service as the servant of 
an officer. He remained in the army for 
eight years, spending five years of this time 
in Christiania, the capital of iiis native 
country. On the expiration of his time in 
the army, he returned to the place of his 
birth, purchased a farm and engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, but two years later or in 
May, 1869, he started for America. The 
mother of Mr. Ekern had died while he was 
in the army, and when he returned to his 
home the remainder of the '^amily, consist- 
ing of five children, had all come to America, 
though they had emigrated at different times. 
On arriving in this country, the subject of 
this sketch went directly to La Crosse. For 
about two years he was engaged in work at 
different kinds of labor, and then bouorht a 



farm in tlie town of Pigeon, Trempealeau 
county, which he improved. He first bought 
but eighty acres, but later added thereto until 
he had 280 acres. The farm, which he still 
owns, now contains 225 acres. It is an ex- 
cellent farm and well improved. Peter and 
Anton Ekern, well known citizens of the 
town of Pigeon, are brothers of the subject 
of this sketch. The father returned to Nor- 
way in 1872, where he has since died. 

Mr. Even Ekern was married in the town 
of Pigeon in 1874, to Miss Elizabeth Grims- 
rod, a native of Norway, but came to this 
country with her parents when ten years of 
age. Mr. and Mrs. Ekern have seven chil- 
dren, — three sons and four daughters, viz.: 
Herman L., Lawrence M., Lena Z., Emil A., 
Alice O., Helga and Kuth. They lost a son, 
their third child, Emil, at the age of two and 
a half years. Mr. Ekern is one of the well 
known and prosperous business men of 
Whitehall. He has acquired his property by 
his own exertions and is esteemed as an up- 
right, honorable citizen.. 

EORGE HUBER, of Fountain City, 
Wisconsin, is one of the proprietors of 
the Eagle Mill, near the city. He was 
born in Buffalo, Buffalo county, this State, 
February 8, 1858. Casper Huber, his father, 
is one of the pioneers of the county, and one 
of the best known and most extensive farm- 
ers and stock-raisers here. Ho was born in 
Wiirttemberg, Germany, January 5, 1819, and 
his wife, nee Rosa Bauman, to whom he was 
united in marriage in Cincinnati, was born 
in Switzerland, in 1835. 

Casper Huber left his native country and 
landed in New York in 1849, from there 
going to Pliiladelphia, where he obtained 
work at his trade, that of a shoemaker. He 



BIOGRAPBICAL HISTORY. 



781 



subsequently went to Cincinnati, where he 
continued work at his trade six years. In 
1855 he carae to Wisconsin and located at 
Buffalo. Here for four years he furnished 
the supply of boots and shoes for Charles 
Schaettle's store. He then took up a home- 
stead of forty acres, in Belvidere township, 
and at once began improving it. He has 
since devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. 
From time to time he has increased the size 
of his farm until he now has 500 acres, 200 
of which are under cultivation. He makes a 
specialty of stock-raising. He was for many 
years a Republican, but now supports the 
Democratic party. The nine children born 
to him and his wife are Gustav, Robert, 
George, Henry, Albert, Charles, Ferdinand, 
Salina wife of John Lindned, and Emilia, 
wife of J. L. Mourning. 

George Huber remained at home until he 
was seventeen years of age, assisting his 
father on the farm and attending the public 
school and the high school at Fountain City. 
He then went to Alden, Minnesota, and for 
two years clerked in a dry-goods store, after 
which he clerked for Charles Schaettle, of 
Alma, for three years. Then, during the 
next three years, he and his brother Henry 
successfully conducted a hotel at Alma. 
After that he opened a hotel at Mondovi, 
called the Commercial House, which he ran 
for about a year and a half. In the spring of 
1887 he came to Fountain City and leased 
the Behlmer House, and conducted the same 
for three years. Before his lease was out, 
June 15, 1889, in company with Herman A. 
Schultze, he purchased the Eagle Mill. A 
year later Mr. Schultze sold his intei-est to 
Paul Huefner, and since that time the firm has 
been Huefner & Huber. 

The Eagle Mill was erected about thirty- 
five years ago, and is located on a little 
stream that empties into the Mississippi. It 

61 



was at first operated with two run of stone, 
in 1886 the roller process was put in, and 
under the present proprietorship it has been 
entirely remodeled, now having eight sets of 
rollers and a capacity of 100 barrels per day. 
The water has a fall of seven feet, and three 
turbine wheels are used. Their principal 
brand is "Straight," and their market chiefly 
Minneapolis and St. Paul. They have ex- 
cellent facilities for transportation and a 
steady demand for their product. Mr. Huber 
takes entire charge of his milling interests 
and by his skilful management and business 
ability has been financially successful. 

He was married, in Alma, August 9, 1884, 
to Emma Gebhardt, who was born and reared 
in Cincinnati. Her father, William Geb- 
hardt, was a native of Germany, and her 
mother was born in Switzerland. Both are 
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Huber have four 
children: George W., Charles E., Elmer and 
Roy P. He and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and in politics he is a 
Democrat. 



fOHN YOUCHEM, another one of the 
leading young farmers of Buffalo county, 
Wisconsin, was born in Louisville, Ken- 
tucky, January 28, 18 — . He was reared in 
his native city and there learned the trade of 
blacksmith, at which trade he became profi- 
cient. Coming North to Buffalo county, Wis- 
consin, he located at Fountain City and tliere 
continued work at his trade. 

He was married there, March 1, 1879, to 
Christiana, daughter of Christian and Mar- 
garet Buehler, and to them have been born 
four children: John, Lee, Paul and Colonel. 

In 1890, having purchased, in company 
with his brother-in-law. Christian Buehler, 
the farm mentioned in the latter's biography, 



BIOORAPHIUAL HISTORY. 



he moved his shop to it, and is now carrying 
on blacksmithing in connection with their 
farming operations. lie is regarded as one 
of the best blacksmiths in Buffalo county. 
Like Mr. Buehler, he is public-spirited and 
enterprising, and has the confidence and re- 
spect of all who know him. In politics, he 
is Democratic. 



,NDREW EKERN, M. D., of Alma, 
Wisconsin, was born in Norway, Feb- 
ruary 2, 1865, and is the son of Peter 
and Olive Ekern. His father was engaged 
in farming in the old country. In 1867 the 
family came to the United States and located 
in Vernon county, Wisconsin, where they 
remained one year, and from that place re- 
moved to Pigeon Falls, Trempealeau county. 
There the father is still living, engaged in 
the mercantile and milling business; also has 
a creamery. Peter Ekern and his wife have 
had eight children, namely: Ludwig. Han- 
nah, Andrew, Minnie, now Mrs. H. M. Slet- 
teland, of Pigeon Falls; Josephine, Emma, 
Hilda, and Hilda (2). All are living except 
Hanna and Hilda (1). 

The early life of Dr. Ekern was spent at 
home with his parents. In 1879 he entered 
Galesville University and remained their two 
years. Subsequently he attended the Nor- 
mal School at Valparaiso, Indiana. After 
finishing his course there he entered Rush 
Medical College at Chicago, and graduated 
in that institution February 15 1887. He 
was then located temporarily at Whitehall, 
Wisconsin, for a few months, from whence 
he went to Ilatton, North Dakota, where he 
practiced his profession one year. He then 
removed to Alma, Wisconsin, and located 
permanently. Since coming here he has 
built up a large and lucrative practice, enjoys 



the confidence of the people, and is regarded 
as one of the best physicians in this part of 
the country. 

Dr. Ekern belongs to the Masonic Lodge 
of Alma, No. 184, of which he is Senior 
Warden; is also a member of the Modern 
Woodmen, Lone Pine Camp, No. 760, in 
which he holds the position of Escort. The 
Doctor is a Republican in politics. 

In reference to his family history, it 
should be further stated that his father's 
brothers and sisters emigrated to this 
country and are now scattered in vari- 
ous States. Their names are as follows: 
Evan, of Whitehall, Wisconsin; Anthane, 
of Pigeon Falls, same State; Martin, of Flan- 
dreau. South Dakota; Rundena, now Mrs. 
E. Klebo; Maria, now Mrs. Shultz, of Des 
Moines, Iowa. 

■^' | ' 2"S ' ^" »" 



fOHN A. PRESTEGAARDEN resides 
on section 26 in the town of Sumner, 
where he settled in 1870, making his 
location in the spring of that year, and 
obtaining his original farm from the Gov- 
ernment. His farm of 240 acres was wholly 
unimproved when he bought it, but he sub- 
dued the soil and now has it under a good 
state of cultivation, and is numbered among 
the well-to-do and influential farmers of this 
section. Mr. Prestegaarden was born in Nor- 
way, in 1845, and there passed his early life, 
coming to the United States in 1867. He 
went directly to Iowa county, Wisconsin, 
and there made his home for three years, and 
then came to Trempealeau county, whither 
his father, who emigrated from Norway, in 
1868, had previously removed in 1869. His 
father also obtained land of the Government; 
and his fine farm of 120 acres adjoins that 
of his son. John Prestegaarden is the only 



BIOORAPHIOAL HISTORY. 



783 



son of his parents, but he has five sisters. 
He is married and lias an adopted daughter. 
He is one of the industrious and substantial 
farmers of the town of Sumner and is 
esteemed as an honest, upright citizen. 



-«HE 



tORANZ DITESSENDORFER was born 
in Bavaria, Germany, June 20, 1826. 
His parents, Fred and Rarbara (Arnet) 
Duessendorfer, were natives of Bavaria, the 
former born in 1790, and the latter in 1800. 
His father was a farmer by occupation. 
Young Lorauz lived at home until he was 
fifteen years of age, after which he worked 
out until he was twenty two. At that time 
he entered the Bavarian army, and was in the 
Sclileswig-Holstein war, 1848-49. While 
in the service he was accidentally wounded 
by a fall. He was the first one to reach a 
fort which they stormed, and, after reaching 
it, accidently fell from the battlements, the 
fall disabling him for life. He was discharged 
without a pension, and subsequently emi- 
grated to the United States. After a voyage 
of forty-seven days, he landed in New 
Orleans, in June, 1852. A few days later he 
came by steamboat up to Bufialo county, 
Wisconsin, and stopped at what is now known 
as the Stone House, on the Mississippi. The 
country was then wild and full of Indians. 
Mr. Duessendorfer engaged in getting out 
wood for the steamboats and followed tliat 
business for about twenty years. In 1865 he 
bought 120 acres of land in section 15, town- 
ship 19, range 11 west, upon which he began 
making improvements. He subsequently 
purchased from the State 160 acres of timber 
land upon the blufi", which he has cleared and 
developed into an elegant farm. His chief 
crop on it is wheat and oats. His son attends 
to the farm work, and he is now giving his 



attention to the cultivation of trees and vines. 
He has about thirty kinds of grapes, and has 
been very successful in this line of business. 

From the time of his first settlement here, 
Mr. Duessendorfer has been prominent in 
local affairs. He helped to build the first 
road that was made in the county, the one 
leading from Fountain City down to the 
Stone House, tie is a member of the Lu- 
theran Church, and in politics affiliates with 
the Democratic party. 

Mr. Duessendorfer was married at Galena, 
June 15, 1853, to Mary, daughter of Fritz 
and Kate (Schneider) Schneider. Following 
is the issue from this union: John, a resident 
of Arcadia; Andrew, a blacksmith. Fountain 
City; Mary, who died at the age of si.K 
months; Fred, foreman in a sawmill at Wi- 
nona, Minnesota; Mary, Anna, who died at 
the age of five years; Loranz, a farmer; 
Lizzie, wife of Fred Roettiger; and Barbara. 
After many years of happy married life, his 
companion was suddenly called to her reward 
above, September 29, 1890. 

fllRISTIAN BUEHLER, one of the 
enterprising and promising youtig farm- 
ers of Cross township, Buffalo county, 
Wisconsin, was born in this township, Feb- 
ruary 13, 1862. He is a son of Cliristian 
and Margaret (Troug) Buehler, natives of 
Switzerland. Thi elder Mr. Buehler was 
born December 10, 1815, and was twice mar- 
ried. His first wife died in 1856, leaving one 
child. His second wife, Margaret, who was 
born February 21, 1827, and who is still 
living, bore him six children, namely: Chris- 
tiana, who married John Youchem; Chris- 
tian, Emma, who married Herman Heitman; 
Anna, Minnie, who married Herman Frey, 
of Waumandee; and Rose. Mr. Buehler 



784 



BIOGHAPHICAL HT STORY. 



immifrrated to the United States in 1854, 
landing in New York, coming dii'ect from 
there to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, and 
locating in Crosse township. Here he pur- 
chased land in sections 6 and 31, and at once 
begaii its improvement. He spent the rest 
of his life in tliis township, and died at the 
old homestead, December 23, 1888. 

Cliristian Huehler, the subject of our 
sketch was reared on the farm and educated 
in the public schools. In the spring of 1890, 
in partnership with his brother in-law, John 
Yonchem, he purchased the farm on which 
he now resides. They have 298 acres, of 
which about 100 acres are under cultivation. 
He is turning his attention to the breeding of 
blooded stock, — both cattle and horses, — and 
intends to make a specialty of this business. 
A man of push and energy, he makes a suc- 
cess of whatever he undertakes. 

Mr. Buehler was Assessor of tlie town of 
Cross two terms, 1881-'82; in 1884:-'85 
was Town Clerk, and was elected to that 
office the third time in 1891; has been School 
Treasurer the past three years; was elected 
Justice of the Peace in 1889, and served one 
year. In politics he is an enthusiastic Re- 
publican, of which party his father also was 
a supporter. Mr. Bueliler was prominently 
mentioned for Clerk of the Circuit Court, 
but would not consent to be nominated, as he 
wished to devote liis entire time to farming 
interests. He is a member of the Modern 
Woodmen of America, Waumandee Camp, 
No. 754. 



--1*^ 






■ NTON N. FRENG, the chairman of the 
Town Board of Buinner in 1891, has 
been a resident of Trempealeau county 
since 1879. He resides on section 27, in the 
town of Sumner, where lie owns a well im- 



proved farm of eighty acres. He was born 
in Norway, July 31, 1852. His father was 
Nels Freng. In 1873 the family, consisting 
of parents and their son, Anton N., came to 
the United States. Another son, Henry, 
preceded them to this country and now re- 
sides at Spokane Falls, Washington. These 
mentioned constituted the entire family. On 
coming to this country they located at once 
in the city of La Crosse, where the subject of 
this sketch learned the trade of painting with 
Mr. John Edwards, of that city and was en- 
gaged at his trade in La Crosse county for 
about live years. The father came to Trem- 
pealeau county in 1885 and settled in the 
town of Sumner, where he still lives. The 
mother is deceased. 

In 1879 the subject of this sketch also 
took up his residence in this county. He 
bought his present farm in 1882. It 
was then totally unimproved, being wild 
land. Ho now has a tine farm, in an excel- 
lent state of cultivation. By industry and 
good nianagement he has paid for his home 
and is numbered among the substantial citi- 
zens of his town. He was married in Trem- 
pealeau county, in 1880, to Louise Peterson, a 
native of Norway. They have four ciiildren: 
Bernt, Peter, Lena and Albert, all of whom 
were born in Trempealeau county. As stated 
Mr. Freng is the present chairman of his 
town. He was for six years its Assessor. He 
possesses the confidence of his fellow citizens 
as a man of integrity. Beginning life a poor 
boy, he secured his present material posses- 
sions by industry and good management. 

,NDREW W. ANDERSON resides on 
section 26, town of Lincoln, where he 
settled in 1870, when but little improve- 
ment had been made there. Mr. An- 



BIOORAPHIVAL BISTORT. 



785 



derson was born in 1836. In 1848 his 
father, Gilbert Anderson, emigrated to the 
United States with his family, except the 
subject of this sketch, who came six years 
later. The family settled in the town of Blue 
Mound in Dane county, Wisconsin. Tiie 
family made their home there until the year 
1870, when they came to Trempealeau 
county. Here the parents lived till death. 
In 1854 Mr. Andrew W. Anderson, who was 
the only one of the family who had remained 
in Norway, came to this country. He went 
to Dane county, where the family was livinu;. 
There he remained until 1859. At this time 
the gold excitement at Pike's Peak was at its 
height, and Mr. Anderson with many others 
decided to go to that place. He numbered 
one of a party of live young men who started 
from Dane county, and all reached Denver in 
safety. He continued in Denver engaged in 
work till the spring of 1863, when in com- 
pany of five, though not the company who 
had gone with him to Denver, started with 
team and wagon for Virginia city, Nevada, 
but on reaching that place decided to con- 
tinue to San Francisco, which they reached 
in safety after a long and eventful journey. He 
stayed there until spring of 1864, and then he 
went to Boise City, Idaho, where he stayed a 
short time, when the excitement occurred re- 
garding the Alder Creek ]Mines in Montana, 
when he left there and went to what is now 
Helena, Montana; there he remained until 
1870, when he returned; going from Helena 
to Fort Benton, he descended the Missouri 
river on a steamer to Sioux City, when he 
crossed the State of Iowa, and thus returned 
home. Soon after his return to Dane county; 
he came here and brought his father's family 
with him. 

The subject of this sketch is the oldest son 
and the oldest but one of his father's family. 
Mr. Anderson bought his farm of Elder Aid- 



rich. He has 160 acres. He was married 
in 1870 to Julia Evenson, native of Norway. 
They have an adopted daughter, Clara Sol - 
berg. Mr. Anderson is one of the representa- 
tive men of his town. He has a pleasant 
home, etc. He has had much experience with 
the world. His trip to the Pacitic coast in 
the early days, before the railroad had crossed 
the continent, was fraught with events and 
incidents of much interest. In his political 
afSliations Mr. Anderson, as is the en- 
tire family, is a Republican, and is a warm 
advocate of the principles of that party. Mr. 
Anderson is numbered atuong the progress- 
ive and public-spirited citizens of Trempea- 
leau county. 



LLAN B. CASWELL, of the town of 
Hale, resides on section 17, town 23, 

^ range 7 west, where he settled in 1868. 
He was born in Erie county. New York, in 
1839. His father, Noah B. Caswell, was a 
native of Massachusetts. The mother, whose 
maiden name was Anna Jefferson, died in the 
State of New York; later the father came 
West and died at the home of his son. 

The subject of this sketch lived in this 
county until sixteen years of age, when he 
went South as far as the State of Mississippi, 
but returned home and later went to Illinois, 
and thence to Missouri. In 1862 he again 
returned to his native State, and in Decem- 
ber, 1863, enlisted for service in the war of 
the Rebellion, in Company H, Second New 
York Mounted Rifles, but served with the 
command to which he belonged, for the first 
year, as infantry. He went with his com- 
mand from Buffalo to Washington, District 
of Columbia, where the regiment was drilled 
and joined General Grant's army soon after 
the battle of the Wilderness. The first bat- 



786 



BIOORAPHICAL BISTORT. 



tie in wliicli lie took part was Spottsylvaiiia, 
and thereafter was in all of the principal bat- 
tles of the Army of the Potomac until Lee 
surrendered. He took part in the assault on 
Petersburg, and fought with his regiment 
dismounted at Dinwiddie, where he was 
severely injured. This was the last battle in 
which he participated. He was discharged 
September, 1865, and came West soon after. 
He resided in La Crosse county until 1868, 
since which time he has 1)een a resident of 
Trempealeau county. 

He was married in Missouri in 1860, to 
Snsan Fry. They have six children, two 
boys and four girls. Mr. Caswell's farm con- 
tains 240 acres. He is a well known citizen 
of this town; he was a gallant soldier in the 
war of the Kebellion, and is respected as an 
honorable citizen. 



lAVlD MALONEY resides on section 
28, in the town of Hale, Trempealeau 
county, his farm being on sections 20, 
21, 28 and 29. Mr. Maloney has resided 
here since 1867, making the first improve- 
ments on his place, and was one of the first 
settlers in that part of the town of Hale. 
He was born in county Cork, Ireland, in 
1830, and came to America with his father's 
family in 1846, just on the eve of the great 
famine of the Emerald Isle of 1846-'47, the 
family being sufferers in the early part of 
that great affliction that Itefell their native 
land. The father settled with his family in 
Holyoke, Massachusetts, removing thence to 
South Hadley, where the subject of this 
sketch lived until 1856, the parents continu- 
ing their residence there until their death. 
The family consisted of two sons and two 
daughters: Mary resides at Springfield, Mas- 
sachusetts, Patrick in South Hadley, and 
Kate in the State of Connecticut. 



In 1856 David Maloney left New England, 
and coming to Wisconsin settled in Adams 
county, where he resided until 1867, when 
he came to Trempealeau county and located 
on his present farm. He was married in 
Massachusetts, to Margaret Warner. This 
union has been blessed with six children, two 
sons and four daughters: Katherine is the 
wife of A. G. Bucholtz, of Whitehall, Trem- 
pealeau county; Mary married Marvin Rora- 
back, of section 22. town of Hale; Esther is 
the wife of George Ellson, of South Dakota; 
Maggie is the wife of Louis Harrington, of 
South Dakota; James is the older son, and 
next to Mary in order of birth; the second 
son is named David, after his father. 

David Maloney, the subject of this sketch, 
is one of the well-known and substantial citi- 
zens of Trempealeau county. He began life 
poor, and by industry, economy and good 
management has acquired a competence. He 
and his son James own about 600 acres of 
land, and he is surrounded by the comforts 
of life. When he located where he now 
lives, all was new and settlers were far apart, 
and he endured all the hardships incident to 
a pioneer life, as he himself states in the in- 
terview from which these facts were obtained. 
He and family used scarcely a dollar's worth 
of groceries during the first year of their resi- 
dence here. This shows most emphatically 
the difficulties which he labored under. He 
has now liecome not only one of the substan- 
tial citizens of the county financially, but is 
esteemed and respected as an upright and 
honest citizen. 



-^^^tnA/l- 



■^l/inn^^ 



|EV. AUGUST BABINSKl is the present 
pastor of Sts. Peter and J^aul's Church 
at Independence. The ciiurch building 
was erected in 1875 by Rev. H. Klimecki, 



BIOOEAPHICAL HI STORY. 



787 



who may be said to have been the first resi- 
dent priest, as a small priest's residence was 
built that year and was occupied by the above 
mentioned priest. The church was dedi- 
cated March 7, 1875, by Bishop Heiss, then 
of La Crosse. Father Kliraecki was pastor 
of the church until May 10, 1882, but he did 
not continue his residence here until the end 
of that time, a parsonage having been erected 
at North Creek, and he took up his residence 
there and attended at Independence once in 
two weeks. This priest is now at Williams- 
bridge, Westchester county. New York. He 
was succeeded by Rev. D. Majer, who at- 
tended the church at Independence from May 
10, 1882, until March 19, 1883, and was 
succeeded by the first permanent resident 
priest. Rev. A. Warnagires, who remained 
until November 30, 1885, and was succeeded 
by Father R. Tomaszewski, who remained 
till March 20, 1888. Then came Rev. R. L. 
Guzowski, who continued until February 20, 
1890. From February 20 until September 
3 of the same year, the church was attended 
by Father Kroll, from North Creek, where 
he still continues. Then came the present 
pastor, Rev. Babinski. The present fine 
brick parsonage was built in 1889, and in 
December, 1890, the old parsonage was taken 
possession of by the Sisters. In connection 
with the church is a fine parochial scliool 
building, which is a solid brick structure. 
Tlie annual school enrollment is about 120 
pupils. 

Father Babinski, the efficient and popular 
pastor of his church, is a native of Poland, 
and was educated in the German gymnasiums 
and universities, and received his theologi- 
cal education at the American College at 
Louvain, in Belgium. He came to the 
United States in 1886, and was first located 
at Humbird and Junction City, and then in 
Independence. Father Babinski has a large 



congregation, numbering about 250 families, 
all of whom are Polish, with perhaps one or 
two exceptions. 

mOUIS BARNITZ resides on section 29, 
Mrfi in the town of Gale, where he settled in 
^^ 1858. The first improvements on this 
place were made by Henry Feeker. Still but 
little had been done on the place, Mr. Bar- 
nitz having made nearly all his improvements. 
Mr. Barnitz was born in Prussia, Germany, 
in 1823. His father, Gotleib Barnitz, never 
came to America, but continued to live in 
the old country until his death. Mr. Louis 
Barnitz came to the United States in 1855, 
and is the only one of his father's family who 
ever came to America. There are three 
brothers and two sisters in the family, all of 
whom but the subject of this sketch still live 
in Germany. On coming to America Mr. 
Barnitz landed at Quebec and went thence to 
Niagara county. New York, where he stayed 
about one year, and the following year, 1856, 
he went to Woodstock, Illinois, and in 1858 
came to Trempealeau county. Mr. Barnitz 
was married in Illinois to Miss Laura Empe, 
a daughter of Fred and Rose Empe. Mrs. 
Barnitz was born in Germany; her father 
died when she was a child and later her 
mother also died in Germany. In 1854 Mrs. 
Barnitz came to America. She went directly 
to the State of New York, where she was 
married to Mr. Barnitz. Mr. and Mrs. Bar- 
nitz have four children, three sons and a 
daughter, viz.: Adelia, Frank, Louis and 
Bruno. They lost a boy in infancy. Mrs. 
Barnitz is the only one of her father's family 
who ever came to America. She had three 
brothers: Carl, Fritz and August. The two 
oldest died, leaving families. August, the 
only surviving brother, is married, but has no 



788 



BIOGBAPUICAL HISTORY. 



children. Mr. Barnitz is one ol the indus- 
trious and substantial farmers of the town of 
Gale. lie has 400 acres of land. He and 
wife have a pleasant home and are respected 
by their neighbors as kind and intelligent 
people. 

-■■». | . ; ii ; . g — 




flLLIAM DICK, who resides on sec- 
tion 36, in the town of Gale, is one 
of the pioneers of Trempealeau 
county, the time of his conjing having been 
the fall of 1853. Mr. Dick was born in Ayr- 
shire, Scotland, in 1822. His father, Quin- 
ton Dick, was a native of the same part of 
Scotland, where he resided until his death. 
The mother of Mr. Dick was Jane McMur- 
try. Quinton Dick and wife were the parents 
of a large family of children, nearly all of 
whom have now passed away. 

The subject of this sketch was married in 
Scotland to Rosanna Neill. In 1851 Mr. 
Dick and wife emigrated to the State of 
Maryland. After residing in that State about 
two years, he, with others of his countrymen 
residing there, decided to go West and 
started for Wisconsin with their families, 
without any definite idea as to where they 
would settle. Mr. Dick and family were 
accompanied by the following men and their 
families, viz.: David Cook, John Irvine and 
John Hunter. A single man named James 
Phillips also accompanied them. On arriv- 
ing in La Crosse the men left their families, 
while they explored the country tor a loca- 
tion. After looking about for some time 
they decided to settle on what was known 
and is still known as Decora's Prairie, a 
beautiful valley in the south part of the town 
of Gale in Trempealeau county. Here they 
settled and made farms and here the families 
are still living, though Mr. Irvine and wife, 



and Mr. Hunter and wife are now deceased. 
Mr. Phillips never made a permanent settle- 
ment but is now said to be living in Clark 
county. Mr. Dick settled on a quarter-sec- 
tion of this beautiful prairie land, which he 
afterwards increased to 500 acres, and which is 
still owned by himself and family. 

Mr. and Mrs. Dick have had eight chil- 
dren, two sons and six daughters: Elizabeth, 
the eldest, married Duncan Grant and died 
on June 6, 1883, leaving seven children, one 
of whom died soon after the death of the 
mother; the second child of Mr. and Mrs. 
Dick is Jane, who is the wife of Robert 
Grant; John is third in order of age; Mar- 
garet is the wife of Frank Bon; Agnes is the 
wife of James Irvine; Ellen is now Mrs. My- 
ron B. Gibson, and Mary married James W. 
Wilson; William, the youngest son, lives at 
the homestead. 

Mr. William Dick and wife, as has been 
seen, are among the pioneers of Trempealeau 
county: coining here when the country was 
wild and new, they have witnessed the im- 
provements of nearly forty years, and are 
numbered among the well-known and 
esteemed citizens of Trempealeau county. 



4^ 



^e^"^ 



ENNIS LAWLER is one of the well- 
known citizens of Trempealeau count}'. 
His home is on section 24, in the town 
of Unity. Mr. Lawler was born in the parish 
of Rathfarnam, near Dublin, Ireland, Sep- 
tember 25, 1823. His father, Martin Law- 
ler, was a native of the city of Kilkenny. 
His mother, Frances E. Green, was born in 
Dublin. Mr. Lawler is descended from an 
old, honorable and well-known Irish family, 
and is able to trace his ancestry back through 
the long space of 700 years. 

The subject of this sketch was reared to tlie 



BIOOMAPHIGAL HI8T0BT. 



789 



business of a cloth-dresser, his father beiug a 
cloth-weaver. For many generations the 
Lawlers were connected with the woolen 
manufacturing business. The repeal of the 
protective tariff on Irish manufactured goods, 
Mr. Lawler believes was the death blow to 
the vital interests of Ireland, woolen manu- 
facturing having ceased to become a paying 
business interest in Ireland. The Lawler fam- 
ily, in 1837, removed to Yorkshire, England, 
and re-eugaged in their former occupation of 
manufacturing. In 1846, the subject of this 
sketch was married to Catherine Brown. 

He had long entertained the thought of 
coming to America, and in February, 1850, 
attempted to carry this resolution into effect. 
He had not money sufficient to pay the pas- 
sage of his wife and only child, and so left 
them behind until he could secure a home 
for them somewhere in the new world. He 
accordingly sailed from Liverpool in the 
American -vessel Forest State, commanded by 
Captain Polaster; but the vessel was not des- 
tined to reach an American port in safety. 
The Forest State was wrecked off the coast 
of Newfoundland, and having lost all the 
masts was left to the mercy of the winds and 
the waters of the Gulf Stream. The latter 
started the disabled vessel back toward the 
European coast, before reaching which, how- 
ever, they were rescued by a pilot vessel; one 
of the pilots took command and carried the 
vessel safely back to Cork. On learning of 
his misfortune and of his return to Cork, his 
former employer sent him money to pay his 
way back to Yorkshire. He had at first been 
loth to let him go, and now increased his 
wages to twenty-two shillings per week: so he 
continued in Yorkshire until 1857, when he 
again started for the United States. His 
increased wages had enabled him to save some 
money, and he now took with him his wife 
and their two children, and was also accom- 



panied by his brother-in-law, Edward Brown. 
They landed in New York on the 3d of 
September, having sailed on the good ship 
Manliattan from Liverpool, on August 2. 
The passage of himself and family had been 
paid to Chicago, to which place the party at 
once proceeded, via the Pittsburg & Fort 
Wayne Railroad. The party continued di- 
rectly to Beef River Station in Eau Claire 
county, where another brother-in-law, John 
E. Brown, was living, going to Prairie du 
Chien by railroad, thence up the Mississippi 
to La Crosse, by stage to Black River Falls. 
At the latter place Mr. Lawler met an Eng- 
lishman named Dukesbury, whom he hired 
for $6 to take him to Beef River Station, a 
distance of about thirty miles. His English 
friend also entertained him with a night's 
lodging, and Mr. Lawler finally reached his 
destination with himself and family in good 
condition. There they spent a hard winter, 
Mr. Lawler working for the food consumed 
by himself and family. In the spring of 1859 
he bought a claim of 160 acres of land (as he 
afterward said) of a man who did not own it. 
For this land he paid an English broadcloth 
coat. This was in the present town of Sum- 
ner, in Trempealeau county. On this claim 
that he had purchased he raised a line crop 
of wheat in 1859, the average being twenty- 
six and a half bushels per acre. He pur- 
chased a yoke of oxen and chain for fifty 
bushels of his wheat, which placed him in 
better condition to continue the improvement 
of his claim. He remained there until 1863, 
when he removed to his present home, and 
has the honor of being the first settler in the 
town of Unity, and has also the greater honor 
of being the first soldier to enter the Union 
army from the town of Unity. Ever op- 
posed to oppression in all forms, and believ- 
ing that the war of the Rebellion was brought 
on by the South with the object of perpetu- 



790 



BIOGRAPHICAL HI STOUT. 



atin^ human slavery, he immediately on the 
beginning of the war espoused the cause of 
the Union with all his might and strength. 
He would at once have entered the army as 
a soldier, but it was thought by those in 
authority that he could do more good by his 
influence at home, and he was therefore in- 
duced to resist liis inclination to enter the 
service at once. But in March, 1865, he 
enlisted and took with him seven others, viz. : 
John Tracy, William Lindsay, Fred Copple, 
George Hicks, Russel Nelson, Jacob Todd 
and Jerome Harvey, all from the town of 
Unity. They became a part of Company D, 
Fifty-third Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, and served in Missouri and Kansas 
until the close of the war. By exposure, 
starvation and bad water, Mr. Lawler lost his 
health in the service, which he has never re- 
covered. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lawler have two sons and 
three daughters, viz.: Francis Richard, Ed- 
ward H., Mary, Kate and Frances Eleanor, 
all of whom were born in Trempealeau 
county except Mary and Kate. They lost 
their first child, a boy, in England, and also 
an infant daughter in Trempealeau county. 
The subject of this sketch was the eldest of 
twelve children, the family consisting of six 
sons and six daughters. Only three of the 
family are living at this writing, 1891; Den- 
nis, his brother Edward, and a sister residing 
in Leeds, England, where Edward also lives. 
In 1865 the subject of this sketch sent for his 
parents, whom he furnished with money to 
pay their passage to his home in Trempealeau 
county, and cared for them as long as they 
lived, the father dying at I he age of ninety 
years, and the mother a year later, at the same 
age. 

Mr. Dennis Lawler, as will he seen, is the 
only member of his father's family living in 
America. He is a man of culture and mucli 



native ability. Few men are better informed 
than he on the prominent topics of the day, 
— political, moral and social. He excels 
as a conversationalist, which, together with 
his vast fund of information renders him a 
most valuable and instructive companion. 
In his political affiliations he is a Republican 
and an able advocate of the system of protec- 
tion which that party approves. Having 
been born and reared in the manufacturing 
districts of Ireland, and taking a leading part 
himself in that system of industry, and fully 
remembering the baleful effect that the tariff 
repeal exerted upon the manufacturing inter- 
ests of his native land, it is no wonder that 
he is so ardent an advocate of a protective 
tariff. He and his family are faithful, con- 
sistent members of the Catholic Church. 



►>»H 



|ALVIN CONANT BIGELOW, de- 
ceased, was born at Crown Point, New 
York, March 6, 1810, a son of Levi 
Bigelow. His parents both died when he 
was a boy, and after attaining manhood he 
was ensraeed for a considerable time in lum- 
berinsr. He was married in Windham 
county, Vermont, in June, 1840, to Clarissa 
Stacy, who was born^in that county April 19, 
1816, a daughter of John and Chloe (Smith) 
Stacy. Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow continued to 
reside in Vermont and New York until 1845, 
when they emigrated to Winnebago county, 
Wi cousin, where they were among the early 
pioneers. In 1856 they removed to Trem- 
pealeau county, settling on a new farm in 
Caledonia township, which he and his sons 
improved, and ou which he lived until his 
death, November 12, 1881. Mr. Bigelow 
was a well-known citizen, was fond of hunt- 
ing, and in the early days in this county he 
found ample opportunity to indulge in his 



BIOGRAPHICAL BISTORT. 



791 



favorite sport, fle was an industrious man, 
a kind husband and father, and a most 
worthy and esteemed citizen. The last six 
years of his life he was an invalid, and un- 
able to take any part in the active duties of 
life. Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow were the parents 
of ten children, six of whom are still living, 
viz.: Mary L., wife of John McKeeth; 
Janette, wife of C. R. McGilvray; William 
Pearl, the third surviving child; William 
Henry, a resident of Oregon; Hattie A., wife 
of Leslie McKenney, of Flatteville, Grant 
county; James B., who is still at the home- 
stead with his mother. The deceased mem- 
bers of the family were Levi, the eldest child, 
who was drowned in Wolf river when eight 
years of age; Newel, who died in infancy in 
Vermont; Orson was born in F'ebruary, 1852, 
and died at the homestead in Trempealeau 
county, September 4, 1870; Rosella, the 
youngest of the family, died at the age of one 
and a half years. The mother still lives at 
the homestead, where she has resided so 
many years. 

William Pearl Bigelow, the eldest surviv- 
ing son, was born in Winnebago county, 
June 30, 1849, having been about seven 
years of age when he came to Trempealeau 
county with his parents, and just old enough 
to give a boy's assistance in driving the cat- 
tle on the overland journey from Eastern 
Wisconsin to their Trempealeau county home. 
As he grew older he helped clear the farm, 
and often joined his father in the sport of 
hunting. A part of his farm belonged to the 
old homestead adjoining which he lived. Mr. 
Bigelow was married January 1, 1873, to 
Mary Walcot, a native of the State of New 
York, and they have four children: Rose, 
Florence, Arthur and Hazel D. Mr. Bige- 
low is one of the representative men of his 
township and has held the office of Town 
Treasurer for eight years, and was chairman 



of the town two years. In politics he is a 
Republican. 

James B. Bigelow, who still resides at the 
old homestead, married Elva Rifelburg, and 
they have one daughter, Lila. Mr. Bigelow is 
the present Treasurer of Caledonia township. 



EORGE SCHWOCHEL, of Fountain 
City, was born in Wald Michelbach, 
Germany, the son of Carl Wilhelm and 
Eva (Menier) Schwochel. The father, born 
in 1807, was a mason by trade, and had eight 
children: George, John, Elizabeth, Peter, 
Charles, Adam and Eliza, all of whom are 
living excepting Elizabeth and Charles. 
Their mother died in Germany, and after- 
ward their father died on the ocean, on his 
way to the United States, in 1865. 

George, our subject, received his education 
at the German schools, and learned the trade 
of stone mason; but, tiuding himself too 
weak to follow it he abandoned it and turned 
to farminsr. He emigrated to the United 
States in 1852, landing at New York, and 
arriving at Galena, Illinois, during the fol- 
lowing winter. The next spring he went to 
Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and engaged 
in lumbering, until 1856, when he moved to 
Buffalo county, purchasing a farm of eighty 
acres on section 7, Cross township. To this 
he added by future purchases until he had 
300 acres, one of the best farms in the 
county. Of late years he has made a spe- 
cialty of breeding short-horn cattle and Nor- 
man horses. In the fall of 1881 he sold his 
farm at a good price, and the next spring 
moved to Fountain City. Mr. Schwochel 
arrived in this pioneer country a poor man, 
but by industry and economy he has earned 
a coiiipetence. 

While living in the country he was Asses- 



BIOORAPniGAL BISTORT. 



8or for several terms, Supervisor seven years, 
Justice of tiie Peace, Town Treasurer, etc. 
Durinfij the first year of liis life in the vil- 
lage he was enj^aged mostly in clearing up 
his farm business. In 1883 he opened busi- 
ness in agricultural machinery. He was one 
of the organizers of the Fountain City Brew- 
ing Company, in which he has a large inter- 
est. He has stock also in the Fountain City 
Milling Company, and he is engaged in tire 
insurance. From 1884 to 1890 he was 
Deputy Sheriff, and for the years 1889-'90 
he was Supervisor for the First Ward of 
Foantain City. 

He was married in 1855, at the town of 
Cross, Wisconsin, to Miss Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Christian and Elizabeth (Burkhaltcr) 
Bohri, uf Bohri's valley, Wisconsin, and 
their children are: Mary, now Mrs. Schu- 
macher; Emma, who married Dr. W. C. 
L5eardsley, of Dakota; George G.; lloea E., 
now Mrs. Charles F. Smith, of Elyria, Ohio; 
Etta E. ; Amanda J., now the wife of William 
E. Radtke, who is agent for the Chicago, 
Burlington & Northern Railroad. Mr. 
Schwochel is a member of Lodge No. 13, 
A. O. U. W., of FountainCity, and in politics 
isa Republican. 

-- -^'^m:^'^^ — 

IHAULES HOHMANN, one of the 
best known and most highly respected 
citizens of Waumandee, Wisconsin, was 
born in Hessen- Darmstadt, Germany, Septem- 
ber 19, 1830. His parents were Leonhardt 
and Mary (Hein) Hohmann. His paternal 
grandfather was Adam Hohmann. His 
father, by trade a rope manufacturer, died in 
1849, his widow surviving him until 1860. 
They had eight children, three of whom came 
to tiie United States: Charles, Frederick and 
August. August has been dead some years. 



The subject of our sketch was raised at 
home until he reached the age of fourteen 
years, when he was sent to a place to learn 
the baker's trade. Here he remained for 
nine years, when in 1854 he emigrated to 
this country, landing in New York, where 
he remained for about five months. He then 
went to Bangor, Maine, where he engaged in 
file-grinding for a tile factory, remaining 
there for about a year, then removing to 
Waumandee, Wisconsin, in the spring of 
1855. Here he pre-empted a piece of wild 
lanu of 120 acres, located in section 20, built 
a log cabin and began farming. There were 
three white settlers in that part of the county, 
Philip Kunger, Theodore Miley, Nicholas 
Miley and Mr. Brinkhotf. There were quite 
a number of Indians in that part of the 
country when he went there, but they were 
friendly, and Mr. Hohmann enjoyed many a 
friendly game of cards with them, and would 
have felt quite lonely had it not been for 
them. There were plenty of deer in this 
vicinity and quantities of tish in the Wau- 
mandee river. He remained here eight 
years, until he turned it over to his brother 
Fred, and himself removed to section 21, 
where he had two forty-acre tracts. He 
continued to increase his acreage until he 
now possesses 520 acres, of which 250 acres 
are under good cultivation, largely devoted 
to grain. He also raises some stock, princi- 
pally Jerseys. In horses he is standing the 
Norman. His large brick residence, which 
is one of the tinest houses in Butfalo county, 
he erected in 1886. He owns a tine mill 
near his place, which he erected about two 
years ago at a cost of $1,500. 

He was Treasurer of the town, which then 
included Lincoln and Manitowoc counties, 
and was chairman of the board, and subse- 
quently was elected Supervisor. He is a 
member of the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 18, of 



BIOGBAPHIGAL HISTORY. 



793 



Fountain City. He is also a member of the 
Harmonia Society, of which he is president, 
which position he has filled for abont fifteen 
years. 

In politics he is a Republican, and gener- 
ally acts with that party. He is a member 
of the Farmers' Alliance of Buffalo county. 

He was married in Waumandee, December 
17, 1858, to Wilhelmina Kirchner, daughter 
of Charles Kirchner. They had twelve chil- 
dren: William, Otto, Adolph, Albert, Rob- 
ert, Henry, Clara, Edward, Lillie, Anna, 
August and Alvin, all but three still surviv- 
ing, viz.: Adolph, August and Anna. 



^ENRY GILBERT resides on section 6, 
town of Sumner, where he settled in 
the fall of 1867, when the land was 
entirely new. In fact he made a homestead 
of eighty acres of his place. He and sons 
now own several hundred acres. He was born 
in Portage county, Ohio, September 5, 1820. 
His grandfather Gilbert was a physician and 
pioneer in that part of Ohio, and a native of 
Vermont, but the maternal grandfatiier of 
Mr. Gilbert was still an earlier pioneer. His 
name was William Bacon and he was a native 
of Massachusetts. He was a Boston shoe- 
maker, and going West became one of the pio- 
neers of Ohio. The father of our subject, 
Josiah G. Gilbert, and wife, Nancy (Bacon) 
Gilbert, lived on their old homestead in OIX^ 
until their death. The old home is still in pos- 
session of the family, being owned by Gusta- 
vus Bacon, a son of the original settler. The 
subject of this notice was one of six children; 
and what is somewhat remarkable, all are 
living (in 1891), but the youngest sister. 

Henry Gilbert, the oldest of the family and 
the only one of the family living in this county, 
was a young man when he went to Huron 



county, and later spent a year in Adrian, 
Michigan. Going back to Huron county he 
married Fidelia Darling, a native of Cattarau- 
gus county, New York. Later he settled on 
a farm near Bryant, Ohio, and later moved to 
the village of Bryan, where he lived for twelve 
years. He earnestly espoused the cause of 
his country in the war of the Rebellion, and 
in April, 1861, enlisted in Company C, Four- 
teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This was 
in the three months' call for troops, but he 
served about four months, and was then dis- 
charged. He served in West Virginia. He 
took part in the first battle of Philippi, 
which has gone into history as the first battle 
of the war. He was also in the battle of 
Cheat River, where General Garnet was killed, 
and saw him after he fell. At the expiration 
of the four months he returned. In July, 
1862, he got a recruiting commission from 
Governor Tod and a full company and 
twenty men more, in about three months. 
This company became Company C, One Hnn- 
dreth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 
Mr. Gilbert entered the service as Captain 
of this company and served until December 
of that year, when his health failing, he re- 
signed his commission. His resignation was 
accepted on a surgeon's certificate. Mr. Gil- 
bert continued to reside in Bryan until he 
came to Trempealeau county, and here he has 
since lived. Eight years of that time he was 
a resident of the village of Osseo, during 
which time he served as collection agent and 
Justice of the Peace, for a number of years. 
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have four children, 
three sons and one daughter Thomas J., the 
oldest, is a hardware merchant at Perry, 
Dallas county, Iowa; the second is Jennie, 
wife of George W. Myers, of Bryan, Williams 
county, Ohio; William H. resides on a 
farm near his father; James P., at the home- 



794 



BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY. 



Stead. The children are all married and have 
families. 

Mr. Gilbert is one of the well-known citi- 
zens of Trempealeau county. In his political 
views he is a Republican. He cast his first 
vote for James K. Folk in 1844, which was 
his first and last Democratic vote. He is a 
strong Republican and a firm believer in the 
principles of that great national party. He 
is a member of John E. Perkins Post of 
Augusta. 



fOHN IRVINE is one of the well known 
residents of the town of Gale^who claim 
"bonnie Scotland"' as their native land. 
His residence is on section 30, township 19, 
range 7. He is a son of John Irvine, who 
was born in the north of Ireland, in 1809. 
Mr. John Irvine went from the north of Ire- 
land to Scotland when nineteen years old. 
There he married Catherine Johnston, who 
was born in 1810. A number of years later 
they emigrated to Nova Scotia and there 
lived from 1837 to 1851, when they removed 
to Maryland. In 1853 they came to Wiscon- 
sin with the families of David Cook, William 
Dick and John Hunter, and were also accom- 
panied by a young man named James Phil- 
lips. Here Mr. Irvine settled on the beauti- 
ful Decora Prairie, and here lived until death. 
As a somewhat remarkable coincidence, Mr. 
and Mrs. Irvine passed from this life to the 
life beyond, on the same day and lie buried 
in the same grave in the cemetery on the 
prairie, aged respectively sixty-nine and sixty- 
eight years. The date of their death was Feb- 
ruary 6, 1878, the event being a sad be- 
reavement to their family and friends. They 
were both honored and respected by all who 



knew them. They were the parents of seven 
children who grew to mature years, three 
sons and four daughters, six of wliom are liv- 
ingin 1891: John is the eldestof the broth- 
ers; Walter is the next in order of age and 
lives near Fort Dodge, in Iowa; James is in 
Nebraska; Isabel, the oldest of the family, 
lives in Jackson county, Wisconsin; Mar- 
garet died at the age of twenty-seven years; 
Ellen is the wife of George Brown, of Gale 
township; Anna is the wife of Daniel Gor- 
don, of La Crosse county, as has been seen. 
Mr. John Irvine is the only male represen- 
tative of his father's family living in Wis- 
consin. He was born in Scotland in 1830, 
being about seven years old when the family 
emigrated to Nova Scotia. He preceded the 
family to Maryland, where he went in April, 
1851, the remainder of the family following 
later in the year. He came to Trempealeau 
county in 1854, the year after his father's 
family came. He purchased his present farm 
in 1855. Mr. Irvine's home farm con'ains 
120 acres, and he has the same amount on 
section 5. 

Mr. Irvine is one of the well-known aui 
intelligent citizens of the town of Gale, and 
a representative of an honored and respected 
family. 

He was married in the State of Mary- 
land, to Ellen Walker, who was born in 
Ayrshire, Scotland, and with her parents 
emigrated to Nova Scotia, and thence to Mary- 
land. Mrs. Irvine died June 26, 1877. Mr. 
Irvine is the father of nine children, four 
boys and five daughtjrs, viz.: John, James, 
Walter and William. Tlu daughters are: 
Catherine, Margaret,^ Mary, Frances and 
Roseanna. He lost three children: Eliza- 
beth died at the age of eighteen years, and the 
others in childhood. 



JAN -1^-5 



